Blur (band)
In December 1988, bassist Alex James joined singer Damon Albarn's band Circus in London. The group initially adopted the name Seymour after J.D. Salinger's novel. Drummer Dave Rowntree had already joined in October, while guitarist Graham Coxon was studying at Goldsmiths College alongside his childhood friend Albarn and James. Their first live performance occurred during summer 1989 inside a goods shed at the East Anglian Railway Museum. A Food Records representative named Andy Ross attended a show that convinced him to sign them. He brought label founder David Balfe to see another gig at The Falcon in Camden. The label disliked their original name and provided a list of alternatives. The musicians chose Blur from that list. Food Records officially signed the rechristened band in March 1990.
From March through July 1990, they toured Britain opening for the Cramps. They released the single She's So High in October 1990, which reached number 48 on the UK singles chart. The band struggled to create a follow-up until producer Stephen Street arrived. Their next release, There's No Other Way, became a hit peaking at number eight. This success allowed them into a social circle called The Scene That Celebrates Itself. NME magazine described them as the acceptable face of bands emerging since Manchester lost momentum. Their third single Bang reached only number 24. Label owners pushed them toward Madchester sounds despite internal creative friction. Albarn wrote lyrics directly within the studio during recording sessions. Leisure peaked at number seven but received mixed reviews. Journalist John Harris noted it could not shake off an odor of anti-climax.
By late 1991, the group found themselves £60,000 in debt. They toured the United States in 1992 to recoup financial losses. Popscene emerged as a turning point featuring punk guitars and British horns yet charted at number 32. Albarn told NME that pursuing this English ideal annoyed many people. Plans for Never Clever were scrapped after its poor performance. During their American tour, members grew homesick and frustrated. Physical confrontations occurred between bandmates while they were away from home. Upon returning to Britain, Blur felt overshadowed by rival group Suede's recent success. A poor gig in 1992 put them in danger of being dropped by Food Records.
They shifted their ideology to celebrate British heritage against American grunge bands like Nirvana. Andy Partridge produced early sessions before Stephen Street returned to finish Modern Life Is Rubbish. The album released in May 1993 featured press photos showing mod and skinhead attire alongside a mastiff dog. Critics viewed the imagery as nationalistic so Blur issued a second photo depicting a pre-war aristocratic tea party. Modern Life Is Rubbish peaked at number 15 but sold only 19,000 copies in America. Parklife arrived in 1994 with disco-influenced Girls & Boys reaching number five on UK charts. The album stayed on British charts for 90 weeks and won four Brit Awards including Best Album. Coxon later identified Parklife as the moment they became an amazing new pop sensation rather than an alternative arty band. Their fourth album The Great Escape followed in September 1995 with Country House outselling Oasis Roll With It by 274,000 copies to 216,000. This event became known as the Battle of Britpop.
An early 1996 Q magazine interview revealed relations between members had become very strained. Adrian Deevoy wrote that they stood on the verge of a nervous breakup. Graham Coxon resented James for his playboy lifestyle and Albarn for controlling musical direction. Coxon struggled with drinking problems while listening to noisy American bands like Pavement. In February 1996, cardboard cutouts replaced absent members during a lip-synced Italian television broadcast. Stuart Maconie later described Blur as sewn together very awkwardly at that time.
Albarn grew to appreciate Coxon's tastes in lo-fi music and argued for a stripped-down sound. They recorded part of their fifth album in London before moving to Iceland away from the Britpop scene. Released in February 1997, the self-titled album debuted at number one despite commercial suicide predictions. Song Two reached number six on Billboard Modern Rock charts and remained there for 26 weeks. The track became the most recognizable Blur song in America after licensing deals. A nine-month world tour followed its success. Bustin' + Dronin arrived in February 1998 featuring remixes by Thurston Moore and William Orbit. Orbit replaced Street as producer for their next record. 13 released in March 1999 drifted further from Britpop attitudes with gospel-based Tender opening at number two.
Recording for their seventh album began in November 2001 but concentrated work started in June 2002. Sessions moved to Marrakesh then Devon before Graham Coxon left the group early in the process. Coxon developed anxiety and depression due to his drinking problem and involvement in business decisions. He stated there were no rows but recognized they needed time apart. Think Tank released in May 2003 featured atmospheric electronic sounds with simpler guitar lines played by Albarn. The guitarist's absence meant almost the entire album was written by Albarn alone. It reached number 56 in the United States while winning a Brit Award nomination. Simon Tong filled in for Coxon during the successful 2003 tour.
XFM News reported in 2005 that Blur would record an EP without hiring a replacement guitarist. Aborted recordings occurred throughout that year while the band kept a low profile. Members announced a reunion in 2007 intending to record together in August or September. They met in October but posted online stating they only had lunch with no music plans. In December 2008, Blur announced a concert at London's Hyde Park on the 3rd of July 2009. Days later they added a second date ending with preview shows through Manchester. Alexis Petridis gave their Goldsmiths College performance five stars calling it potentiated by passing years.
Blur headlined Glastonbury Festival on June 28th where they played for the first time since 1998. Reviews called them the best Glastonbury headliners in an age. They also performed at Oxegen 2009 and T in the Park despite Coxon being hospitalized with food poisoning. James stated after completion that they discussed no further plans. Albarn told Q he could not do it anymore explaining his motivation was repairing relationships with Coxon. Coxon confirmed no future shows were planned in September interviews.
No Distance Left to Run documentary released in January 2010 earning a Grammy nomination. Parklife appeared on UK postage stamps unveiled by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. April 2010 brought Fool's Day vinyl limited to 1000 copies for Record Store Day. February 2012 saw them awarded Outstanding Contribution to Music at Brit Awards. Albarn and Coxon premiered Under The Westway live together. A box-set entitled Blur 21 containing seven studio albums arrived in July. Hyde Park hosted their headline show for the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. Performances followed at Rock Werchter, Primavera Sound, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
In April 2015, Blur released The Magic Whip as their first studio album in twelve years. Conceived over five days in Hong Kong after a cancelled Japan tour, the city inspired its urban sound. Albarn said there is nothing pastoral about it because it is very urban. The record marked the return of Graham Coxon absent from all but one track on Think Tank plus Stephen Street. The Daily Telegraph awarded five stars calling it a triumphant comeback retaining core identity while infusing mature new flavor combinations. NME agreed saying they made music rivaling their best work. It became the sixth consecutive Blur LP since Parklife to top British charts. Sales exceeded the rest of the top five combined during its first week. The album peaked at number 24 on Billboard 200 becoming their highest charting US release.
New World Towers documentary covered the recording process releasing December 2015. Following the Magic Whip tour, Blur went on hiatus until March 2019 when they reunited briefly for an Africa Express event in London organized by Albarn.
On the 14th of November 2022, Blur announced performances at Wembley Stadium scheduled for the 8th of July 2023. This marked their first headline performance since 2015. February 10th brought collaboration with clothing brand PLEASURES releasing commemorative items for their 1997 album. The Narcissist arrived as the first single May 18th followed by concerts starting May 19th at Colchester Arts Centre. They played Primavera Sound Barcelona and Malahide Castle near Dublin before headlining Wembley twice. The Ballad Of Darren released July 21st preceded by St. Charles Square. Subsequent festivals included Øyafestivalen Oslo Way Out West Gothenburg Flow Festival Helsinki and Summer Sonic Tokyo and Osaka.
Albarn announced another hiatus December 5th stating it was time to wrap up because it was too much for him. Management offered a late night phone call to play Coachella 2024 giving them five minutes to decide. Albarn postponed his planned break. A warm-up sold-out show occurred April 10th at Pomona Fox Theater supported by Jockstrap. Their first week Coachella performance drew media attention for lack of crowd interaction during Girls & Boys. Albarn's visible frustration appeared during that set. He stated during the second week probably the band's final show came early May 2024 when To The End documentary release was announced.
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Common questions
When did Blur officially sign with Food Records?
Food Records officially signed the rechristened band in March 1990. The label had previously disliked their original name Seymour and provided a list of alternatives from which they chose Blur.
What year did Blur release Parklife and how many weeks did it stay on British charts?
Parklife arrived in 1994 and stayed on British charts for 90 weeks. The album won four Brit Awards including Best Album and peaked at number seven on UK charts.
Why did Graham Coxon leave Blur during the recording of Think Tank?
Graham Coxon left the group early in the process because he developed anxiety and depression due to his drinking problem and involvement in business decisions. He stated there were no rows but recognized they needed time apart.
Which Blur album became their highest charting US release and when was it released?
The Magic Whip became their highest charting US release by peaking at number 24 on Billboard 200. It was released as their first studio album in twelve years in April 2015 after being conceived over five days in Hong Kong.
When did Blur announce performances at Wembley Stadium scheduled for July 2023?
On the 14th of November 2022, Blur announced performances at Wembley Stadium scheduled for the 8th of July 2023. This marked their first headline performance since 2015.