October 4, 2012

Damon Albarn wants to make Another Opera

Damon Albarn has spoken about his future plans - to possibly write and compose another new opera, following the success of his latest 'Dr Dee'.

At the English National Opera (ENO) on October 3rd, Damon Albarn said: "I've got a really good idea. I'm not going to say what it is, but it's interesting".

According to NME, Albarn was at the London Opera house to help launch "Undress For The Opera", a program to attract younger audiences to watch and enjoy opera by lowering prices and relaxing the usually strict dress code.

dr dee opera, damon albarn opera, undress for the opera, damon albarn 2012

Albarn supported this scheme, and said "I quite like dressing up, but I also like to have the choice. I like the ritual of dressing up to go and see something, but at the same time you don’t have to."

"I’m quite clearly not someone who had any form of opera education. I’ve done it entirely instinctively. The fact that the English National Opera is prepared to encourage that is a great sign of its health."

It seems that Damon treats opera as a more serious, heavy "long term study thing". "I was too busy jumping up and down on stages around the world when I should have been at college finishing my classical musical education." said the Blur frontman. Without jumping up and down stages, however, where would Damon Albarn be now ?

Damon Albarn also said: "Opera as a form can go forward and allow people to use these incredible facilities to find something new. At some point I hope I can deliver something to the ENO that ticks every single box but doesn’t compromise where I come from as well."

Looks like we'll be getting a new Albarn opera soon, one that ticks every single box for the fans.

Check out Telegraph.co.uk comprehensive article on "Undress for the Opera" scheme.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

October 2, 2012

Graham Coxon celebrates at Reeperbahn Festival - Sep 2012

Graham Coxon recently played in Hamburg, Germany's Reeperbahn Festival. The festival is a club-run musical festival that runs from the 20th - 24th September 2012. Graham said it was "historic, legendary and famous". He even said he enjoyed sightseeing the places where The Beatles played, Beatlemania museum and searching for the Beat shop.

Graham has his roots in Germany - he was born in Niedersachsen, Germany in 1969 because his father had a job as the local army bandsman. The Coxon family lived in Germany for 5 years before moving to Derbyshire, England. It wasn't until a few years later that he met Damon Albarn when they moved again to Colchester.

Check out his latest interview from the Reeperbahn Festival. He talks about Oasis/ Blur's feud, the Olympics closing ceremony gig, Noel Gallagher's tour and Germany. He was questioned a lot about what type of audience he preferred, and he even talks a bit about Blur.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

September 29, 2012

21 things you didn't know Graham Coxon said - Quotes

Graham Coxon, the quiet, shy guitarist from Blur. Contrary to what most people think, Graham has actually said a good many things that are hilarious, deep and memorable. Sometimes they are downright strange! Here's our list of the top 21 things you didn't know Graham Coxon has said.

1. "Watching Noel Gallagher play, he has too much fucking respect for the instrument. To get the best out of a guitar, you've got to fucking hate it as well."

2. "There we're so many weird things going on at that time, if Damon turned into a lizards with a mod suit I wouldn't have been surprised" - On Britpop

3. "We can make good music together but God knows what might happen if we tried to make music individually, it'd be shit."

4. " Alex used to say such awful things. When he would be booking a hotel he would say that his name was Alex Frombler and that depressed me and when we were doing Budokan he would tell me how much we were getting paid for the show. Those things ate away at me"

5. " We rode the pop-horse until it dropped dead"

6. "Damon will always have extremes. When we were at school together, he would always be duffed up in the toilets. We used to go out on the town and he'd get beaten up by the New Model Army crew. We used to go to a pub called The Cups, and every time I went there with Damon he'd go to the bog and he'd have his beating up. And he'd go: 'Graham, Graham, I've just been beaten up.' And I'd go: 'Oh my God.' So he'd go: 'I'm going'. And I'd say: 'No, stay, have another drink.' And then he'd go, and I'd stay behind and get drunk with the people who beat him up."

7. "I used to have a cat called Bastard. He ran away."

8. "I like it when girls go "Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me." - a very young Graham

9. "It seems that Damon and I are going to be in each other's lives musically forever, in some way or other. Whether it's with Blur or without Blur or sort of like the Old Gits, probably. Which is quite an amusing thought. We just get on very well, especially musically."

10. "I only eat beef when I'm in Texas."

grahamcoxon2012, graham coxon blur, graham coxon clothing, coxon glasses

11. Dave is a mid-21st-century kind of guy. Alex is definitely late 20th. I can imagine Damon strutting about in the 18th century, wearing tall powdered wigs, lace ru es on his shirts. I'm quite medieval compared to them, especially about technology. I think most technology is rubbish. It's supposed to improve our lives but it just makes it worse. (on why the four members of Blur are from different centuries. )

12. Of course I'm a hedonist, what else is there to live for? The rest is just killing time.

13. Most of America don't even listen to music probably. They just go raccoon hunting or something.

14. He didn't really have any friends. He had it hard because of his name too, which people would make jokes about. 'All Bran' and stupid kids' stuff. The skins would kick him about in the toilets and hold him down and write '666' on his forehead. That's probably why he's so scared and such an emotional wreck. I thought he was a really great bloke. I'd never known anyone like him. That kinda happens with me except its chavs that do it to me and they draw glasses and a scar on my head because of my name Harry, and those 'smart' people call me Harry Potter. I can relate to Damon in many ways, its ashame that's one. I know how he feels...

15. 'Pikachu, it's just saying it's own name, like Craig David, over and over again. Little egoist' - MTV Cribs

16. "My next album is only going to be understood by a certain race of elves."

17. “Damon and I especially have done that. I’d give him lovebites and he’d give me lovebites. A cruel trick. But it’s never really soberly. And after kissing him… it’s a bit like when farmers force sheep into sheep dips. When they come out the other side they’re probably quite similar to how I feel after kissing him. To quote Justine, he’s a washing machine mouth. He’s got a very large tongue, you see, and I haven’t.” - On Kissing Men

18. "I've never stuck with any particular look. I want long and short hair - at the same time" - on Looks

19. “My new album, A+E, is very English. If it was an outfit, it would be some battered Oxford brogues with a toe cap, a Velvet Underground T-shirt and any old Levi’s.” - on A+E

20. “I’m one of those self-conscious people who needs drink before I can [dance]. I used to dance a lot to The Smiths when I was a teenager. And The Jam, I used to go to a lot of mod clubs and stuff. But as soon as I got mildly famous it just stopped. I got self-conscious, I dance at home…” - on Dancing and Shyness

21. “My hobby is my job…. it’s a jobby!” - on being a musician

More Blur quotes coming on this page!

Check out our Top 30 Damon Albarn quotes HERE

September 25, 2012

Blur - 15 memorable Alex James Quotes

Alex James - the laid-back one, the cool one, the one with the long haircut... He's been labeled as the cheese farmer, the man with a-lot-of-kids and is known as the one most of Blur gets on well with. Here are our top 15 favourite Alex James sayings.

"The thing I really like about this band is that every time I walk out of my door I bump into Graham, no matter where I am! That always reassures me." - Alex.
We're genre-sluts, really. We're all good players, and I don't see why we should have to confine ourselves into playing in one particular style. The Beatles never did. It's whatever floats the boat, really.
I'd always wanted to be an idiot genius Soho alcoholic.
"What you've got to do is look in your cupboard, see what's there, put it all in a big pot, sprinkle some grated cheese on top and bung it in the oven. That's what pop music is all about."
“Damon? What can I say? He’s a confrontational… objectionable … big-headed…arrogant...beauty.” - On Albarn
“All you need are three chords, a good haircut, and balls.” - on Fame
Alex (To liam about the chart battle): "Both our fucking songs where shit anyway!"
Graham thinks he can fly, Damon says he can fly, Dave's got an aeroplane, but I've got me feet on the ground.
"We've always been too friendly, too clever and too good-looking for a lot of people." on Blur
'Watching football is like watching sex. It's good, but participating's much better'
"You can't say that we're unemotional! Emotion is inherent in everything we do. Emotion isn't about standing on mountains going, "I'VE GOT A BROKEN HEART!" If you're going to sing about your heart, you might as well rhyme it with fart, as far as I'm concerned..."
"From the start, my relationship with him was confrontational. He asked me how good his songs were and I said, "Not very good at all". Damon liked the theatre and Hermann Hesse. He wore sandals, had a collection of magic hats and followed the cycles of the moon."
- on Damon Albarn
"I only go out once or twice a week now. Monday to Wednesday and Thursday to Sunday."
"Damon had just finished drama college and was working in a fast-food hellhole at Euston Station.It took me a while to get to know Damon, and I never really knew what he was thinking - unlike Graham, who, like me, just wanted to be down the pub."
"Champagne gives you bad breath - so you have to eat one raw carrot per bottle".

Inside Alex James' head

Check out our Top 30 Damon Albarn quotes HERE

More Blur quotes coming on this page!

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

September 22, 2012

Womack and Albarn guests on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn and Richard Russell appeared on the talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night in support of Womack's latest album, 'The Bravest Man In The Universe'. The musicians performed 3 songs on a purple-lit stage.

Wearing a black cap and sunglasses, the soul singer sat on the middle of the stage and gave an emotional performance.

Albarn, sporting a new shorter haircut was wearing a colorful cap and a jacket that has "BOBBY WOMACK" stitched across the back, played piano on the sidelines, looking relaxed and chilled. As usual, his piano playing makes the songs chilling, and sentimental at the same time.

Watch them perform the tracks 'Jubilee', 'Bravest Man In The Universe' and 'Whatever Happened To The Times' below.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

September 19, 2012

Blur has plans for US Tour in 2013

Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack was at New York's Apple Store Soho last night, and not only did they perform a medley from Womack's latest album (co-produced by the Blur singer), but some new Blur developments were revealed by Damon after the show.

Blur, it turned out, has "plans" for a US Tour for 2013. One of our readers was at the performance, and told us the detailed run down of the meet and greet:

"I was at Damon's performance with Bobby Womack at the Apple Store in Soho last night. They opened with a Q&A featuring Womack, Damon and Richard Russell which was moderated by a semi-informed Rolling Stone journalist, took a few questions from the crowd and then played six songs from Bravest Man in the Universe with Damon on piano. Womack was astonishingly good, and while many vocalists seem to lose their range the older they get, such is not the case with the soul legend."

albarn womack, bobby womack 2012, damon albarn 2012, womack, gorillaz

According to the reader, who sent us the news, Damon Albarn said that Blur had been discussing the possibility of playing shows in the USA next year for 2013, but wanted to be sure there would be the demand for it. Another member of the audience noted that Damon was "non-committal" about the prospects of a Blur American tour, but did not seem to dismiss the idea completely.

Blur always had ambivalent attitudes towards their American 'success' - their first tour in 1991 to promote Leisure and 'There's No Other Way' was short and sweet, just as any first tours would be. But the next one in 1992 was rather close to a disaster - broke, penniless and depressed, Blur had no album to promote and were forced to sell merchandise to pay off their debts. Fast forward many years, and a few more Blur US tours, Damon Albarn finally successfully dominated the American charts by his band Gorillaz.

gorillaz picture, damon albar jamie hewlett, damon albarn gorillaz 2012

Gorillaz success in America - is Damon and Jamie's feud over ?

Damon Albarn, Richard Russell and Bobby Womack will also appear on the local talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where they will be guests alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Penny Marshall on Friday, September 21st 2012. For all fans currently in US, this is a must watch and a rare chance to see Damon Albarn on American television.

The Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack Apple Store event was filmed for a podcast series called 'Events at the Apple Store', which will be available for download soon.

Maybe Damon and Blur will shed more light on their "planned" American tour. Or are they still remaining tight lipped ?

Meanwhile, stay tuned for more new Blur developments, and watch the footage of a performance below.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

September 17, 2012

Damon Albarn to feature on The Child of Lov's new album

Just days after Damon Albarn was announced as the musician to compose BBC's 90th anniversary celebration score for Project Radio Reunited, there's a new Damon Albarn collaboration track to be released in the coming future.

Relatively unknown, mysterious musician The Child Of Lov is releasing a new album that will feature Blur's Damon Albarn and DOOM. Damon Albarn is set to becoming a guest on the new funk / eclectic artist's forthcoming mixtape.

Today, DoubleSix Records tweeted a new promo clip, accompanied with the message “New project coming up called The Child of Lov. Damon Albarn, MF DOOM & Thundercat are all playing a part! Details soon”.

childoflov, damon albarn child of lov, rotisserie child of lov

Damon has also featured on several prominent collaborations and appearances for other musicians. Not only did he produce soul legend Bobby Womack's latest album 'The Bravest Man in the Universe', but he also played piano on Ghostigital's track 'Numb' from album Division Of Culture & Tourism (released June 2012).

Damon's latest released collaboration track - "Bite The Thong"- was from JJ DOOM's album Key To The Kuffs.

The Child of Lov's first single and video is out on October 8th. Listen to a preview of the mysterious new artist's song below. It sounds quite like Albarn's Gorillaz, mixed in with more electronica, techno, crooning vocals and much more funk. We wonder - what will Damon's collaboration track sound like ?

Visit The Child of Lov's Soundcloud here to listen to more tracks.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

September 16, 2012

30 things you wish you've heard Damon Albarn say - Quotes

"Mr-Quotable" Damon Albarn said many things in his 20+ year musical career, given outrageous interviews, given thoughtful speeches and uttered many very, very memorable phrases. Here's our top 30 Damon Albarn quotes of all time.

1. "I've got people camping outside my place in Kensington. In sleeping bags. It's not that irritating, except we haven't got any curtains in the front room, so we can't walk round in the nude." - height of Blur fame.

2. "Yes, I am a middle-class twat“. “I’ve got a PhD in tits" “It’s good to read a book and get a hard-on at the same time (December 1995 interview)

3. "It’s a very romantic idea, to go on a cobbled-together trip on a train with an African diner and rehearsal rooms and sliding doors that allow for playing on to platforms, and people meeting and planning concerts for the evening and watching the English countryside pass by. It’s a beautiful thing." - Africa Express 2012

4. Have I ever punched anyone in the band? Oh yeah, all of them! I used to punch Alex a lot. He used to say really annoying things deliberately. I almost think he liked being punched. (2000)

5. "We'll always be friends now. I like the idea of seeing each other being really old and doddery." (On Graham, Select, 1994)

6. I'm a mixed up person. I've got this real essex man vibe...I cant help it... i cant stand the idea of being a sad lonely bed-sit poet... I'd rather be perceived as loud and arrogant.

7. "There's always been a hip-hop element to my trousers."

8. In the sixties people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, people take Prozac to make it normal.

9. "My guaranteed way of sending myself into deep depression is to read music trade papers and watch MTV."

10. "What do we stand for?So we don't lie down all the time!"

11. "I find computers to be sort of uncharted seas. And as soon as you set out on them, you're lost." - on Technology and why he doesn't use computers

12. "I had a Black girlfriend when I was five" - on women

13. "It's weird because with guys it's not a long thing ,it's more of a "let's be mates,let's get on stage and ,woargh,nice one!"sort a thing .It's funny , I really love that.If that's as far as I ever get in communicating with people,that's great .I just like the idea of everyone cuddling each other"

14. "My fantasy Glastonbury would be to be 18 again and to go with a girl that I've just met and that I was really, really into. Either that or go with my mates and meet a girl there. I certainly wouldn't want to go with any famous people. I'd just go and take loads of drugs and watch all my favourite bands. I'd drink, smoke spliff, drop an E and watch The Silver Apples. Er, this is the 18-year-old Damon, not me now talking, of course." (Damon in 1997)

15. "My mum thinks I'm ultra-conservative in the way I dress. Hippy parents just don't understand why you want to wear a shirt and smart shoes." - on Fashion

16. I really try to avoid all photographs now,I don't know why, I was so into it when I was younger. But let's face it, if you're a good-looking young male with talent you're not going to get taken seriously. I do feel that looks are something you have to get over... It was a great day when I realised I didn't need to see myself any more. I knew who I was... (On aging and looks)

17. "I'm very sexy in the morning." - early Blur interview

18. "Aww man... Aw, I'm so sweaty I can't play properly any more... And I have difficulties playing anyway, so this just makes it virtually impossible for me. I wanna do this song justice as well." - Just before 'Young and Lovely', B-sides gig

19. (What will you be if you were not a singer?) A farmer My grandad and uncle were farmers.I used to spend my summers in Lincolnshire on the farm.I'd to get up at 5.30am,and sit on my grandad's tractor. I loved it.

20. "Cheeky, confident, insecure, sharp, direct." - Albarn on 5 words to describe himself

21. "There were reports in the papers of people breaking up their relationships, because one liked oasis and the other one liked blur...One woman left her husband because he put our CD in the microwave." - on Blur and Oasis's chart battle

22. "I have to wear a new T-shirt every night. I throw them into the audience. One day I'm going to go around the world and reclaim all my T-shirts" - on his live shows

23. "Yeah, Write Songs" (When asked for any tips on songwriting by a budding young songwriter)

24. "I love the whole atmosphere here.The other day I was walking past the cementery and I could hear singing coming from inside.After a while I realised it was a West Indian family singing a spiritual song.The rhythm sounded so incongruous,yet amazing at the same time.That's what is so special about round here.It's such a rich of cultures and images." - On the Cemetery

25. "WE ONLY HAD THREE THINGS TO SAY IN OUR FIRST INTERVIEWS: WE'RE GREAT WE'RE NOT AN INDIE BAND AND DON'T JUDGE US NOW - JUDGE US IN FIVE YEARS' TIME. AT LEAST NOW WE'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT LIVES UP TO MY BIG MOUTH." - on Blur interviews

26. "I've been self-destructive over the years. Anyone who's interested in me will have a rough idea that i've kept a lot of things quiet. I choose not to define my low points." - Q Magazine 2006

27. “Brothers is a much better word. There are moments when we absolutely and utterly connect without even having to say anything and there are other times when we might as well be on other continents. Like now, for example.” - On Graham Coxon, 1997

28. "I'm turning into a croaky old singer" - Hyde Park 2009

29. "I've swapped my youthful promiscuity for something a bit more middle aged" - on getting older ".

30. "My mum’s been having a go at me since I was a teenager about pulling my trousers up. And I have tried, I really did, to keep my trousers up and they always just… drop. Does anyone else have that problem? Am I not alone?" - Margate Winter Gardens gig 2012

More Blur quotes coming on this page!

September 15, 2012

Bobby Womack and Damon Albarn meet and greet - New York Soho event

USA fans and all fans in America - heads up! Damon Albarn is going to be in New York's Apple Store Soho next week to present legendary soul singer Bobby Womack's latest album, 'The Bravest Man In The Universe' to all.

Now that Africa Express is over, the Blur front-man duly heads to America for a meet and greet in the large Apple music store. This CD event will involve Damon Albarn, Bobby Womack and Richard Russell, performing a few short songs from the album and answering some questions.

The date of this special event is September 18th at exactly 7:00pm to 8:00pm.

For those who have been following Damon's non-Blur career, he produced Womack's album, which was released on June 11th 2012. This is the singer's first LP of original songs in nearly 18 years. The two musicians have collaborated for Gorillaz on the band's third album 'Plastic Beach', with 'Cloud of Unknowing' featuring vocals by Womack.

Very exciting news for fans in New York - Damon Albarn has got to be the most hard working man in the musical universe.

Check out Apple Store's Soho page (Apple Store SoHo, 103 Prince Street, New York), with directions and more to the event here.

Preview Bobby Womack's album 'The Bravest Man In The Universe' on iTunes here.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig- Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

October 4, 2012

Damon Albarn wants to make Another Opera

October 2, 2012

Graham Coxon celebrates at Reeperbahn Festival - Sep 2012

September 29, 2012

21 things you didn't know Graham Coxon said - Quotes

September 25, 2012

Blur - 15 memorable Alex James Quotes

September 22, 2012

Womack and Albarn guests on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

September 19, 2012

Blur has plans for US Tour in 2013

September 17, 2012

Damon Albarn to feature on The Child of Lov's new album

September 16, 2012

30 things you wish you've heard Damon Albarn say - Quotes

September 15, 2012

Bobby Womack and Damon Albarn meet and greet - New York Soho event

ShareThis

Search the Site

This Month's Poll - Vote Now !

BlurBalls Monthly Archives