Damon Albarn Hints At New Blur Album - 2017

Damon Albarn, the Blur frontman and recently re-launched Gorillaz singer, has hinted that he might release a new Blur album in the future. When asked about whether there will be a new Blur album, Damon was not his usual mysterious self. He told the press he “never said I’d never make another record” with the band. 

Damon Albarn is set to release a new album with Gorillaz called ‘Humanz’ this Friday (April 28th 2017) and has said that he will then work on a new record with The Good, The Bad & The Queen. Blur lasted released their latest surprise album ‘The Magic Whip’ in 2015.

Asked by Rolling Stone where his focus on other projects leaves the Britpop band, Albarn said: “We’re all really good friends. And I feel like I’ve given many of my best years to Blur, so I don’t feel guilty in that sense. I’ve never said I’d never make another record. It’s all the same thing at the end of the day. It’s the nuances that make it different. It’s just more music, to add to the mountain of music there already is.”

Damon Albarn also spoke about Blur’s 2015 gig at Madison Square Garden in New York, saying: “We’d never done the Garden, and I felt bad that I’d done it before with Gorillaz [in 2010]. That was not fair. But in a way, Blur always felt that we terribly underachieved in America. It was hard to understand how bands like Radiohead and Coldplay are so successful here, and we weren’t. Thankfully, I have Gorillaz. Otherwise, I might be a terribly bitter, aging Britpop-er.”

Bitter as he is, he definitely made fans' day by hinting that there might, possibly be a new Blur album coming. Stay tuned for more!

Trump References Cut Out of Humanz- Damon Albarn 2017

Damon Albarn has revealed that he “edited out” any specific references to US President Donald Trump because he didn’t “want to give the most famous man on Earth any more fame.”

Humanz, the fifth album from the virtual band, is due out on 28 April and features guest artists including Popcaan, Kelela, Vince Staples and Danny Brown.

Speaking to Billboard, Albarn revealed that Trump’s ascension was “one of the sources of energy that we meditated on” for Humanz, “when it was like, ‘Ahh, that’s ridiculous, that could never happen’.” 

“There’s no references to [Trump] on the record – in fact, any time when anyone made any reference, I edited it out,” he said.

“I don’t want to give the most famous man on earth any more fame, particularly. He doesn’t need it!”

In the Billboard interview Albarn also explained how some of the collaborators he picked for the new Gorillaz album have his teenage daughter to thank.

His 17-year-old daughter, Missy is apparently a huge fan of Staples and Brown, and “some of the decisions for this record were fuelled by wanting to impress her still”.

Gorillaz are currently letting fans listen to their album in full via their app, at various locations around the world.

On 10 June, the band will host their own festival, Demon Dayz – named after their second record – which will take place in Margate’s very own Dreamland amusement park.

So far, only Gorillaz are on the line-up but expect additions in the near future. Tickets start at £60.00, with Priority Entry available for £70.00. 

Relive One of Blur's Greatest Gigs - Hyde Park 2012

For those of you who are feeling a little bit of Blur nostalgia, here's the full run of Blur's epic, and must we say, extremely passionate gig from Hyde Park 2012. Remember to watch in full screen at 480p!

1. Girls & Boys 00:00

2. London Loves 5:11

3. Tracy Jacks 8:43

4. Jubilee 13:10

5. Beetlebum 15:53

6. Coffee & TV 21:49 

7. Out of Time(with Khyam Allami) 27:24

8. Young & Lovely 32:15

9. Trimm Trabb 36:38

10. Caramel 42:07 

11. Sunday Sunday 47:19

12. Country House 50:47 

13. Parklife (with Phil Daniels) (& Harry Enfield) 55:20

14. Colin Zeal("Bugman" and "Oily Water) 59:12

15. Popscene 1:02:22

16. Advert 1:06:11

17. Song 2 1:10:41

18. No Distance Left to Run 1:13:34

19. Tender 1:17:29

20. This Is a Low 1:26:38 

Encore:

21. Sing 1:31:52

22. Under the Westway 1:38:14

23. Intermission 1:42:12

24. End of a Century 1:44:16

25. For Tomorrow 1:48:00 

26. The Universal 1:54:42

Brett Anderson Moans About Damon Albarn in New Memoir

It's expected in spring 2018 Suede frontman Brett Anderson has signed a deal to publish his memoir. The Britpop singer has sold his autobiography to publishers Little, Brown – who have described the writing as “as sharp as [Anderson’s] cheekbones”.

The Guardian reports that the book will be called Cold Black Mornings, while differing reports suggest that the title is in fact Coal Black Mornings. NME has asked Suede’s PR for clarification on the actual title.

Either way, the title is said to refer to the death of Anderson’s mother as well as the loss of his lover, Elastica‘s Justine Frischmann, to Britpop rival Damon Albarn.

The book is set to look at Anderson’s upbringing, his “eccentric father” and the “choked Britain” of the early 1990s. It’s expected in spring 2018. “This is a memoir which is so very good we would have wanted to publish it, whoever the author,” says publisher Richard Beswick. “The fact that it is by the founder of an internationally successful band of course adds to the attraction.

But fundamentally it is a classic memoir, which can stand alongside books like This Boy’s Life and Alan Johnson’s memoirs, as well as music books such as those by Mark Oliver Everett and Tracey Thorn.”