DAMON-ALBARN.COM

NEWS ARCHIVE 2003 | BACK(1)

_18 DECEMBER 2003 | SAATCHI SETS UP JUNIOR ART AWARD

Art collector Charles Saatchi has launched a £10,000 award which he says is aimed at encouraging more children to become interested in modern art.

Schoolchildren will be invited to compete for The Saatchi Gallery Award by sending an essay or project about their visit to the London gallery.

The winner will get £7,500 for their school's art department plus a computer worth £2,500 to keep for themselves.

Artist Tracey Emin and Blur singer Damon Albarn will be among the judges.

The winner will also have their work exhibited in the gallery, which has become one of London's biggest attractions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/...

_12 DECEMBER 2003 | NEW BLUR EP EXPECTED NEXT YEAR

In the aftermath of their hugely successful 'Think Tank' world tour, Blur frontman Damon Albarn has spoken exclusively to Xfm's Ian Camfield on the Music:Response show and revealed that his band are planning to record and release a new EP next year.

Talking to Xfm, Albarn has explained that Blur's recent tour has been one of the band's most enjoyable and emotional jaunts, and the new positivity in the camp should lead to a new series of recording sessions resulting in a new EP in 2004.

"Well, we've been on tour for eight months," Albarn explained, "And it's been a real celebration, as we've been doing a lot of old stuff. Quite emotional really. It's been really good for the soul seeing the audiences this year. It's been extremely hard work, but it's been extremely rewarding. I mean, we're still talking to each other. At the end of the last tour we did we certainly weren't... then one of us left!" [Blur's original guitarist Graham Coxon]

"We are in discussion with our separate lawyers about recording an EP next year," he continued, "I definitely think we're gonna put out some new material, but we're not going to be touring like this, not for a while."

As for what songs are going to be included on the release, it seems one of the early demo tracks on Albarn’s upcoming 'Democrazy' album may provide the basis for at least one track.

"There is this one song on 'Democrazy' called 'Sub Species Of An American Day' that I think would make a fine Blur single," Albarn explained, "There's always a lot of material about, it's just a case of finding the appropriate time to record it."

http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=15630

_08 NOVEMBER 2003 | BLUR'S ALBARN GOES 'CRAZY'

Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn has compiled a solo album out of raw demos and unformed song fragments that he recorded on a four-track in hotel rooms while on tour in the U.S. earlier this year. Titled "Democrazy," the album is set to become a collector's item and will be released Nov. 24 in the U.K. only on vinyl in a limited edition of 5,000 copies via the singer's own Honest Jon's label.

"It deconstructs everything the music industry has built up," Albarn says. "But I thought it would be interesting to let people hear a side to the music-making process they never get to hear. It's the lowest lo-fi record ever."

Last year, Albarn released "Mali Music," which recorded on location in collaboration with various African artists, but "Democrazy" is his first genuinely solo release. "I hope it gives other people the confidence to put out records like this. I'd like to make it a series," he adds.

Blur is on a European tour through December in support of its latest Parlophone/Virgin album, "Think Tank," after which Albarn plans a one-off solo date Dec. 22 in London.

-- Nigel Williamson, London

http://www.billboard.com/

_15 OCTOBER 2003 | DAMON DROPPED FROM STROKES NEW ALBUM

Damon Albarn nearly sang backing vocals on The Strokes' new album but it didn't work out, according to producer Gordon Raphael.

Raphael told Xfm how the Blur singer went into the studio with the New York band.

After The Strokes saw Blur play in New York, they met him and took him back to the studio where he listened to tracks from the new album.

According to Raphael, Albarn commented that as The Strokes rarely use any backing vocals on their tunes, he might be the man to provide some Beatles-style harmonies.

He said: "We let him go out and try for a couple of hours. Julian was taking it really seriously, seeing if he could craft what Damon was doing into something that would make it on the record.

However, the band decided to use the songs without the backing vocals.

Damon said: "Well I guess the songs are just perfect the way they are."

http://www.ananova.com/...

_02 OCTOBER 2003 | FATBOY THE FOURTH

Norman Cook has almost completed the new Fatboy Slim album featuring Damon Albarn, NME.COM can reveal.

Cook has spent the last six months in the studio working on the follow-up to 2000's 'Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars', which he says the record will take a more hip-hop direction.

Cook said: "I've been locked in the studio for six months working on Fatboy Slim 4 and it's going really good. It's quite different from the last few because music has moved on a lot in the last few years. Basically, I'm just experimenting with different sounds and trying not to sound like classic Fatboy. Damon Albarn sings on one track, Bootsy Collins sings on another and Lateef from Blackalicious has done some great stuff. The last album had a lot of house on it and this is getting back to my hip-hop roots more. Basically, I'm just not turned on by house music much at the moment. It's going through a fallow period and I think we need another Daft Punk."

http://www.nme.com/news/106330.htm

_04 SEPTEMBER 2003 | GQ MEN OF THE YEAR

Blur win in the annual GQ Men of the Year Awards. Here is a picture from the site, of Damon with Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy).

_03 SEPTEMBER 2003 | FYI

Blur in Abercrombie&Fitch?

http://www.abercrombie.com/...

_02 SEPTEMBER 2003 | DAMON AGAINST MUSIC CENSORSHIP

Here is a quick link about Damon attending a press conference for being against music censorship.

http://www.freemuse.org/...

_20 AUGUST 2003 | FYI

William Orbit's "Superchunk" was broadcasted on 17th August on London's XFM radio station that included the unreleased Blur track, "Don't Bomb When You're The Bomb (Orbit Mix)". It is available to download in the NEWS section from Orbit's offical site, Ørbit Ønline. The Blur track begins at 15:27:00.

Now, for some Damon news... On Nathan Haines lastest album, Squire For Hire, Damon provides guest vocals on a cover of Steely Dan's "FM". It is available to purchase now from smokecds.com.

_14 AUGUST 2003 | DAMON SOLO ALBUM MAY NEVER BE RELEASED

Blur singer Damon Albarn has recorded a solo album - but he admits it may never be released.

Speaking backstage at the Festival International de Benicassim in Spain last weekend (August 8), Albarn told NME that he wrote the as-yet untitled album while touring in the US with Blur in July.

He said: "I recorded it all on a four-track in America in hotel rooms - I'm really pleased with it. It sounds very American and I don't know why."

But Damon admitted his recording commitments with Blur may hamper his chances of releasing the album.

He added: "I don't quite know how I'll put it out yet. I don't even know if I'll be allowed to, so I'll just have to wait and see. It's the lowest-fi record ever... it's not a commercial record."

Blur headline the Main Stage at the Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals at Reading Richfield Avenue on August 23 and Leeds Bramham Park on August 24.

http://www.nme.com/news/105861.htm

_27 JULY 2003 | NEW RECORD

Damon's record label, Honest John's, will be releasing a new record featuring ex-Specials/Fun Boy Three/Colourfield vocalist Terry Hall, who joins forces with Mushtaq a former member of Fun Da Mental for the new album "The Hour Of Two Lights" (HJRCD5) - out July 21. The album was recorded at 13 Studios. Damon's vocals and melodica appear on one track entitled, "Ten Eleven".

Guardian interview with Terry Hall: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features...

Review: http://www.frootsmag.com/content/issue/reviews/

_07 JULY 2003 | FYI

"OXFAM in conjunction with the GUARDIAN are bringing out a free cd compilation to bring attention to the MAKE TRADE FAIR campaign. The CD will appear in The Guardian on Saturday 6th September. Damon and Honest Jons have agreed for a track "NIGER" from the Mali Music album to appear on the compilation, along with several other major artists." - Credit: BFC

_07 JULY 2003 | FYI

+ The new Blur single Crazy Beat will be released by Parlophone on 7 July. The second single to be taken from the No. 1 album Think Tank, Crazy Beat will be released on 7”, CD and DVD. The 7” will be backed by new track The Outsider. The CD will feature Don’t Be, a track recorded by the band in Marrakesh last year, plus an enhanced section with an exclusive alternative video for Crazy Beat made by Out Of Time video director John Hardwick. The DVD single will include both ‘Don’t Be’ and ‘The Outsider’, plus the electrifying official Crazy Beat video from animation and design collective Shynola. Also exclusive to the DVD is the Crazy Beat animatic, an animated version of the video storyboard prepared by Shynola for the band.

+ http://www.musicstarphotos.com/...

Here are some pictures of Blur's Astoria gig on May 8. Massive thanks to Jana Kusalová. There are some really great shots!

+ Damon live on BBC Radio 2's "Album Chart Show":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/...

Begins at 17.45.18.

+ Damon & Dave interview & the Astoria gig live on BBC Radio 1's "Lamaq Live":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...

Interview begins at 17:39:50 with a music break at around 17.45.00.

Starts up again at 17:53:14 with a music break at 17.57.38.

The gig begins at 18.14.11 and runs till 19.29.59.

_05 JUNE 2003 | BLUR ON THE NEW MUSIC

For North American fans and for people who get MuchMusic, Blur will be on The New Music programme that will air on Monday, June 23, 9pm, 1am & 8:30am ET, 6pm, 10pm & 5:30am PT.

_05 JUNE 2003 | BLUR LIVE ON LETTERMAN

Sorry, this is extremely late, but for North American fans, Blur will be live on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, June 09.

_02 JUNE 2003 | FYI

Links to "Crazy Beat" video -
http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/blur/artist.jhtml.
http://www.mtv.com/music/video/premiere/blur/.

Interview of Blur from The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/....

Interview from BBC's Radio 4: FRONT ROW INTERVIEW.

_02 JUNE 2003 | JUSTINE FRISCHMANN (FROM MAIN PAGE)

Anyways, I forgot to mention this before, but in the MOJO magazine, it had a recent picture of Justine Frischmann. I thought you might want to see it. It quite shocked me really. Here's what the "Where are they now?" caption had to say about her: "Presenter of Dreamscapes, an architecture/interior design programme on BBC3". I thought she might still be thinkin' about makin' music or somethin'... but weird, eh? How things end up being.

_16 MAY 2003 | DAMON - IRAQ IS THE BOMB!

BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN says he wants to record the band's next album in BAGHDAD.

The star says he has been considering it for years because he loves the Iraqi musical style. The singer, who recorded a solo album in Mali and parts of the new Blur LP 'Think Tank' in Morocco, hopes the album will help change the way Islamic culture is misrepresented in Western societies.

Albarn told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper: "(I want to do it) even if everyone thinks I'm crazy. I love the way the Iraqis arrange strings and vocals."

Albarn also suggested old sparring partners Liam and Noel Gallagher follow their idols and try to find enlightenment at an Ashram.

"It makes me laugh every time I see how obsessed Oasis are with The Beatles and block all other influences," he said.

"Even The Beatles left England for almost a year and got to know Indian culture. When they came back home they were the political Beatles."

http://www.nme.com/news/105058.htm

_12 MAY 2003 | PREVIOUS INFO FROM MAIN PAGE

+ To see some pictures taken from Blur's appearance at South By South West(SXSW) in Austin, Texas, go:

http://www.playbackstl.com/...

+ Blur interview on BBC 6Music on Gideon Coe's show 16 April.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/...

+ Damon had his bracelets stolen during the gig in Madrid, Spain last Friday(11 April). Damon was interacting a lot with the people upfront and some immature guy had taken his bracelets. He then said that he wasn't going to play any more songs and never play in Spain again, unless they were returned. Needless to say, the gig ended early and Damon left very angry. -credit: tigerlili.

_07 MAY 2003 | BLUR ADMIT DEFEAT?

It was the big musical battle of the nineties. Oasis vs Blur. Who was best? Who was biggest? Who was baddest? Who, in fact, were the Britpop kings? Oasis certainly thought they were and said so at every possible opportunity. Blur tried to play it down but couldn't resist the odd dig. Now, it seems, one side has conceded defeat.

Blur's seventh album, 'Tank Top' (previously known as 'Hail to the Thief'), hits shops on Monday, but Damon Albarn is taking a bizarre approach to promoting the disc - he's praising his rivals! "Oasis are much better at presenting themselves. I can't sing and play live. I will always feel insecure and slightly uncomfortable with what I do." Interesting approach, talk-up your new record by admitting you can't sing. Why has no-one else ever thoght of this? It could be a marketing revolution!

He went on: "It's very frustrating that I can't perform live as well as I do in the studio." Ah, so really all he's admitting is that he gets nervous on stage and Oasis don't. Not really the complete admission of defeat that the tabs make it out to be. Still, if we take Damon's word for it we should all not bother buying tickets for any forthcoming live Blur shows...

more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/...

Check this link out for some info on Alex and his bride!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...

_26 APRIL 2003 | BLUR "RABIDLY PRO" INTERNET

Blur say they are happy their new album was leaked to the internet prior to its release, claiming they may have done it themselves had somebody else not beaten them to it.

Speaking recently to London radio station XFM, lead singer Damon Albarn said that online piracy of 'Think Tank' had made the band's return to the live arena that little bit easier.

"The gigs are going down really well," he said, "helped by the fact that [the album has] been on the internet for two months and everybody knows all the words to every song, which is weird."

more: http://www.dotmusic.com/...

_17 MARCH 2003 | NEW LIVE PICS!

Here are some live pictures taken from the Bowery Ballroom gig on 16 March 03. Thanks to jinners I have posted up 20 pictures from her collection. They are mostly of Damon but you must visit her page, http://jinners.com/images/blur/index.htm for the rest of the pics. She's got loads and most are really nice!

[ PICTURES AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN MAIN GALLERY ]

©JINNERS

_17 MARCH 2003 | NEW PICTURES

Here are some pictures that have been taken from various websites during the last couple of months. They were originally featured on the main page.

_01 MARCH 2003 | BLUR SET TO PLAY UK LIVE DATES

OPEN AIR RECORDING IN MOROCCO

As previously reported, Blur will be releasing their seventh studio album ‘Think Tank’ in May, now Xfm Online can reveal that the band will be undertaking four live dates (but they’re all in London).

‘Think Tank’ will be Blur's first record as a three-piece following the departure of their guitarist Graham Coxon earlier this year. The album has been produced by Blur and long-time collaborator and U2 and Clinic programmer Ben Hillier with additional production by techno and big beat boffins William Orbit and Norman Cook.

‘Think Tank’ will be released by Parlophone on May 5, with a new single entitled ‘Out Of Time’ which hits shops April 14 (and apparently features an Andalucian string ensemble).

In addition, Blur also will play their first London gigs in three years with four nights at The Astoria in London on May 8, 9, 10 and 12.

credit: http://www.xfm.co.uk/...

*** NME.COM reported that Tuesday, May 13 has also been added to those live dates listed above. Good luck on getting those tickets! ***

22 FEBRUARY 03: OUT OF TOWN!

BLUR have been added to the line-up of this year's COACHELLA festival, NME.COM can reveal.

The band, who release their new album 'Think Tank' on May 5, will appear at the US festival on April 26, the same day Beastie Boys headline.

NME.COM understands more shows in the US are likely to be added.

Their new single will be 'Out Of Time', has been brought forward a week to April 14.

credit: http://www.nme.com/news/104250.htm

For more information and ticket info on COACHELLA Festival, visit their official site: http://www.goldenvoice.com/coachella/. I can't believe they're set to tour already! I'm so jealous of all you Americans that get to see them at the festival!!!

20 FEBRUARY 03: 'TANK' BOYS!

BLUR’s new album is called 'THINK TANK', NME.COM can reveal.

Recorded over the duration of last year in London and Morocco, it’s their first album since guitarist Graham Coxon was controversially ousted from the band, and the first since Damon Albarn’s mammoth solo success with his Gorillaz project.

The record, the band's seventh, is due to be released on May 5.

The album's tracklisting runs:

'Ambulance'
'Out Of Time'
'Crazy Beat'
'Good Song'
'On The Way To The Club'
'Brothers And Sisters'
'Caravan'
'We've Got A File On You'
'Moroccan Peoples Revolutionary Bowls Club'
'Sweet Song'
'Jets'
'Gene By Gene'
'Battery In Your Leg'

The album's first single will be 'Out Of Time', due out April 21.

credit: http://www.nme.com/news/104243.htm

14 FEBRUARY 03: BLUR ARE BACK!

Graham Coxon will never be replaced as the Blur guitarist, dotmusic can exclusively reveal.

"There isn't a new guitarist," Dave Rowntree told us this morning, as the band spoke for the first time about the acrimonious departure of the guitar hero.

"Graham always was and always will be the Blur guitarist and one of my best friends," explained the drummer.

The Blur stickman also contradicted rumours that Coxon had been erased from the album completely, by confirming that he did appear on one track.

He also refused to rule out Coxon returning to the Blur camp, saying: "Who knows what the future holds. We're all still friends."

Dave also revealed some little know facts about the album: Ben Hillier (Elbow) takes the majority of the production duties with Norman Cook producing two tracks and "New York old-skool engineer" Howie Weinberg mastering the album.

Speaking via a secure chatroom, Rowntree fielded dotmusic's questions about the new album, telling us that the overall mood in the Blur camp was "very up" continuing that it's "easy to be optimistic when you've made a good record."

You'll be able to read all Dave's answers here on dotmusic later this afternoon...

10 FEBRUARY 03: BLUR REVEAL NEW LIVE GUITARIST AT SURPRISE GIG

Xfm Online can reveal that ex-Verve and The Shining’s Simon Tong is Blur’s new live guitarist after the departure of original fret wrangler Graham Coxon, and they unveiled their new addition last Friday (Feb 7).

Blur made a surprise performance at an exclusive record company preview night in West London on Friday. After the label, Parlophone, treated the select audience to performances by Athlete and a playback of the new Dandy Warhol’s single, Blur unexpectedly took the stage to play their first public gig since Coxon’s departure.

Tong has joined as a live band member with the group insisting he hasn’t been enlisted as replacement for Coxon. The group also featured a keyboard player, a percussionist and two backing singers, with singer Damon Albarn taking to electric guitar for one number. The outfit played three new songs, according to Xfm’s representative, there was a slow paced tune, similar in vein to ‘Tender’, a midtempo number, and "a punky thrashy" song.

The songs themselves sounded impressive, with special note being made of Albarn’s vocals and their "More unaffected and emotionally honest delivery. There was none of the affectation of his earlier work". However, the new Coxon-less line-up was judged as giving the impression of being "The Damon Albarn show"...

credit: http://www.xfm.co.uk/webClient?guid=48727

29 JANUARY 03: NORTHERN STAR FOR BLUR?

BLUR have been auditioning replacement guitarists for founder member GRAHAM COXON who quit last autumn - with frontman DAMON ALBARN claiming "a guitarist from a well-known band from the North of England" has "fitted in really well".

Albarn was coy when speaking to NME.COM about the appointment last week.

He said: "We're currently auditioning for a new guitarist. Not for the band but someone to work with on live stuff. We've been trying out a few people and one person has already fitted in really well. He's a guitarist from a well-known band from the North of England."

Blur have ruled out major, grandstanding venues on any upcoming tour with smaller capacity shows in their sights. However, they are also set for at least one major UK summer festival. The band's comeback single will be called ‘Out Of Time’. It will be released in late April. Their Coxon-less album will follow shortly afterwards...

credit: http://nme.com/news/104053.htm

26 JANUARY 03: BRITPOP FILM

DAMON ALBARN

Dig out that Adidas tracksuit and dust off those canvas trainers because Britpop is coming to a cinema near you.

Live Forever is a brand new film that reassesses the cultural phenomenon of the mid 90s when the phrase Cool Britannia was on everyone's lips and Oasis and Blur ruled the charts.

Directed by John Dower (his theatrical directorial debut), Live Forever hits the screens on Valentine's Day (Feb 14) and features new interviews with the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, and many more who discuss the role of New Labour, music and fashion in re-branding Britain after the 80s.

Watch out for the obligatory soundtrack also coming out next month.

credit: http://www.dotmusic.com/...
see also: http://www.rlff.com/...

22 JANUARY 03: NEW PICTURES

rexfeatures.com has some pictures of Damon protesting outside Parliament in London yesterday. It's part of their News Feature and you can download the images for free. These pictures are watermarked. I have them posted below for you.

22 JANUARY 03: ANTI-WAR PROTEST OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT

DAMON ALBARN

As British troops prepare for possible action in Iraq, opponents of war have protested outside Parliament.

Pop stars, members of parliament and thousands of antiwar demonstrators united to lobby Tony Blair's government, saying democracy had broken down in Britain.

Damon Albarn from Blur, Robert del Naja of Massive Attack, human rights activist Bianca Jagger and playwright Harold Pinter hoped to fire up British MPs to voice their opposition to military action in the Gulf.

"The proof is in the pudding. We don't believe bombing Iraq is the solution," Albarn said.

Wearing a badge that said "Peace" in both Arabic and English, Albarn said: "In the absence of a referendum this is the only way to show the government our opposition to war."

The Blur frontman continued: "I feel that it is something that I was brought up with, that war is never an answer. In this particular instance I don't think emotionally the country has any stomach for it.

"I don't think we have been consulted as a democracy. It is the wrong war."...

22 FEBRUARY 03: STARS JOIN ANTI-WAR PROTEST

Blur singer Damon Albarn is backing the campaign, as are Bianca Jagger, playwright Harold Pinter and Robert "3D" Del Naja of pop group Massive Attack.

"There has always been a sense of unease about this war and as it gets closer I think that is manifesting itself on the streets," Albarn said as he watched the protesters file in to parliament.

'Wrong war'
It was a message echoed by Albarn: "I feel that it is something that I was brought up with, that war is never an answer. In this particular instance I don't think emotionally the country has any stomach for it.

"I don't think we have been consulted as a democracy. It is the wrong war.

"We need a bit more imagination. All we are saying is the country is mature enough to sit down and have some kind of referendum."

Albarn said he believed Saddam was "a monster who is the creation of the West anyway, so if we are going to depose him we need to look at the elements in the West that created him"...

credit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/...

ARCHIVE » 2002 | 2001