Albarn's got a brand new band

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Albarn puts solo project on hold as he launches new collaboration…
Two hugely successful bands and a solo career would be enough to satisfy most musicians – but not Damon Albarn.
The Blur and Gorillaz star has now formed a third band, The Good The Bad And The Queen, and has even put a Danger Mouse-produced solo project on hold to pursue it. The group consists of our Damon, The Clash’s bass player Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Tony Allen on drums.

Apparently the foursome are working on a concept album about London which is currently penned for a January 2007 release, and their live debut is planned to coincide with the BBC’s Electric Proms season at The Roadhouse in Camden this October.

IIIIiiiihccckkkk

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

TONY ALLEN?

― Luis Skank Bloc Polonia (Andy_K), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:46 (nineteen years ago)

I need to stop posting so much and get a goddamned life..

all the same

What the hell has Simonon been all these years? Why can these people get taxi licenses and leave us alone.

also is this Tony Allen, the Tony Allen?

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:46 (nineteen years ago)

!?!?!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:47 (nineteen years ago)

I mean if it is Tony Allen it's still going to suck, but still TONY ALLEN?!?!?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:47 (nineteen years ago)

Everything in that initial post is fucking horrifying. Every single thing. Except possibly the delay to the Danger Mouse solo project, that's quite a pleasant surprise.

"the BBC’s Electric Proms season at The Roadhouse in Camden this October."

Good grief.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

Who's the Queen?

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:50 (nineteen years ago)

That's what MTV.co.uk say. Pitchfork is echoing them.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:50 (nineteen years ago)

Dude plays melodica or something on a Tony Allen record I have.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:51 (nineteen years ago)

several minutes after clicking this thread, I still haven't got a fucking clue how to feel about this

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:52 (nineteen years ago)

The group consists of our Damon, The Clash’s bass player Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Tony Allen on drums.

Apparently the foursome are working on a concept album about London

"Come, come, come, nuclear boooooooooooooooomb."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:53 (nineteen years ago)

couldn't even get the GOOD Verve guitarist

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

You know, him trying to be the UK's Mike Patton is kinda ridiculous.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:55 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently the foursome are working on a concept album about London

http://www.quitegreat.co.uk/images/sandi_thom2.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

You know, him trying to be the UK's ~~Mike Patton~~Tim Armstrong is kinda ridiculous.

fixed

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

More true on the relative worth front, I'll admit.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:57 (nineteen years ago)

The BBC broke the story it seems:

Blur singer records with new band
Damon Albarn
Blur's frontman has continued to explore new creative outlets
Blur and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn is recording in a new band formed with ex-Clash bass player Paul Simonon and former Verve guitarist Simon Tong.

The name of the group, which also includes drummer Tony Allen, has not yet been revealed.

They are due to release a first single in October, followed by an album entitled The Good The Bad and The Queen in January 2007.

The band are expected to play their first live date in October.

Albarn found fame in the 1990s with Blur, whose breakthrough Parklife album was arguably one of the defining records of the Britpop phenomenon.

He went on to greater international success with Gorillaz, the cartoon band he formed in 2001 with animator Jamie Hewlett.

It was announced earlier this year that Albarn is also writing a stage musical about Notting Hill.

The collaboration with award-winning playwright Roy Williams is due to open at London's National Theatre next year.

The band don't have a name according to this.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:58 (nineteen years ago)

I have no idea who Tony Allen is. I feel like El Lexo.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:10 (nineteen years ago)

wikipedia means never having to say you're ignorant

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:10 (nineteen years ago)

Tony Allen.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

AMG in knowing stuff about black music shocka!

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:21 (nineteen years ago)

Weird

― Luis Skank Bloc Polonia (Andy_K), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 22:24 (nineteen years ago)

Albarn's kind of a tough act to swallow, but honestly, everything he's done outside of Blur - Mali Music, Gorillaz, his Honest Jon's label - has seemed fine to me. What's the problem?

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 00:51 (nineteen years ago)

I don't mind the label, I loved the London is the Place For Me comps and the Tony Allen album was good and I always approve of Moondog material being given air. There's quite a few releases I intend to fully check out on Honest Jon's.

But as front man (Gorillaz/Blur), he get's in under my skin and I don't think I can give a justifiable reason for it. It's partly his voice. It also feels like he doesn't have enough direction, always insinuating himself into things or somewhat. Like a guy who can't settle down with one woman? I dunno. Hmm.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 01:05 (nineteen years ago)

Dear Damon: if we all chip in and pay for an operation to make you into an actual black person, will you then please go and record another Blur album? Preferably one that actually sounds like Blur this time?

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 03:18 (nineteen years ago)

Wow, Damon Albarn runs Honest Jon's? Most surprising.

― sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 03:21 (nineteen years ago)

Ah hell, I say give 'em a break for trying something new. Just imagine if it had been another Blur album worse than Blur's Think Tank.

― Weezil Braune (Bimble...), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 04:12 (nineteen years ago)

Eppy and Weezil OTM

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 07:31 (nineteen years ago)

if we all chip in and pay for an operation to make you into an actual black person

I'll only chip in if we can make him a dolphin:

http://www.southpark.dsl.pipex.com/images/epiimgs/epi901/901-3.jpg

― Marmot 4-Tay: The root cause of dragon hatred among power metal bands. (marmotwo, Wednesday, 2 August 2006 07:36 (nineteen years ago)

no we don't want that either!

all horrifying. mandatory retirements definitely a u&k concept in popular music (starting before they even started their musical career in several of that mob's cases)

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 07:45 (nineteen years ago)

Where's do you find that care-o-meter graphic thing?

― Doi Doing! (Dada), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 07:47 (nineteen years ago)

Shut the fuck up Lex.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 07:48 (nineteen years ago)

i'd be semi-excited about a new blur album even if it was shite. i am not interested in gorillaz or damon albarn's solo thing nor this.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 08:03 (nineteen years ago)

Albarn's kind of a tough act to swallow, but honestly, everything he's done outside of Blur - Mali Music, Gorillaz, his Honest Jon's label - has seemed fine to me. What's the problem?

Albarn's main problem is that he, whilst talented, is a smug little twat. He's well aware of this though--why do you think Gorillaz was an animated project? It was something he could hide behind and pretend to be someone else.

He also knows how to pick his collaborators well (though perhaps not too well, judging by this latest turn of events).

― steal compass, drive north, disappear (tissp), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 09:42 (nineteen years ago)

I love how angry The Lex makes Nick (and others).

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

i don't see why, other people said how horrifying all this was as well! and in your hearts you know perfectly well that i'm right.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

...and for once you are.

― Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

1. It is rather telling that Pitchfork doesn't know who Tony Allen is. Idiots.

2. The Albarn track on Tony's post-"Black Voices" album was a truer Afrobeat vocal than anything anyone else did on that record. Maybe that's damning with faint praise, but... seriously, it sounded great.

3. Albarn -- with that dude from Massive Attack -- came out against the invasion/colonization of Iraq very early, when everyone else in 'pop music' (outside of the usual smartniks like Eno and Wyatt) seemed wary of taking a serious public stand. He's put his money where his mouth is with that Honest Jon's stuff and of course the Mali record, which is fantastic. More credit to him for growing beyond Kinks kopyism.

― JayBabcock (jabbercocky), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.dvdplus.co.uk/catalogDvd/images/feed/music/44/6589044.JPG

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Albarn -- with that dude from Massive Attack -- came out against the invasion/colonization of Iraq very early, when everyone else in 'pop music'

Wow, give him a medal. Suggest Bono to present him with it?

― Doi Doing! (Dada), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

I hope pfork think it's that Tony Allen! Geansaí-Rock.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

"You'll like this album--the singer came out against the Iraq war really early."

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

i'd be semi-excited about a new blur album even if it was shite.

I fail to understand this in any way. Dear god I hope there will never be another Blur album.

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

(although I quite liked We've Got A File On You!)

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

"This soup is delicious, it was made by a man wearing blue pants."

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

"Thank god he is no longer copying the Kinks and is instead pretending he is in the Clash."

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

Tariq Ali to drop northern house 12 inch at the end of the year: keep 'em peeled for that.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Thank god he is no longer copying the Kinks and is instead pretending he is in Africa 70"

Why not? That's cool, isn't it? Apart from the Lex compulsory retirement scheme, what else do we want our pop stars to do when they get old?

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

I'll stick with Lex's scheme I think

― Doi Doing! (Dada), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

Make music that's interesting instead of going to rock 'n' roll fantasy camp.

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

he doesnt "run" honest johns, just helps. the label is basicly run by the dudes that run the shop

― bb (bbrz), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

xxxpost
drive taxis

He finances the label and bosses them around then does he?

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

Does this leave Alex James free to become full time shed correspondant for Country Life now?

― Her Royal Kateness (kate), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

This thread inspired me to check for Tony Allen's newest album today.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

So another Blur album would be "interesting", would it?

Surely mucking about with lots of aliases and different projects and being open to other musics IS at least interesting, even if they aren't successful.

(i LOVE the last gorillaz record, fwiw, haven't heard the mali record, couldn't give a monkeys about a play about Notting Hill)

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

I said "make interesting music" not "do interesting things."

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

I mean fuck it'd be fascinating if he blew a goat on Trafalgar Square but forgive me if I don't give him kudos for that.

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

Surely mucking about with lots of aliases and different projects and being open to other musics IS at least interesting

It is... for him

― Doi Doing! (Dada), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

(OK a few kudos but still)

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

What the hell has Simonon been all these years?

He has been a landscape painter.

http://www.art-tube.com/artists/images/artwork/030301_p_simonon1.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/entertainment/images/simononbermondsey_large.jpg

― kit brash (kit brash), Thursday, 3 August 2006 10:10 (nineteen years ago)

WTF, this sounds rad.

― the last Damon Albarn fan (nickalicious), Thursday, 3 August 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

Naïve art huh? Not as interesting as his acting on Guns of Brixton...

― paulhw (paulhw), Thursday, 3 August 2006 20:27 (nineteen years ago)

TS: this band vs. GANG FONT

(Erik Fratzke (Happy Apple, Zebulon Pike) guitar.
Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple) drums.
Greg Norton (the Nortons' Restaurant/Husker Du) bass.
Craig Taborn (jazz dude) keys.)

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 3 August 2006 20:33 (nineteen years ago)

There's nothing naïve about that Van Gogh/Albert Marquet hackademic art.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Thursday, 3 August 2006 21:41 (nineteen years ago)

Before you know it they'll have 'special guest' Jools Holland on board as well for the second single.

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Friday, 4 August 2006 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

Who are you talking to?

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Friday, 4 August 2006 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Anyone who wants to listen, dummy

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Friday, 4 August 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Nobody, then.

― Son of Spam (noodle vague), Friday, 4 August 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

That's it, I remember.

― faceless corny indie fuxxxor (Haberdager), Friday, 4 August 2006 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/news_images/7293_19753_15.jpg

― Marmot 4-Tay: The root cause of dragon hatred among power metal bands. (marmotwo, Friday, 4 August 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

I thought maybe he was joining Modest Mouse.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 4 August 2006 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

I might start listening to Modest Mouse if that were the case...

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Friday, 4 August 2006 20:01 (nineteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pan_and_Daphnis.jpg

"You know Damon I'm so glad you agreed to play on my record, it's a real honour for a God such as I. I mean I'm good with the pipes and all but your Melodica playing, it.. it blows my mind, no pun intended."

"Well Pan, you know, I want to make the Young People aware of you, you know. They need me to hold their hand to introduce them to this new and strange sound, but it's all about You... and Me. Being. You know? come let's do a stage show about Notting Hill, I'm writing this song about an alley where I found a fiver and bought biscuits with it. I think you should sing on the song about Bendy Busses and cleaning ladies and how they live in filth and travel on busses and cry on my stairs and say it's the carpet cleaner fluid."

"I heard you found me a bongo player too Damon?"

"Oh yes, a black fellow, from Africa"

"Damon, is that your penis"

"Yes Pan, you can touch it"

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Friday, 4 August 2006 23:18 (nineteen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Pan_and_Daphnis.jpg

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Friday, 4 August 2006 23:18 (nineteen years ago)

:-D OTM, painful as it is to admit it...

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Friday, 4 August 2006 23:30 (nineteen years ago)

is he bald yet ??

― people explosion (Sonny A.), Friday, 4 August 2006 23:47 (nineteen years ago)

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