Blur: Last News

Noel Gallagher has shared his thoughts about the recent reunions of his former Britpop peers Blur and Pulp – as well as the lack of offers made for Oasis to do the same.Former rivals Blur recently kicked off their comeback tour, as well as announcing their surprise new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren‘, with Pulp also returning to the road their first shows together in a decade.Asked about how he feels about being on the road at the same time as his ’90s peers in support of his acclaimed new solo album ‘Council Skies‘, Gallagher wished them well when speaking to NME as part of the latest in our In Conversation series.“I didn’t know that, but good luck to them!” he said. “Blur never split up, did they? Pulp never split up, they just went and did other things, which is the adult way of doing it.

Primavera Sound Madrid to be cancelled due to “safety reasons”.Today (Thursday June 8) was due to be the first day of the inaugural Primavera Sound in Madrid – a sister event to that in Barcelona and others around the world – but was cancelled yesterday “due to the persistent severe weather experienced in recent weeks that have affected the pre-production of the festival.”The festival added that the decision was made “in view of the adverse forecast that is expected for Thursday with heavy storms during the afternoon”. Acts due to perform on the opening day included Blur, Yard Act, Halsey, Ghost, Le Tigre, Turnstile and more.Now, photos and footage have emerged online showing the impact of the weather on the festival’s grounds at Ciudad del Rock in Arganda del Rey.“Primavera Sound cancels its concerts this Thursday, in exchange it offers its proposal for a water park,” wrote one user, sharing a video of the flooded and muddy site.

Blur are set to play a free show in Madrid tonight (June 8), after their set at Primavera Sound Madrid was cancelled.The Brit-pop icons were set to perform on the first day of the Madrid edition of Primavera Sound festival, however, yesterday (June 7) it was announced that it would be cancelled due to “persistent severe weather experienced in recent weeks that have affected the pre-production of the festival.”They also added that the decision was made in light of the “adverse forecast that is expected for Thursday with heavy storms during the afternoon”. Other acts who had their sets cancelled included Yard Act, Halsey, Ghost, Le Tigre, Turnstile and more.Now, it has been confirmed that Blur will be performing another show in Madrid later today, and tickets are free for Primavera ticket holders.“Blur will play tonight at La Riviera,” the post read, confirming that doors will open at 8pm local time.

Blur brought fan-favourite ‘Country House’ back to their setlist at Primavera Sound last night (June 1), and played the rare track ‘Luminous’. Check out the setlist and footage below.The Brit-pop icons took to the stage for their headline set at the Barcelona festival, performing a series of classics, rarities and new tracks from their upcoming album, ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.One of the main highlights of the night came midway through their set, with Damon Albarn and co.

Noel Gallagher has explained that his younger self wouldn’t be too happy about his collaboration with Blur frontman and former Britpop rival Damon Albarn.The former Oasis member reflected on his time working with Albarn in 2017 in a new interview with The Big Issue (via Music-News.COM).The team-up in question was when Gallagher contributed backing vocals to Gorillaz‘s track ‘We Got The Power’, which appears on the band’s 2017 album ‘Humanz’. “What would my younger self think of me working with Damon Albarn,” he pondered.“It would depend entirely on what side of the bed I got out of on that day,” he added.

Blur played a second warm-up show for their 2023 reunion tour in Eastbourne last night (May 21) – watch them reunite with Phil Daniels for ‘Parklife’ below.The Britpop heroes first announced their comeback back in November with news of a huge Wembley Stadium show – before going on to reveal a second date at the venue before a run of European festival shows and an intimate UK warm-up tour.This week, the band also announced details of a surprise new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and shared its first single, ‘The Narcissist’.On Friday night (May 19), the band played their first gig since 2015 in their hometown of Colchester, playing hits and new songs from ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.The Eastbourne gig featured largely the same setlist, and the notable appearance of Daniels for one of their biggest hits.Watch the ‘Parklife’ performance below.blur blowing the roof off Eastbourne Winter Gardens tonight…with a little help from the legend Phil Daniels. Sensational! pic.twitter.com/hZEbpsfB7j— ajyeet mabs (@AjyeetM) May 22, 2023In a press conference at Colchester Castle ahead of their gig at the town’s Arts Centre, Blur spoke about the recording process of their ninth studio album.“There were moments of utter joy,” enthused bassist Alex James.

Noel Gallagher has explained that his younger self wouldn’t be too happy about his collaboration with Blur frontman and former Britpop rival Damon Albarn.The former Oasis member reflected on his time working with Albarn in 2017 in a new interview with The Big Issue (via Music-News.COM).The team-up in question was when Gallagher contributed backing vocals to Gorillaz‘s track ‘We Got The Power’, which appears on the band’s 2017 album ‘Humanz’. “What would my younger self think of me working with Damon Albarn,” he pondered.“It would depend entirely on what side of the bed I got out of on that day,” he added.

Blur have spoken about recording their surprise new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.The 10-track LP, was announced earlier this week and is the band’s first since 2015’s ‘The Magic Whip‘. It was produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Depeche Mode) and recorded at Studio 13 in London and Devon.Speaking in a press conference at Colchester Castle ahead of their gig at the town’s Arts Centre last night (May 19), all four members opened up about the recording process of their ninth studio album.“There were moments of utter joy,” enthused bassist Alex James. “The new song we open with [‘St Charles Square’] I just thought, ‘Oh my God, we’ve pulled it back’.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn has said that Brexit has been a “travesty” in a new interview.Speaking to Channel 4, Albarn explained that Brexit has been a “disaster” for younger musicians.“In the old days, pre-Brexit, you could be a young band and go over to Europe and play bottom of the bill at festivals. You wouldn’t be paid hardly anything but the experience was life-changing, whether you went on to do bigger and better things in the future [or not]. That’s a solid foundation for the rest of your life,” Albarn said.“That kind of creativity has very much been curtailed for people on this island, because it’s expensive to go over there now.

Blur played an intimate warm up show in their hometown of Colchester last night (May 19) ahead of their two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium.The Britpop icons performed in front of a tiny crowd at the town’s Arts Centre for a two-hour set that saw the band pull from across their back catalogue and air two songs from their forthcoming new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.It comes after Colchester Council’s culture boss called for Blur to stage a reunion gig in the Essex city last year.Speaking about the gig, their first in eight years, ahead of their performance at a press conference in Colchester Castle, frontman Damon Albarn said: “How we play tonight is kind of how we will play at Wembley although hopefully it will be a bit better there. But the reason why we’re doing the shows at Wembley are exactly the same as why we’re doing this one here.”Kicking off with rollicking new track ‘St Charles Square’ from their forthcoming new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ – footage of which you can view below – the band then launched straight into classic hit single ‘There’s No Other Way’ before they performed 1992 rarity ‘Popscene’ for the first time since 2013.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn has said that he’d “put money on” an Oasis reunion.The singer was speaking as Blur themselves begin their comeback tour in their hometown of Colchester tonight (May 19).“I can guarantee they’re going to reform,” Albarn told The Sun of the chances of the Gallaghers burying the hatchet. “In fact, I’ve put money on it.”Discussing Blur’s ’90s nemeses, he added: “They’re brothers and it would be wonderful to see them reconcile.“The only funny thing is that our two nights at Wembley will be dwarfed by their SEVEN!”Three years ago, in a cover interview with NME about his solo career, Liam said that an Oasis reunion was “gonna happen very soon”.

Blur have announced details of a surprise new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and shared the first single ‘The Narcissist’. Check it out below.The returning Britpop legends first announced their comeback back in November with news of a huge Wembley Stadium show – before going on to reveal a second date at the venue before a run of European festival shows and an intimate UK warm-up tour,  which kicks off in their hometown of Colchester tomorrow (Friday May 19).Now, the band have revealed that the 10-track ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ will arrive on 21 July via Parlophone, and is available for pre-order here.

Little Simz has opened up about her experience working with Damon Albarn, saying she will “always have so much love and respect” for the Blur and Gorillaz legend.The rapper linked up with Albarn in 2017, delivering a guest spot on the 2017 Gorillaz single ‘Garage Palace’ (which later appeared on the “super deluxe” edition of the ‘Humanz’ album). In a new interview with Apple Music 1, she told Zane Lowe (via Music News): “I remember first getting into the studio with [Albarn] for the first time, and my anxiety just being through the roof like, ‘This is mad…’“I felt myself trying to mold myself into what their thing was, and I remember Damon peeping it and being like, ‘No, that’s not why I called you in here.

The Anchoress, aka Catherine Anne Davies, has spoken to NME about her new single – a cover of New Order’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ – as well as her new album and upcoming Spring tour.Davies has shared a number of covers over the past year as part of ‘Bandcamp Friday’ – with her rendition of New Order’s 1986 the latest in a line of indie classics. She recently received kudos from collaborators Manic Street Preachers for her take on ‘This Is Yesterday’.“Whenever I’ve done covers, the criteria has always been: is this a great song, and is there something new or different I can bring to it?” Davies told NME, having already covered songs by the likes of The Cure, Depeche Mode and Blur.

Lana Del Rey has shot straight to Number One in the UK albums chart with ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’.The singer-songwriter beat off competition from Depeche Mode‘s 15th full-length effort, ‘Memento Mori’ to score her sixth chart topping album, tying herself level Arctic Monkeys, Blur and Radiohead on the list of acts with the most UK Number One records to their name.Del Rey also ranks as the female solo artist with the fifth-most chart topping albums in the UK after Madonna (12), Taylor Swift (9), Kylie Minogue (8) and Barbra Streisand (7).She previously hit the top spot with ‘Born To Die’ (2012), ‘Ultraviolence’ (2014), ‘Lust For Life’ (2017), ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell!’ (2019) and ‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club’ (2021).‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ also tops the Official Vinyl Albums Chart, proving the most popular record of the week on wax, and is the week’s most-purchased LP in independent record shops, too.Reviewing Del Rey’s album, NME wrote: “As she steps into new lyrical territory here, so too does Lana enter new sonic worlds.

Blur have added The Selecter to the line-up of support acts for their second show at Wembley Stadium this summer.The Britpop icons are due to play two huge concerts at the London venue on July 8 and 9 as part of their 2023 live reunion. At the first gig, Damon Albarn and co.

Britpop: The Music That Changed Britain will kick off this weekend to celebrate the genre’s 30th anniversary.The series will document the story of the integral British genre from start to finish. There will be “exclusive new interviews with the key players”, who will tell “fascinating behind-the-scenes stories”, and a “rare and unseen archive of all the era’s big names”.The first episode tells the story of Britpop’s rise to fame and the infamous rivalries between Blur, Oasis, Suede and Elastica.

Damon Albarn has reacted to Noel Gallagher‘s offer to “sprinkle” some “northern magic” on Gorillaz.While the pair were famously Britpop rivals throughout the ’90s, they have since become friends and Gallagher contributed backing vocals to Gorillaz’ 2017 track ‘We Got The Power’ featuring Jehnny Beth.Last month, the former the Oasis singer-songwriter then suggested that he could see them working together again during an interview with Radio X.“Yeah, me and him get on great. I love his band.

Blur have announced the support acts for their second show at Wembley Stadium this summer.The Britpop icons are due to play two huge concerts at the London venue on July 8 and 9 as part of their 2023 live reunion. At the first gig, Damon Albarn and co.

Taylor Swift, The 1975, Blur, Pixies, U2, London Grammar, Madonna, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Foals, Donna Summer and Björk.The 16th edition of the annual event comes after the recent news that in 2022, vinyl outsold the CD format for the first time in 35 years.“We can’t wait to be taking part in Record Store Day UK,” said Scott Gamble from Crash Records in Leeds. “It’s such a great chance for us – and others stores all over the country – to shout about  what we do and see the local music-loving community out in force.“Having such a great list of releases from household names through to brand new artists means we  get an opportunity to introduce our world to people who aren’t necessarily already part of our brilliant  set of regulars.

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has shared a new video for his recent single ‘Devil’s Island’.Rowntree shared the track last month along with details of his forthcoming debut solo LP ‘Radio Songs’.Speaking about the clip, which was directed by Guy Gotto, he said: ““I was keen to work with Guy Gotto, who makes gorgeous and interesting video art. He visualised the song as a journey through a bleak but beautiful landscape.“We decided to film along the narrow gauge railway from Hythe to Dungeness, which runs through some of the most desolate but dazzling landscape in the country. A vista of abandoned boats, lighthouses and drama.