Alex James: Last News

Graham Coxon has opened up about Blur‘s Coachella 2024 performance and addressed the lacklustre and “bored” crowd.The Britpop icons took to the Californian festival’s mainstage back in April and delivered a career-spanning set, including fan favourites like ‘Song 2’ and ‘Popscene’. During their performance of ‘Girls & Boys’ the crowd appeared pretty tame which visibly irritated frontman Damon Albarn.“You can do it better than that,” he told attendees at one point while trying to conduct a sing-a-long to the 1994 track, which was met by a quiet crowd. When he still didn’t get the desired response, the frontman said: “You’re never seeing us again, so you might as well fucking sing it.

Alex James has shared that he thought Blur might “never happen again” ahead of their 2023 reunion.The bassist spoke about the dynamic of the Britpop band ahead of the release of their brand new documentary, Blur: To The End, and revealed that ahead of their comeback last year, he had doubts about whether the members would ever join forces once again.Speaking with Rich Clarke of Heart Kent last night (July 17), James looked back at their eight years apart, and what it was like to reform for some huge shows at London’s Wembley Stadium last summer, the huge 2023 comeback album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and the feature-length film.“It premiered last night in the West End, and it was really great to see all the boys. I’m really glad we captured all that fun and games,” he said.

Blur‘s new documentary To The End has spoken to NME about the emotional process of making the film – and what the future might hold for the band.The film, directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L, follows the reunion of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, 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.However, with Albarn reeling from his split from his long-term partner Suzi Winstanley after 25 years, and some struggle for other members to return to being in an arena band, the road back isn’t as smooth at first as they’d hoped.In a five-star review of To The End, NME concluded: “They bicker, they hug, they call each other c**ts, they get the job done. While Blur’s last doc and accompanying live movie No Distance Left To Run was a portrait of a band celebrating their legacy and giving a nostalgia-hungry world exactly what they craved, this spiritual sequel shows a band simply supporting each other.

Blur have shared a new clip from their upcoming documentary, To The End – watch it below.On July 5, two weeks ahead of To The End‘s cinematic release in the UK and Ireland, the band shared a new clip that chronicles the minutes before Damon Albarn and co. took to the stage at Wembley last year.In the clip, we see throngs of fans at the sold-out Wembley Arena, as Albarn, Alex James, Dave Rowntree and Graham Coxon huddle together before heading out on stage, 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.

Blur have paid tribute to their former collaborator Françoise Hardy, who has died at the age of 80.The French singer-songwriter, actor and model’s death was confirmed by her son Thomas Dutronc on Tuesday (June 11).A cause of death has yet to be disclosed. However, Hardy shared in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2018 following a lymphoma diagnosis in 2004, and said she felt “close to the end” of her life.Hardy worked with Blur in 1995 on a reworked version of the band’s single ‘To The End’ – the original of which appeared on their third studio album, 1994’s ‘Parklife’.The team-up ultimately became a duet, ‘To the End (La Comedie)’, and it was subsequently serviced as a single in France.

Blur have announced their new ‘Live at Wembley Stadium’ album, which will accompany their brand-new documentary and concert film – find all details below.The band took to social media to share the news, posting a teaser trailer of their huge Wembley gigs that took place last July. While there, Blur played to over 150,000 fans across two nights at the stadium.

Blur are set to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award at the annual charity gala ceremony this year.Per Music News, the Britpop legends will be honoured on July 5 with the event’s biggest prize, alongside the other newly-announced prize winners of the night in AC/DC, Chaka Khan, Loyle Carner, Mark Knopfler, Young Fathers and Jacob Collier.With this award, Blur joins a league of past awardees that includes David Bowie, Oasis, Paul McCartney and Kylie Minogue.“Making music with my brothers in Blur has been one of the great gifts of my life,” said bassist Alex James in a statement.“We are absolutely chuffed to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award and help raise awareness for [music therapy charity] Nordoff and Robbins, a brilliant organisation.” Last year’s recipient of the O2 Silver Clef was Stormzy.In a statement, AC/DC expressed that they’re “over the moon” to receive the Amazon Music Legend Award for their lengthy run as a recording artist and live touring act.“As a band, we’ve been dishing out our own brand of music therapy for the past five decades,” said vocalist Brian Johnson, “so to hear all about how Nordoff and Robbins helps the young and the old with the power of music is something that we understand and salute.

Blur’s Alex James has revealed that he is underway with trying to create a giant Frazzle in time for The Big Feastival 2024.The bassist for the iconic Britpop group – who has also turned his sights to the food and beverage industry – confirmed that he was looking to make a huge, culinary version of the vintage British crisp during a new interview.Speaking on the Chris Moyles Radio Show yesterday morning (May 29), the musician looked at the upcoming 2024 instalment of his very own festival, The Big Feastival, and discussed his plans for this year’s edition.According to James, he has been looking at the issue of disposable plates at live events, and has been attempting to develop a massive version of a Frazzle that, one day, may work as an alternative.He explained that the idea has been in the works since last year, and he even spoke about it with his Blur bandmates before they embarked on their reunion tour dates.“There was a point where we first met to discuss touring again last year, and Damon [Albarn, frontman] was like, ‘So what you doing then Graham [Coxon]?’ And Graham’s doing a film score with Jess Butterworth. ‘What you doing Dave [Rowntree]?’ Dave’s doing a film score for Disney…“Then he said, ‘What are you doing Alex?’ I was like, ‘I’m actually trying to make a really big Frazzle’,” he explained.

Blur have announced details of their new feature-length documentary To The End, which will follow their recent comeback and the release of their first album in eight years.The Britpop icons first shared a teaser about the upcoming project back in February, when they announced that a feature-length documentary was on the way, and set to recall the making of their latest album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.Now, frontman Damon Albarn and co. have shared the title of the film, and confirmed that it will be arriving in cinemas across the country later this summer.Called Blur: To The End, the new documentary will be shown in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from July 19 and, according to a press release, 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.”The Wembley shows refer to when the band played two massive back-to-back headline shows at the venue last summer.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn has revealed that he didn’t want to perform during the band’s second Wembley show last year.In November 2022, Blur announced a reunion gig at Wembley Stadium for July 8, 2023. Due to overwhelming demand, the reunion gig turned into a two-parter, with a second show announced shortly after.That second show – which took place on July 9 – went on to become their “best ever” gig, according to Albarn himself. However, the July 9 show was on the verge of being cancelled by Albarn, who didn’t want to perform.Albarn revealed the near-cancellation during an interview with KROQ during Coachella‘s opening weekend, sharing: “I never thought I’d love Wembley.

Blur‘s Damon Albarn has opened up about the audience and attendees at Coachella, saying that “they’re sort of on their own planet”.The legendary Britpop band – comprised of Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree – took to the annual music and arts festival’s main stage on Saturday night (April 13).In an interview with KROQ before their set, Albarn said: “I don’t know, it’s a weird one Coachella when it comes to audience you know. It’s hard to know sometimes because they’re quite sort of on their own planet really,” after being asked if he was surprised by how excited and crazy the fan reaction was to the band playing the festival.Elsewhere in the chat, Albarn and James explained how they came to play Coachella this year.

Blur have announced an intimate warm-up show ahead of their performance at this year’s edition of Coachella.The Britpop icons took to their official social media pages to share a flyer of the intimate show, which is set to take place on Wednesday, April 10 at the Fox Theatre in Pomona, California. The show will take place roughly three days before Damon Albarn and co are due to hit the stage at Coachella on Saturday, April 13.Opening support for the gig will come from Jockstrap.

Blur are set to release a new documentary and concert film charting their huge 2023 reunion.As Screen Daily reports, UK sales and distribution company Altitude has added the two upcoming titles to its European Film Market (EFM) slate. Both projects will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland later this year.The first film is a feature-length documentary detailing the Britpop band’s latest comeback, which saw Damon Albarn and co.

Naman Ramachandran Altitude is launching international sales on two films featuring iconic British band Blur at the Berlin European Film Market. The band, consisting of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree, was formed in 1988 and tasted considerable success until it went on hiatus in 2015. The first film is an untitled feature-length documentary depicting the return of Blur, captured across a year in which the band made a surprise return with their first record in eight years, the #1 album “The Ballad of Darren.” It follows the relationship of the bandmates of over three decades as they come together to record 10 new songs ahead of their sold-out shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2023.

Becky Hill and Snow Patrol are set to headline Big Feastival, a music and food festival hosted by Blur’s Alex James on his Cotswolds farm.The festival will take place on August 23-25 and features a combination of live music, acclaimed chefs, award-winning food and a programme of family entertainment. Weekend and camping tickets are on sale now with prices ranging from £42.50 to £198.95.

Damon Albarn has shared that Blur will be going on a hiatus until further notice with the frontman saying “It’s too much for me”.The band – comprised of Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree – reunited after an eight-year hiatus and released their ninth studio album ‘The Ballad Of Darren‘ earlier this year.In a new interview with French publication Les Inrockuptibles (via Far Out Magazine), Albarn revealed that the band will be taking a break yet again until further notice. “It is time to wrap up this campaign.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have been together for more than 20 years, but the duo was looking fresh and loved up in a picture Tess shared at the weekend. She posted that they were enjoying 'festival vibes' as they attended the Big Feastival, a Cotswolds-based event that takes place at Blur star Alex James' farm.

Blur bassist Alex James has launched his own brand of ‘Britpop’ sparkling wine.The musician and professional cheesemaker announced the news of his latest venture on social media yesterday (August 2) – sharing a clip of himself on Twitter (X), showcasing the finished product.“Britpop sparkling wine. Perfect for the good times,” James began in the clip.

Blur bassist Alex James played to the band's biggest-ever crowds at Wembley this summer - but he says it was nothing compared to raising five children.The 54-year-old shares Geronimo, 19, twins Artemis and Galileo, 17, and daughters Sable, 14, and 13-year-old Beatrix with his wife Claire Neate, and the whole family live on a 200-farm in Oxfordshire. As of Beatrix's birthday in June, Alex is now officially the dad of five teenagers, all of whom were at home when OK! visited his farm for a sneak peek at his life off-stage. "“Playing bass in a rock band is the easiest f*****g job in the world,” he told us.

Alex James was a rockstar of the nineties with his Britpop band Blur , crafting the soundtrack to a decade with the likes of Parklife and Girls & Boys. Life now is very different though, he tells OK! in an exclusive chat and walkabout his farm, as he spends his days tending to the land, feeding his army of five teenage children, and organising their annual on-site music festival.

Blur debuted new songs from their latest album ‘The Ballad Of Darren‘ along with a smattering of deep cuts and fan favourites at an intimate show at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith last night (Tuesday July 25). Check out footage and the setlist below.As announced earlier this month, the returning Britpop veterans took to the stage at the iconic London venue to perform their new album in its entirety, with the show also livestreamed online.The band took to the stage, backed by string quartet, with bassist Alex James lounging on a sofa and smoking as they eased into playing album opener ‘The Ballad’.