November 22, 2024

Blur’s Graham Coxon on Oasis Reunion: “Good for the Fans and Good for Them”

As Oasis fans gear up for one of the most anticipated reunions in British rock history, Blur’s guitarist Graham Coxon has weighed in on the Gallaghers’ decision to patch things up and hit the road once again. “It’s good for them and it’s good for the fans,” Coxon said in a recent interview with The Sun, capturing the mood of an entire generation ready to relive the highs of Britpop.

For Coxon, this isn’t just industry news; it’s a reminder of a time when Blur and Oasis dominated the UK charts and drove the Britpop phenomenon of the 1990s. The two bands’ rivalry was legendary, fueling one of the most electric eras in British music. Now, with the Gallaghers setting aside their differences, it feels like a piece of that magic is back.

In August, Liam and Noel Gallagher announced their plans to reunite Oasis for a stadium tour, which kicks off in the UK and Ireland in July 2025. After bringing their hits to fans across North America, the iconic duo will return to London for two final dates at Wembley Stadium in September before taking the show to Australia in October. While Coxon is all for the reunion, he kept a respectful distance from suggesting it outright, clarifying, “God no, I wouldn’t have talked to him about that… I don’t know him well enough to say that.”

blur oasis battle, blur oasis, britpop battle, blur oasis reunion, liam gallagher damon albarn, graham coxon oasis, blur oasis beef, blur oasis rivalry, blur oasis chart battle, graham coxon 2024, graham coxon waeve

Interestingly, the announcement comes alongside another Britpop throwback – a stage play currently in development for London’s West End, titled The Battle. Set to debut in 2025, the play will chronicle the fierce rivalry between Blur and Oasis, with a particular focus on the infamous 1995 chart showdown. That summer, Blur’s “Country House” and Oasis’s “Roll With It” went head-to-head for the Number One spot, a battle Blur won. Written by John Niven and produced by Simon Friend, The Battle is being billed as “a comedy with teeth,” and promises to capture the competitive spirit and camaraderie that defined the scene.

blur oasis battle, blur oasis, britpop battle, blur oasis reunion, liam gallagher damon albarn, graham coxon oasis, blur oasis beef, blur oasis rivalry, blur oasis chart battle, graham coxon 2024, graham coxon waeve

blur oasis battle, blur oasis, britpop battle, blur oasis reunion, liam gallagher damon albarn, graham coxon oasis, blur oasis beef, blur oasis rivalry, blur oasis chart battle, graham coxon 2024, graham coxon waeve

Meanwhile, Coxon hasn’t slowed down creatively. He recently released City Lights, his second album with The WAEVE, his collaboration with Rose Elinor Dougall. Following their 2023 debut, this new release is a personal exploration of early parenthood and its sleepless nights, something Coxon discussed candidly with NME. Despite his own busy schedule, he’s excited for the Oasis reunion, noting, “Hopefully it’s a genuine reunion because some bands break up and don’t get that chance again.”

With Blur’s legacy secure and Oasis set to reignite their own, this reunion feels like a nostalgic gift to fans who never stopped hoping for another chapter. For Britpop devotees, it’s like the ‘90s never left – and Coxon, like all of us, seems ready to cheer them on.


October 22, 2011

Exclusive: The End of Blur and Oasis feud - Just in time for Christmas - 2011


So, the year 2011 marks the END OF THE BLUR/OASIS feud for decades. Noel Gallagher from Oasis and Damon Albarn from Blur, two frontmans who battled out their way to the Top of the Charts in the 90s BritPop period has ended their media feuds and public dramas, by celebrating with, in typical English fashion... a beer. 
Quoting NME:
Noel Gallagher has revealed that he has finally made up with Damon Albarn after their spat during the height of Britpop in the mid-'90s.

The pair haven't spoken in over 15 years following the war of words between Blur andOasis which kicked off in 1995 when they went head-to-head in the UK's singles chart and the former beat the Manchester band to Number One with their hit 'Country House'.

But Gallagher, who is currently set to top the UK album chart with his debut solo album 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds', said they recently bumped into each other and went for a beer.

He told Shortlist magazine:
Funnily enough, when I was out last night, I bumped into him. I literally haven't seen the guy for 15 fucking years and I bump into him in some club. We both went, 'Hey! Fucking hell!' and then he said, 'Come on, let’s go for a beer.'


The ex-Oasis chief added: "So, we're sitting there, having a beer, just going, 'What the fuck was all that about 15 years ago? That was mental.' Then he said, 'It was a great time, though,' and I was like, 'Yeah, it was a fucking good laugh.'" 
Here's just a little something down memory lane - 
EXCLUSIVE FEATURE 
A tribute to the Battle of the Britpop- Blur VS Oasis Mega Chart Battle - 1995

Exciting feud between the two Britpop Superpowers - Blur and Oasis
Cover of the 12 August 1995 issue ofNME advertising the "British Heavyweight Championship" battle between Oasis and Blur

Spurred on by the media, the groups became engaged in what the NME dubbed on the cover of its 12 August issue the "British Heavyweight Championship" with the pending release of Oasis' single "Roll With It", and Blur's "Country House" on the same day.

 The battle pitted the two bands against each other, with the conflict as much about British class and regional divisions as it was about music
The event caught the public's imagination and gained mass media attention in national newspapers, tabloids, and even the BBC News. 

The NME wrote about the phenomeon, "Yes, in a week where news leaked that Saddam Hussein was preparing nuclear weapons, everyday folks were still getting slaughtered in Bosnia and Mike Tyson was making his comeback, tabloids and broadsheets alike went Britpop crazy.
Blur won the battle of the bands, selling 274,000 copies to Oasis' 216,000 - the songs charting at number one and number two respectively.
Both bands have parted ways now, looks like the war is FINALLY OVER. Peace to Britpop! 

Perhaps this has come at a good time - Oasis split recently and Damon's embarked on more new and exciting projects like Dr. Dee's Opera and possible new African music, and Noel's just chilling out with his life away from the band. What a lovely story. 
What do you think ? Does this signal a new era ? A new beginning ? A beginning to an end? Let us know on our FACEBOOK page or tweet us at @danomind to join in the conversation! 
******* Stay Tuned and remember to subscribe and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook, or email subscribe to receive the latest news on everything Blur, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon! 

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!


ShareThis