"Pop people, we're pop people." - Damon Albarn


One of the best band’s of the 90’s and by far the best to come out of the Britpop scene Blur managed to keep things fresh by constantly changing their sound from the baggy shoegaze sound on their debut album Leisure (1991) to the Alternative lofi rock sound of their self titled album (1997). Formed at London’s Goldsmith College, Damon Albarn (vocals), Graham Coxon (guitar), Alex James (bass), and Dave Rowntree (drums) were originally named Seymour but later changed their name to Blur after signing to independent label Food Records. The band first singles “She’s So High” and “There’s No Other Way” were baggy anthems. Their debut Leisure (1991) was much in the same vain. Although Their second album Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993) showed a band adept to updating 60’s pop with a strictly English feel and revealed depth beneath Albarn’s pretty face. With the release of the infectious electro single ‘Boys & Girls’ and cockney swagger of ‘Parklife’ Blur found themselves as the leaders if the birtpop movement. Albums Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995) are among the best pop albums of that decade and cemented their reputation. A rivalry with band Oasis was ill timed and the band found themselves pushing into a new direction entirely apparently at urging of guitarist Coxon who had been listening to a lot of American lofi at the time. Their self titled album Blur (1997) had the band move in that very direction but without sacrificing their fan base or chart status. ‘Song 2’ became their first big hit in America ‘People like it because it’s unsophisticated and thuggish, which is what people like basically’- Graham Coxon. 13 (1999) showed the band moving deeper in the same direction with experimental music though most of it’s lyrics were inspired by Albarn’s break up with then long time girlfriend Elastica singer Justine Frischmann. Lead single ‘Tender’ was a dabble in gospel music and had guitarist Graham Coxon sharing lead vocal duties as did the single ‘Coffee & TV’ which Graham sang lead vocals on and wrote, the song was also a brief return to the band previous Britpop sound. In 2002 Coxon left the band a year later Blur released Think Tank (2003). Think Tank was almost entirely written by Albarn and featured a wide style of instruments. The band had gone on hiatus to pursue personal interests. Albarn was able to more freely express his experimental tastes in both his projects Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad, and The Queen. Coxon went on to purse a solo career. Drummer Dave Rowntree became immersed in politics and bassist Alex James became a farmer. As of 2009 the band have ‘reunited’(Coxon included) and have been playing a slew of shows and will be headlining 2009’s Glastonbury festival, the Oxegen festival, T in the Park festival among others. The band has also been discussing re entering the studio to record new material.