Alex James: Last News

Blur‘s Alex James has revealed that he once got kicked out of a church party for using a “naked baby Jesus” figurine as an ashtray.In his recent autobiography Over The Rainbow: Tales from an Unexpected Year, released on December 5, James shared the anecdote, via the Metro, which had apparently happened at a Christmas church party in 2023.“I had been smoking in the room with the art and the objects, as usual,” James wrote. “Someone I didn’t know had said, ‘I’m not sure if you’re allowed to smoke in here’.

Blur‘s Alex James has announced plans for a Britpop Classical concert at this year’s Big Feastival. Check out info and footage of what to expect below.The bash which combines live music with food attractions, is due to take place at James’ Cotswolds farm near Kingham, Oxfordshire, from August 22-24.Much like the Ministry Of Sound Classical concerts, which reimagine classic dance tracks with an orchestra and guest singers, the musician and cheesemaker will lead a Britpop classical set, with a live band alongside a full orchestra, on the closing night (August 24) at his three day festival.Announcing the concert at a special launch party at the LVLS in Hackney last night (April 3), James confirmed the show will feature the London Concert Orchestra and a band featuring two guitarists, two keyboardists, four singers and a number of special guests singing anthems by the likes of Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Supergrass and many more.He said: “Last summer we had Ministry Of Sound Classical headline and it literally fucking blew me away.

Blur‘s Damon Albarn has recalled his time with the late Marianne Faithfull and shared that they used to get “quite lairy”.The death of the iconic singer and actor was confirmed yesterday (January 30) by her representatives who announced that she had “passed away peacefully in London” at the age of 78, “in the company of her loving family.”Mick Jagger shared a personal message to his former partner while Metallica described her as “fearless” and Morrissey said she “brought us all closer”. Sir Paul McCartney also shared a tribute, describing Faithfull as “beautiful and sweet”.

Blur‘s Alex James has weighed in on Labour’s planned changes to the inheritance tax policy for farms.The bassist of the Britpop group, who released the memoir Over The Rainbow: Tales Of An Unexpected Year earlier this month, turned to farming during their hiatus in the 2000s. He’s since carved a name for himself in the cheese world, even launching one named after New Order’s Blue Monday.In a new interview with Channel 4 News‘s Krishnan Guru-Murthy, James has reflected on his “cliche” decision to buy a farm post-Blur, as well as the recent news that the government would be introducing an inheritance tax on some farmer’s assets.James recalled entering the industry during a precarious era.

Alex James has said he “burst into tears” when he saw his teenage daughter in the crowd at a recent Blur show.The bassist of the Britpop group, who released the memoir Over The Rainbow: Tales Of An Unexpected Year earlier this month, has reflected on the band’s new generation of fans, and on his children attending Blur concert.Speaking to Channel 4 News, James recalled an early reunion warm-up show in Eastbourne, where he joked that his older children “all got drunk immediately and fell over and started going absolutely mental”. However, he noted that his youngest daughter, who is 14 years old, was surprisingly moved by the gig.“I knew where she was standing, they put her on the viewing platform and when they switch the lights on, you literally can’t see anything but the first time the house lights came up I knew where she was standing and I stole a glance over there,” James said.“And she was like head back, arms aloft and I literally, I just burst into tears.

Alex James has revealed Banksy was backstage at Blur‘s Wembley reunion and “loved” the show.Blur announced details of their one-off UK reunion gig at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2022, marking the band’s first headline show since 2015 following the release of the critically-acclaimed comeback album ‘The Magic Whip‘.Due to overwhelming demand, the reunion gig turned into a two-parter, with a second show announced shortly after. The 25-song setlist for the gigs saw them wheel through classics like ‘Girls & Boys’, ‘Tender’, ‘The Universal’ and of course, ‘Song 2’, and perform ‘Lot 105’ for the first time since 1994.James recently appeared on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show to reflect on the gigs, and host Evans mentioned how “fleetingly” the bassist had spoken about the mysterious artist attending the first Wembley show.“He’s very close with Damon,” he explained of his presence backstage.

Alex James of Blur has said he “genuinely won’t be going” to see the upcoming Oasis 2025 reunion tour.Earlier this week, James was asked about Oasis’ highly-anticipated, sold-out reunion tour, which includes multiple stops at Wembley Stadium, a venue where Blur have performed multiple times.Speaking to The Observer, the bassist said he was “delighted” for his former Britpop rivals, adding: “And it’s nice that they waited till we got our shit out the way, you know? That’s very good manners.”His comments followed Blur wrapped up the tour supporting their ninth studio album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ in late November 2023, which preceded a prominent slot at Coachella 2024.This morning (December 4), James spoke further about the reunion on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X.When asked by Moyles if he had secured tickets yet, James echoed his earlier comments, saying: “I am not sure that I will be going. Look, it was very good manners that they waited until we got all our junk out the way.”Moyles then asked if James thinks Blur’s recent reunion inspired Liam and Noel Gallagher to get back together, to which he responded: “Well, it’s just that I’m always reading terrible statistics about marriages ending in divorce.

Alex James has shared his thoughts on the reunion of Oasis, saying that “it’s nice that they waited till we got our shit out the way”, referring to Blur and their recent tour.The Observer published an interview with the Blur bassist yesterday (December 1) about Over the Rainbow, the forthcoming third autobiography by James after 2007’s Bit of a Blur and 2012’s All Cheeses Great and Small.James was asked about Oasis’ highly-anticipated, sold-out reunion tour, including a return to Wembley Stadium, a venue that Blur has performed multiple times.“I’m so happy for them. Delighted,” James said.

EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired North American rights to two films about the major U.K. rock band Blur: the documentary blur: To The End and the concert film blur: Live At Wembley Stadium, eyeing both for theatrical release later this year.

Primal Scream‘s Bobby Gillespie has spoken out about his position in society and seemingly taken a pop at Blur‘s Alex James.The frontman, who was brought up in a working class environment, has written an essay accompanying the band’s new album ‘Come Ahead’, which is out today (November 8).In it he said: “I find myself in the strange position of being both inside and outside of [class],” which is something he “wrestles with”.In a new interview with The i, he elaborated on the statement adding: “’Wrestles’ might be overstating the case but if you’re in a successful band, you get invited to things, know people from different classes, you’ve experienced things. It’s not like you’re trying to be like the guy from Blur [Alex James] hanging out with David Cameron and what’s his name, the guy that does the driving? [Jeremy Clarkson].“That’s obviously social climbing going on there, right? I don’t mean it like that.

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon is locked in a court battle with his wife as they go through divorce proceedings.

Blur and Oasis.Reportedly titled The Battle, the upcoming play is currently in development, and set to be headed to London stages by 2025.The plot will chart out the tense rivalry between the two Britpop icons, which ran throughout the ‘90s as each one rose to prominence and took over the UK music scene. It’ll also centre on the summer of 1995 – when fans went head to head, debating whether Blur would top the charts with ‘Country House’ or whether Oasis would seal the victory with ‘Roll With It’.Blur went on to win that battle, but the band’s Alex James later said that Oasis won the war.It has been written by humorist and writer John Niven – an A&R executive and former indie rocker – and it is being produced by Simon Friend, who has also worked on productions like Ghost Stories, The Girl On The Train, Life Of Pi and more.The latter spoke to Deadline recently, announcing the news of the upcoming Oasis/Blur production.

Graham Coxon has spoken to NME about Blur‘s new Live At Wembley Stadium concert film, the headlines that surrounded their Coachella performance, and what the future may hold for the band.July saw the release of To The End – a documentary directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L. It followed the reunion of Coxon with Damon Albarn, Alex James and Dave Rowntree on their return to record 2023 comeback album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ ahead of a tour culminating in pair of shows at London’s Wembley Stadium last summer.

Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium is in cinemas now, but what songs do the Britpop legends play in the film? Read on for all the details.The feature length film is released in UK and Irish cinemas today (September 6), and you can find ticket information here.An official synopsis reads: “Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium, the new cinematic two-hour concert film immortalising the band’s historic 2023 show which saw Blur perform their iconic and much-loved songs for 150,000 fans across a transcendent, once-in-a-generation performance weekend that delivered a sweep of ecstatic 5 star reviews.”“Directed by Toby L, Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium captures the band in full flight at the biggest show of their career, featuring electrifying performances of hits from across their celebrated songbook, including tracks from 2023’s acclaimed, chart-topping album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.”In a five-star review of Blur’s first Wembley concert, NME wrote: “This two-hour performance shows that Blur have soundtracked the audience’s lives with real emotional impact.”The concert film follows on from the recent Blur: To The End documentary feature, which found the band reflecting on the legacy of their three decades together.NME recently spoke to director and Transgressive Records founder Toby L about that film, which he said captures Blur’s “friendship dynamics and brotherhood”.NME gave To The End a full five stars, calling the film a “spiritual sequel” to 2010’s No Distance Left To Run that “shows a band simply supporting each other”. It added: “Whether they return again or not remains to be seen.

Jenna Ortega has weighed in on the classic Blur vs Oasis argument after it was announced the Gallagher brothers would be reuniting.Last week, Noel and Liam Gallagher announced they would be reuniting as Oasis for a series of massive summer stadium gigs across the UK and beyond.Tickets went on sale on Saturday (August 31) with fans having to contend with technical issues and dynamic pricing, before every date of the tour sold out in a matter of hours.However Jenna Ortega only found out about the reunion during a sit-down interview with NME to promote Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. “I had no idea they were back,” she said before asking her co-star Catherine O’Hara for her take on the classic Blur and Oasis rivalry.“I don’t partake in taking sides,” she replied, with Ortega then asked for her pick of Britpop titans.“Can I be honest? I actually just heard ‘Wonderwall’ for the first time a month ago,” she revealed.

Blur bassist Alex James said he hopes the band will keep going for “a very long time” in a recent interview.The bassist of the Britpop group, who is releasing the memoir Over The Rainbow: Tales Of An Unexpected Year later this year, has said he is eager to continue collaborating with his bandmates.When asked about the band’s future, James shared with The Sun newspaper: “Last year was truly magical. I hope we can keep doing it and keeping it special for as long as we live.

Radio listeners were left stunned on Friday as four of XS Manchester's most popular DJs all announced they would be leaving their regular shows. Gareth Brooks and Hywel Evans announced their departure from their daily shows on Friday, while Shell Zenner and Jack Wood air their last shows over the weekend.

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has hinted there may still be a future for the band, despite them appearing to announce that they had played their last ever show.The Britpop band played at this year’s Coachella Festival, during which frontman Damon Albarn said, “this is probably our last gig”.That came after Albarn stated in December that the band would be going on a hiatus until further notice, saying “it’s too much for me”.“It is time to wrap up this campaign,” he said. “It’s too much for me.

Blur have shared the official trailer for their new concert film, Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium – watch below.The video coincides with the release of the Britpop band’s new live album of the same name today (July 26).Directed by Toby L (who also helmed the new Blur documentary To The End), the upcoming feature-length project captures Damon Albarn and co’s huge reunion shows at London’s Wembley Stadium last summer.The trailer for the movie begins with an aerial shot of the venue. As a roar from the massive crowd erupts, Blur are seen in the wings before making their way to the stage.

Blur‘s Alex James has announced his brand new book Over The Rainbow: Tales From An Unexpected Year.The bassist of the iconic Britpop band took to his official Instagram to reveal the news of his forthcoming book, explaining that it will discuss “the story of an extraordinary year” including Blur’s reunion and their massive Wembley shows.“It chronicles the mayhem of exactly what happened when I hooked back up with my Blur brothers,” James wrote in the caption of his post. “It’s eight years since we last made a record and I’d forgotten how much I love them.

Blur documentary To The End is released into cinemas today (July 19), but what songs do the Britpop greats play in the film? Read on for all the details.The film will ““follow the unique relationship of four friends and bandmates of three decades – Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree – as they came together in early 2023 to record new songs ahead of their sold-out, first-ever shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in July last summer.”Earlier this month, the band released a clip from the film that chronicles the moments before the quartet took to the stage at Wembley, as they huddle together sharing a laugh.Albarn narrates: “I don’t allow it to get to me ’cause I accept if my voice can’t sing all those songs then that’s just the way it is. If I was really neurotic about things like that, I’d be shitting myself.” The clip ends with Blur walking onstage to deafening applause.