Blur is an iconic English rock band that has been active for over 25 years. Despite their popularity and longevity, there are still some things about the band that are not widely known. Here are ten facts about Blur that you may not have known.
1. Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon are the only original members of the band. While Dave Rowntree and Alex James have been with the band since the start, they weren't part of the original lineup.2. Graham Coxon left the band in 2002, but returned for their 2009 reunion tour.3. The iconic album cover for "Parklife" was taken outside a London pub, The Eagle.4. Blur's greatest hit, "Song 2," was released as a single in 1997 and reached number two on the UK Singles chart.5. The band has sold over 25 million records worldwide.6. Blur have been nominated for seven BRIT Awards, including three for Best British Group.7. The band's second album, "Modern Life Is Rubbish," was released in 1993 and was not immediately successful. However, it has since become one of the most acclaimed Britpop albums of all time.8. Blur's song "Chemical World" was featured in the opening scene of the cult classic film "Trainspotting."9. The band was named after the slang term for a blurry photograph.10. Blur have released eight studio albums and have been cited as an influence by many other bands, including Oasis, Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian.
These are just a few of the things you may not have known about Blur. With a career spanning over 25 years and eight albums, the band has had a long and successful career. With such a long and varied history, there's still plenty more to learn about this iconic rock band.
The news of Blur's upcoming concert at Wembley Stadium on July 8th 2023 is sure to be met with excitement from music fans around the world. The British rock band is one of the most influential acts of the 90s and their music has had a lasting impact on popular culture.Formed in London in 1988, Blur rose to fame with their mix of alternative rock, Britpop and electronica. The band’s groundbreaking sound is credited with helping to shape the musical landscape of the 1990s. Blur’s first three albums (Leisure, Modern Life Is Rubbish, and Parklife) were all critically acclaimed and established the band as one of the most influential acts of the decade.
Blur’s Wembley Stadium concert will be one of the biggest events of the summer. The band is sure to perform some of their classic hits, as well as some of their more recent songs. The show will be a must-see event for fans of Blur and 90s music.The band’s Wembley Stadium concert is part of their worldwide tour which will take them to several countries. Blur’s tour is sure to be a hit with fans of their music from all over the world. The band will also perform in some of the most iconic venues in the world, including London’s O2 Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Blur’s concert at Wembley Stadium will be an unforgettable experience for music fans. The show is sure to be a celebration of the band’s groundbreaking music and their lasting influence on popular culture. Don’t miss out on your chance to see Blur in the summer of 2023 – get your ticketsHEREnow!
Breaking news- Blur has announced that they will be playing in Wembley Stadium, UK on 8th July 2023. The band will playing their only UK show of 2023 at the iconic venue.
Blur will be supported by Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap. This is the first Blur concert to happen since their reunion gig in 2015, when they released their critically acclaimed album 'The Magic Whip'. The band has not released any new singles since 2015. No other details about the gig has been released.
“We really love playing these songs and thought it’s about time we did it again,” said Damon Albarn, the frontman of the band who became UK's most famous Britpop legend in the 1990s.
Guitarist Graham Coxon said: “I’m really looking forward to playing with my Blur brothers again and revisiting all those great songs. Blur live shows are always amazing for me. A nice guitar and an amp turned right up and loads of smiling faces.”
Bassist Alex James said: “There’s always something really special when the four of us get in a room. It’s nice to think that on 8 July that room will be Wembley Stadium.”
Drummer Dave Rowntree also chipped in: “After the chaos of the last few years, it’s great to get back out to play some songs together on a summer’s day in London. Hope to see you there.”
Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday November 18th 2022 and will be available HERE.
Gorillaz's latest single Cracker Island has just been launched on 22nd June 2022, and it's proving to be a banger. The virtual band's latest drop features Thundercat, an American bass guitarist and songwriter from Los Angeles who is a member of the band Suicidal Tendencies.
The new single has been performed live during Gorillaz's latest world tour,, featuring guest vocals from Thundercat. It was not confirmed whether he would appear on the studio mix but it appears that he made the cut.
Damon Albarn, the lead singer and genius behind the band has been busy with his solo career, and this is the first Gorillaz release since 2020’s Song Machine series.
“It’s nice to be back, I’m well into our new tune, it brings back weird and scary memories of stuff that hasn’t happened yet”, Albarn said about the track in a press release, according to NME.
This single is going to be featured on Gorillaz's new album which will be launching in 2022. There is no news on the release date but stay tuned for more.
Meanwhile, listen to the track below!!
Lyrics
[Verse 1: 2-D & Thundercat]
On Cracker Island it was born To the collective of the dawn They were planting seeds at night To grow a made-up paradise Where truth was auto-tuned (Forever Cult) But it's sadness I consume (Forever Cult) Into my format everyday (Forever Cult) In the end I need to pay (What world is this) In the end I have to pay (I purged my soul) In the end I have to pay (I drank tonight) I've got nothing more to say (I drank tonight)
[Chorus 1: 2-D & Thundercat]
They taught themselves to be occult They didn't know its many strategies They taught themselves to be occult They didn't know its many strategies (Fantasies) What world is this? What world is this?
[Verse 2: 2-D & Thundercat] On Cracker Island it was raised (Hey, hey, hey, hey) By the collective from the grave (Hey, hey, hey, hey) It only came out at night (Hey, hey, hey, hey) It ate up their paradise (Paradise) Where truth was auto-tune (Forever Cult) And it's sadness I consume (Forever Cult) And I heard it everyday (Forever Cult) In the end I had to pay (What world is this) Out there on the silver lake (I was not there) Everything it will be great (Beneath the hills) I'm like a ship between the tide (I saw myself) I held on to my surprise (We feel the void)
[Chorus 2: 2-D]
They thought themselves to be a cult They didn't know it's many strategies They taught themselves to be a cult They didn't know it's many strategies Tragedies
[Verse 3: 2-D & Thundercat]
On Cracker Island it will die (Forever Cult) Join the collective from the sky (Forever Cult) And on the shining bolt of light (Forever Cult) Go out to paradise (What world is this) Where the truth is auto-tuned (I purged my soul) And it's sadness I consumed (I drank tonight) Into my format everyday (I drank tonight) In the end, I had to pay (Forever Cult) In the end, I had to pay (Forever Cult) In the end, it will be great (Forever Cult) Nothing more to say Nothing more to say, now Nothing more to say There's nothing more to say
Graham Coxon has always been the most stylish man from Blur. We all know it, and we cannot deny it. Nicknamed "tweedo" by fans, Graham Coxon is known for his signature British suits, chelsea boots, leather jackets and classy gentlemen-esque fashion. If you want to dress like the famed Blur guitarist, look no further. Here are some recommendations for your style picks.
1. Classic Black Leather Belt
Graham Coxon frequently wears suits for photoshoots and formal occasions. Getting a black leather belt is therefore essential if you want to dress like Graham Coxon. A classic black belt, such as from the lovely selection of Men's Belts over atTrendhim, fits the bill perfectly. Trendhim's a lovely men's gift shop that sells a lot of stylish accessories for men, and they have a lot of accessories that the Blur boys would wear, including cufflinks, bow ties and silk ties. Their items are great quality (tried and tested by the owners of this blog!) and they ship worldwide. As for Graham, he often dons on his tweed suit with matching shoes and a belt, plus a fancy shirt to finish the look off. Black leather belts goes well with 90s and 2000s suits, which Graham Coxon often appears in during Blur photoshoots.
2. Striped Tee
Graham Coxon's look would not be complete without a signature striped t-shirt. Striped tees scream "hipster" but Graham Coxon perhaps invented the hipster chic look before it became cool. The guitarist is known for his awesome collection of t-shirts, including some bizarrely striped ones in green and yellow. In fact, Graham Coxon is often seen wearing striped t-shirts during Blur gigs, and fan favorites include the blue-striped tee, the yellow striped tee and of course, his red/black striped long sleeved shirt!
3. Blue blue jeans
4. Funky shirts
A guitarist wouldn't be complete without his collection of eye-catching, funky shirts, and Graham Coxon is no exception. The guitarist is known for his unusual shirts such as the one below, featuring green and red stripes. Stripes definitely seem to be Graham Coxon's thing, and we think that his wardrobe would be teeming with different vintage shirts. Try out something a bit more colorful if you want to mimic his early 2000s look.
5. Waistcoat
Finally, Graham Coxon is always seen with a black waistcoat which would be worn over his white tee. This unusual look screams "I am a guitarist" and looks smart but laidback at the same time- just like Graham Coxon's personality! Graham Coxon has always been somewhat of a vintage man, and he is known for his archaic collection of tweed suits and blazers. The waistcoat is a nod to his love of classical pieces such as the three-piece suit.
Dressing like Graham Coxon is simple, and the man is simply one of the most fashionable guitarists of all time. Hope these tips helped!
Damon Albarn is undoubtedly having a musical revival in 2021- and this time's he's back in his full glory with his 2021-2022 Piano Tour. The singer, who has spent lockdown writing songs and releasing a new solo album 'The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows', has recently been seen on tour in England and just played at the Union Chapel, London, on 15th December 2021.
However, fans will be delighted to know that Damon's new tour isn't just about promoting his new solo album. He also revives classic Blur and Gorillaz tracks by playing them with a piano band- featuring one bassist, two violinists and one cello player, an ensemble which accompanied him throughout his shows. Blurballs will review his Union Chapel performance exclusively, but we want to share some of his latest piano covers below for your enjoyment.
1. No Distance Left To Run
2. Beetlebum
3. The Universal
4. For Tomorrow
Damon Albarn's latest Union Chapel show in London features piano versions of 'Girls and Boys', 'El Manana', 'End of a Century', 'For Tomorrow' and more. It looks like fans are in for a treat when they go and see Damon's latest tour. If you haven't booked tickets yet, we highly recommend you check out his tour now.
If you have any footages from his latest tour that you'd like us to post, please email our team!
Damon Albarn's long-awaited solo album may just be the hottest thing in 2021, and it's finally out for pre-order today. The album, titled The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows, is finally available for fans to order before it's official launch on 21st November 2021.
The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows was originally not intended to be produced as an album, but as an orchestral piece inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Damon Albarn returned to Iceland where he found new musical inspiration and recorded this 10-track album which explores the themes of loss, fragility and emergence. The album is essentially a story of Damon Albarn's journey with music, discovering Iceland and the loss of previous identities.
A new track, titled "Royal Morning Blue", was released today via Youtube and is available for streaming online. You can listen to it below.
TRACK LISTING
The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows
Damon Albarn has released a brand new track. Titled ‘The Tower Of Montevideo’, it’s the latest to be lifted from his new solo album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, which is set to arrive on 12th November 2021. You can check out the track now via a live video directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L.
Speaking to NME ahead of the album’s release, Albarn expounded on how it was conceptualised as a way to lift him out of the “storms” of the outside world and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I just felt like the beginning of this year was so grim and I had to do something to lift me out of those, I wouldn’t call doldrums, but storms – those terrible north wind storms that you get down by the sea in Devon sometimes,” he explained.
Damon Albarn is set to perform in a new tour next February for a run that includes two nights at London’s Barbican Hall.
The singer recently a cryptic message: "At the end of the world, Stay by my side" while posting a photo of himself playing the piano over the sunset.
Damon Albarn has released “Polaris,” the lead single from his upcoming solo album The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, out November 12th via Transgressive Records. The song arrived on Tuesday with an accompanying live performance video featuring Albarn on piano as he leads his band and a string quartet through the orchestral rock track.
The “Polaris” clip is the first in a series of performance videos from Albarn titled Sublime Boulevards – Performance Films. Directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L and shot in black and white, the video series will feature selections from The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, and will be premiered in stages leading up to the album’s release date.
Albarn originally intended for his new album to be an orchestral piece inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. However, during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, he began to develop the 11 tracks further into narrative pop songs.
The hybrid sound can be heard on the album’s title track, which Albarn previewed last month. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows takes its title from the poem “Love and Memory” by John Clare and marks Albarn’s first solo LP since 2014’s Everyday Robots.
Along with a digital release, Albarn is prepping a limited-edition color vinyl version of The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, as well as versions on CD and cassette. There will also be a deluxe version packaged in a casebound book with additional photography, original scanned lyrics, original artwork, a copy of the album pressed on white vinyl, and a bonus seven-inch featuring an exclusive song from the recording sessions.
Watch the video below to see the full performance.
Damon Albarn- Polaris (Lyrics)
Polaris
If you get blown off course
In filling in the parts of your life that have disappeared
