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_10 JUNE 2005 | DAMON ALBARN ATTACKS 'EXCLUSIVE' LIVE 8... Early statements claiming he would be performing at Edinburgh’s Live 8 concert prove hugely mistaken, as Blur frontman Damon Albarn has said he will not be playing and criticises the event’s line up. Despite early reports that he would be performing at the sixth Live 8 concert at Scotland's Murrayfield stadium on Wednesday July 6, alongside Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Snow Patrol, The Proclaimers, Texas and Travis, Damon Albarn will now not be playing the event. In addition, Albarn has attacked the concert series for portraying Africa as a distant “failing” place. The Blur and Gorillaz singer has criticised the lack of black stars on the bill and called on the performers to prove they were not in it for themselves by pressuring their record labels to give cash from increased sales to the cause. Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he would be taking part, he said, “No. I am not. I haven't even been asked. I don't want to take part in an event that is so exclusive. Is this the most effective way to help Africa?'' He said the lack of black artists was “the greatest oversight” and undermined the whole project, saying, “This country is incredibly diverse. More than ever, black culture is an integral part of society, so why is the bill so damn Anglo-Saxon? If you are holding a party on behalf of people, then surely you don't shut the door on them. “It's insensitive and it also perpetuates this idea that Africa is separated in some way. In a way Live 8 does that. It doesn't make you feel closer to Africa, it treats it like it's a failing, ill, sick, tired place. My personal experience of Africa is that yes, I have witnessed all those things there, but it's incredibly sophisticated - the society and the structure of people's lives is as sophisticated, if not more sophisticated in some ways, than in the West.” Asked what more the artists could do, he said, “Surely there should be some kind of tariff on the record companies. It is without question that all the artists that play there will enjoy increased record sales. “I would feel more comfortable if I felt there was a discussion and that the artists were putting pressure on their record labels to genuinely show that this is an altruistic act and that there is no self-gain in it because surely that negates from the message if there is.” The London Live 8 concert takes place in Hyde Park on July 2 and will feature performances by Coldplay, The Killers, Velvet Revolver, The Cure, Keane, Snow Patrol, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Razorlight, Snoop Dogg, U2, Stereophonics, R.E.M., Scissor Sisters and Muse amongst others. http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=92702 _20 OCTOBER 2004 | GRAHAM BACK IN BLUR! Britpop boys are friends reunited HE QUIT Blur after a massive bust-up with frontman Damon Albarn, but after two years as a solo artist Graham Coxon is set to make a sensational return to the band. The 35-year-old guitarist agreed to return after an emotional meeting with the other band members, including Damon, last week. He left the band in 2002, blaming it on a crisis of confidence sparked by being in his 30s. A record industry insider tells us: "The meeting went well - probably better than any of them expected. "It's very positive for everyone and Graham will still be able to do his solo work as well as working with the band again." The talks were arranged after Coxon met former Blur producer Stephen Street while preparing his next solo album. Speaking of his reunion with Street, Coxon said: "I've just had a little meeting with my people and Mr Street. "I reckon Stephen will be doing the next one. I enjoyed it last time we recorded - it was really smooth." Coxon won acclaim for his recent album Happiness In Magazines and played Radio 1 concerts at Reading and Leeds. Next month he is due to tour Spain and play another concert at the Forum in London. Blur became one of the biggest bands of the 90s and Coxon's departure came as a surprise. We were the first to reveal that he had quit the Britpop band after an almighty row with Damon in which the singer said Blur needed him more than he needed the band. Coxon was also said to be slightly envious of Damon's success with virtual reality band Gorillaz. In a jealous rant he said: "It's obviously going to be more popular than the Blur stuff because it's of a sub-standard nature. "The music is pretty good, but the more popular a thing is in this country, the more rubbish it is." Coxon also rubbed Fatboy Slim up the wrong way when the DJ was brought in to work on some of their tracks. Fatboy, who is married to Zoe Ball, moaned: "When I went into the studio and he wasn't there I was relieved. "He was like: 'What are you going to do - turn us into an awful pop-dance band?'" Recently, recalling his decision to quit Coxon, said: "I've always been a little bit... expressive. I would have tantrums. "I thought that expressing anything negative wasn't allowed." Now play nicely together lads. http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/page.cfm?... _06 JULY 2004 | SLIM PICKINGS! FATBOY SLIM has confirmed details of his new album ‘PALOOKAVILLE’. The record is set for release on October 4, four years after his last effort ‘Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars'. A single, ‘Slash Dot Dash’, is out on September 13. Guests confirmed for the record include Damon Albarn, Lateef from Blackalicious, legendary bassist Bootsy Collins, Justin Robertson and Brighton band Johnny Quality. The tracklisting runs: ‘Don’t Let The Man’ ‘Slash Dot Dash’ ‘Wonderful Night’ (featuring Lateef) ‘Long Way From Home’ (featuring Johnny Quality) ‘Put It Back Together’ (featuring Damon Albarn) ‘Masochistic Baby’ ‘Push And Shove’ (featuring Justin Robertson) ‘North West Three’ ‘The Journey’ (featuring Lateef) ‘Jingo’ ‘Song For Chesh’ ‘The Joker’ (featuring Bootsy Collins) Speaking previously about the record, Cook said: "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/109059.htm _01 JULY 2004 | BLUR FRONTMAN TO HOST LONDON CONCERT Blur frontman Damon Albarn is one of a series of famous musicians getting involved in a series of four concerts planned to coincide with the England Vs West Indies npower cricket Test Series. The concerts take place at four different venues around London (the Hackney Empire, Somerset House, Hammersmith Palais and the Neighbourhood club) and have been arranged by Channel 4 to celebrate this summer’s England Vs West Indies npower Test Series. Chosen to “celebrate the influence of West Indian culture on contemporary Britain” the line up of artists includes Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation, Roni Size, Big Youth, Jon Carter and a Damon Albarn-hosted night that will feature performances by Denise Belfon, Maximus Dan, Massive Gosein and the fantastically monikered Dawg E Slaughter. Honest Jons, the West London record label and record shop co-owned by Albarn, are also issuing a compilation of new soca music, entitled ‘Lif Up Yuh Leg An Trample’ to coincide with the gig on July 22. The full gig, line up and venue dates are: Tuesday July 20 Somerset House Tickets are £10 available on 0871 230 2636 Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation Wednesday July 20 Hammersmith Palais Tickets are £7 available on 0871 230 2636 Roni Size, Big Youth, Jon Carter, Patra, Howie B, Ward 21, General Dgree Thursday July 22 Neighbourhood, W10 Tickets are £7 available on 0871 230 2636 Soca Dancehall MCs feat Denise Belfon, Maximus Dan, Massive Gosein, Dawg E Slaughter and hosted by Damon Albarn Saturday July 24 Hackney Empire Tickets are £10 available on 0871 230 2636 Soul II Soul Sundsystem presents Back To Life feat Norman Jay MBE http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=29906 _02 JUNE 2004 | BLUR START ON NEW ALBUM Speaking to Xfm Online, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree explained that the band have already returned to the studio, and while a release date isn’t set, progress is being made. “We’ve done a week or so recording, and we’ll do another couple of weeks, I think in September,” he explained, “There’s no deadlines we’ll just chip away, like we did with the last one. It’s sounding very good. It’ll never be in a similar vein [to ‘Think Tank’]. What would be the point in doing that? The basis of the record is Damon’s ‘Democrazy’ album so anyone who listens to that will have a good headstart on what we’re doing. That’s the basis, so some of those tracks will end up being on the record. No working titles yet though, no its far to early for all that rubbish. This is the fun bit where you don’t have to worry about ridiculous working titles. As previously reported, Blur had been thinking about releasing individual EP’s rather than a full album, an idea that still remains. “We may do [a standalone EP],” Rowntree continued, “But as I say we’re just recording at the moment. In fact, right this moment, we’re not even recording, we’re enjoying the sunshine.” Rowntree also explained that Blur’s other members singer Damon Albarn and bassist Alex James have all got side projects in the pipeline. “Everyone’s put a lot of things off for the last two years,” he said, “They put off for doing Blur work, so we’re catching up on those projects. Damon’s got two or three projects on the go, Alex has, I have. “I’m involved with a record label called ‘The Transistor Project’, I’m managing new un-established artists, I’ve got a record that I’m making myself and I’ve got an animation show so. So I have a drum bag, an animation bag and a management bag. Alex has a farm bag, and a Wellington boot bag and a baby, and Damon has a Gorillaz bag, a couple of African bag." http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=26994 _09 APRIL 2004 | EXCLUSIVE DAMON ALBARN INTERVIEW Blur are heading back into the studio next week to record an EP of new material, confounding sceptics who thought Think Tank would be their last record. Damon Albarn told 6 Music he's currently juggling three different projects: the Blur EP, an album he's set to record in Nigeria with surviving members of Fela Kuti's band and a Gorillaz record he described as "pure unadulterated pop fun". Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 21st birthday of the London Community Gospel Choir, who sang on the Blur song Tender, he also revealed that he's genuinely keen to get Graham Coxon back in the band. He said: "Blur's like a family with one brother no-one talks to... It is a realistic prospect - the only reason he's not in the band is because he didn't feel he was getting enough say. We're totally capable of making music together. I can forget about all the other things." Several of the songs he's working on will be familiar to anyone who bought Democrazy, the album of half-finished tracks and works in progress he recorded on the road in America. He said: "The song actually called Democrazy has evolved into a fantastic song with Tony [Allen]. A couple of them have gone to nearly-polished Gorillaz pop gems now, and I'm doing an EP with Blur and a couple will go there." Of the three projects, it seems likely the Blur EP will be released first. The songs are all written, but won't take shape properly until next week, when the band will go into the studio, once again with Ben Hillier, to record them. Damon said: "Why make an EP? So I don't get too much hassle from Alex really. I know roughly what I want... but that's one nice thing about having something that's been consistent throughout my life, is that it's going to sound a certain way really. Sometimes that's quite a relief." The Nigerian collaboration will take a little longer. He's flying out to Africa later this month to work in Fela Kuti's studio, together with his drummer Tony Allen and other members of the legendary Afro-beat pioneer's band. Damon described how the project's taking shape: "They're all my songs and I'm singing, so there will be focus on me, but we'll have a name that isn't my name. I don't believe in the idea of a solo record. "I'm looking for a country guitarist at the moment. There's gonna be a lot of slide guitar - sort of Afro-country." As for Gorillaz, Damon said that he's planning to use The Bees as a house band for his new set of tunes. He added: "I've been working with Dangermouse. It's gonna be great. Gorillaz is just pure unadulterated pop fun for me." Fans waiting for a new Blur album or tour may have to hang on a while longer though. He told 6 Music that "After I've done these records I'm going to take a long time out, possibly to work in theatre for a few years." - Andrew Purcell http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ _25 MARCH 2004 | SPORTY DAMON LOOKS LIKE A NIKE MARE WHAT has happened to the Britpop style icon that was DAMON ALBARN? He’s swopped his funky parka and old-skool trainers for a very middle-aged set of Nike sweats and pumps. The BLUR frontman looked seriously off the fashion pace as he celebrated his 36th birthday with a jog in London’s Notting Hill. The young, mop-browed idol of yesteryear would have surely cringed at this nerdy new look – especially the neat white collar poking out of the top of his sweatshirt. Very grandad-ish. But Damon looks to be taking his advan-cing years quite seriously, judging from this latest keep-fit caper to fend off the paunch. His sporty huffing and puffing is certainly a birthday blow-out with a difference. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2004140298,00.html

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