Blur plan comeback with Graham Coxon

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Blur will reconvene in the studio this summer and make a new album with founding guitarist Graham Coxon, Alex James has confirmed.

Rumours have been rife for some months about the band's plans for the future and the chances of the first new recordings since 2003's "Think Tank".

Coxon famously quit the band during sessions for that album to launch a successful solo career. However, he is expected to contribute to the forthcoming follow-up.

James, who releases his autobiography, "Bit Of A Blur", later this year, says the band will split if the reunion is unsuccessful.

He explained: "We're all heading into the studio together this summer. Graham's coming too. We're gonna see if we've still got it. If not, I think we'll just call it a day."

Meanwhile, a 'source' commented: "There was a lot of acrimony around the time Graham left but now everyone is back on speaking terms.

"They're hopeful that the sessions will prove rewarding but are under no illusions.

"If things don't go to plan in the studio they're all quite happy to walk away, safe in the knowledge they gave it their best shot."

"Bit Of A Blur" is released in June and contains the memoirs of "the second drunkest member of the drunkest band in Britain", according to James.

DOTMUSIC

― Bee OK, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

I keep hearing reports from Graham saying "no way".. but I also heard that there isn't likely to be any more Gorillaz albums after this movie comes out, so who knows.. I'll remain optimistic!

― Finefinemusic, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:55 (eighteen years ago)

oh, and:

safe in the knowledge they gave it their best shot.

[i]safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my heart devoted to it..[/]

― Finefinemusic, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

damn.

― Finefinemusic, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

bad news

― blueski, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:57 (eighteen years ago)

Blur is now at last the pseudo-arty side project Damon always wished it was.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:57 (eighteen years ago)

Coxon famously quit the band during sessions for that album to launch a "successful" solo career.

Fixed.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 23:08 (eighteen years ago)

successful? more like fucking shit! [/old fart tribute]

― blueski, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

My girlfriend's ex, who is a total dick, plays in the Graham Coxon band, so if this means he gets the chop I'm all for it.

― Eyeball Kicks, Thursday, 3 May 2007 00:56 (eighteen years ago)

if it's half as good as DEMON DAYS i'm all for it too.
christ who ISN'T all for the return of the best british band since the smiths?

― pisces, Thursday, 3 May 2007 01:07 (eighteen years ago)

I'm not all for the return of phrases like that, even if it means the midget has less cash.

― Eyeball Kicks, Thursday, 3 May 2007 01:18 (eighteen years ago)

coxon's solo album was at least better than think tank.

― Fetchboy, Thursday, 3 May 2007 01:20 (eighteen years ago)

Coxon was a bit on "Think Tank"

The kids just discovered the video for Parklife. Cue lots of jumping and splaying legs etc.

― Mark G, Thursday, 3 May 2007 09:23 (eighteen years ago)

I can't help being a bit excited by this but I know it's going to be shit. What's the chances it involves two punky shouty songs, a plodworthy ballad, something that involves Dubstep, a depressed disco number, one decent song, a silly but fun instrumental and 10 minutes of guitar feedback?

Song titles:

Arrows
Decent Song
Taliban
YDMNSTM (You Don't Make No Sense To Me)
The Loggerheads
Bluebeard
Cuppa Tea and a Keema Naan
Keepy Uppy
Barnold Lame
Sad Day
Starship Unicorn
Eureka!

― the next grozart, Thursday, 3 May 2007 09:39 (eighteen years ago)

Why don't they just sack Damon and be done with it? Blur would be a much more interesting band with Alex and Graham in charge.

― Masonic Boom, Thursday, 3 May 2007 09:46 (eighteen years ago)

OTMFM.

― the next grozart, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:05 (eighteen years ago)

What is this, the 800th time Alex James has said there could/would be a reunion?

― StanM, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:06 (eighteen years ago)

Haha that tracklisting is awesome!

― Matt DC, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:07 (eighteen years ago)

"Barnold Lame" with guest narration by Jose Mourinho.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:10 (eighteen years ago)

A quirky fast number featuring guest vocals from Jamie T

― braveclub, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:26 (eighteen years ago)

working with stephen street again? now THAT i'd buy.

― pisces, Thursday, 3 May 2007 10:32 (eighteen years ago)

I was excited by this, then I saw how easily parodyable (which isnt a word) Blur were. Am still excited though, i'd quite like that Jose Mourinho one

― BenTyler, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:26 (eighteen years ago)

The Good The Bad & The Court Jester

― stephen, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:08 (eighteen years ago)

Coxon famously ~~quit~~ was kicked out of the band during sessions for that album to launch a ~~successful~~ wibbly wobbly solo career

― Uptoeleven, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:01 (eighteen years ago)

May be better than the Coxon-less Blur, but first and foremost they need to give more power to Alex James and Dave Rowntree again, like in the early to mid 90s.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:20 (eighteen years ago)

MORE POWER TO DAVE ROWNTREE

that would look good on a t-shirt

― admrl, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

I am honestly so excited to hear this. I have faith. I don't care what people think of me, I still pray to the church of Blur.

― Bimble, Sunday, 6 May 2007 19:55 (eighteen years ago)

four months pass...

http://www.nme.com/news/blur/31163

Graham Coxon: 'I'm raring to record with Blur'

Guitarist says Blur recording sessions are imminent

Graham Coxon, who left Blur in 2002, has spoken about his band's imminent reunion, saying he is "raring to record".

Blur bassist Alex James had previously explained to NME.COM that he was excited about plans for the band to record together, after drummer Dave Rowntree revealed the band had set aside a week to record together as a four piece for the first time since 2002.

Speaking to NME.COM, Coxon suggested that the reunion now depended on Blur frontman Damon Albarn.

"Dave, Alex and I are all talking. I talk to Alex the most. But there's four individuals in the band," he said. "We're all really busy, but there's definitely a week [when we're going to record].

"I'm just raring to record," he added. "But anything could happen. An alligator could come out of the Thames and eat the Tate Modern while I'm in it, or a mosquito could come and kill us all."

When asked what the new Blur material would sound like, Coxon joked, tongue firmly in cheek, that "there would be ten tracks, recorded on a 16-track, and all the songs will have loads of guitar on them."

Keep checking NME.COM for the latest on the Blur reunion.

― musically, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 03:05 (seventeen years ago)

Kind of interested to read Alex's book, actually.

― roxymuzak, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 03:49 (seventeen years ago)

screw that add masonic boom

― mookieproof, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 03:49 (seventeen years ago)

Oh god they are going to kick ass so hard! *does happy dance*

― Bimble, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 05:21 (seventeen years ago)

This has been on the cards for a very long time.

― suzy, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 08:18 (seventeen years ago)

Alex's book is good. I read it on a plane very quickly - and despite its readility - was outraged (translation: an attack of jealousy) by the self-indulgent life-style that successful bass guitarists lead.

I then immediately read it again on holiday quite slowly and found it much more sympathetic. He does have a slightly slick turn of phrase that irritates at times e.g. "In London, everyone knows that the place to go is the Groucho...", but generally he's a surprisingly good writer.

It does sound as if he's now at the most boring stage of his life though...

― Bob Six, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 12:13 (seventeen years ago)

This has been on the cards for a very long time.

We saw it happen, in Freud's!

― Alba, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 13:39 (seventeen years ago)

He talks about Freud's in his book.

― Bob Six, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 13:47 (seventeen years ago)

Alex is a fun writer, damn him.

The Freud encounter was a blast and I tried to let them get on with it but I needed SERVICE and Albarn wouldn't let me buy my own drink when I got to the bar. Nick, they still have NO IDEA that there were a ton of internet messageboard people gathered in the corner, watching them meet with the manager they've all kept on jointly while they've gone off doing their individual pursuits.

― suzy, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 17:39 (seventeen years ago)

It's mentioned in the book?

― roxymuzak, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago)

Oh, dur. Reading comprehension, etc.

― roxymuzak, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 16:21 (seventeen years ago)

are they recording with stephen street or wot

― roxymuzak, Monday, 15 October 2007 06:13 (seventeen years ago)

This is basically a no-go now, or so the reports say.

― musically, Monday, 15 October 2007 06:36 (seventeen years ago)

Link, plz.

― Bimble, Monday, 15 October 2007 06:49 (seventeen years ago)

It was never a go!

― energy flash gordon, Monday, 15 October 2007 08:23 (seventeen years ago)

Fuck!

― roxymuzak, Monday, 15 October 2007 13:57 (seventeen years ago)

RIP

― Dom Passantino, Monday, 15 October 2007 13:58 (seventeen years ago)

Ah, you wait. One day, possibly late January next year, one announcement "Album out next week, click here for d/l and optional payment method"

Till then, hats.

― Mark G, Monday, 15 October 2007 13:58 (seventeen years ago)

Til then, this hat more like:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/damon460.jpg

― roxymuzak, Monday, 15 October 2007 14:01 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7772891.stm

true.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 9 December 2008 14:27 (sixteen years ago)

For £45 I expect free cheese from the James estate.

― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 9 December 2008 14:36 (sixteen years ago)

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