Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn given citizenship of ­Iceland as one of only 30 to get a passport

 DAMON ALBARN once sang about living in a very big house in the country, but now he has upped sticks to reside in a very different location. 

I’ve learned the rocker has been awarded citizenship of ­Iceland and is one of only 30 foreign citizens to make the cut.

He asked officials how he could join the country last March during a holiday there and finally had his wish granted on Thursday. The Blur and Gorillaz frontman has spent 25 years as a frequent visitor to the geyser-filled island, which is 1,200 miles from where he grew up in Essex. He has a home in a suburb of capital city Reykjavik. 

A source said: “Damon is thrilled to now officially be a citizen of Iceland because he knows the country so well. “It has been a constant source of inspiration for him and it is a safe haven right now.

“Apart from anything else, Iceland has just a handful of Covid cases so being there is far better than staying in the UK where he would be stuck inside.” The ruling means he now has the right to live and work in Iceland permanently, without any immigration restrictions. 

The star said he was first inspired to take a trip there in the mid-Nineties after learning the country had black sand. 

Damon explained at the time: “I used to have a recurring dream, as a child, of a black sand beach. “And one hazy, lazy day, I was watching the TV and I saw a programme about Iceland, and they had black beaches. 

“So I got on a plane. I was on my own — I didn’t know anybody. “I went into the street in Laugavegur, where the bars are, and that was it.”

Blur then recorded their self-titled 1997 album there, featuring hits Song 2, On Your Own and Beetlebum. In 2006 he described himself as “a frequent visitor, a sort of migratory bird” to the country. If I were him, I’d feather my nest and stay put there for now till things settle down.

How To Improve Energy Levels - Mindful Matter Review

Have you ever stayed up late listening to Blur and The Beatles and just got so tired the next day? Ever have trouble waking up for work after a bad night's sleep? Ever struggled to manage daily life because you're too tired? Fear not, for today I want to talk about something that's related to life- and this is because health matters no matter how old you are.

The brand I want to feature today on this blog is called Mindful Matter, a UK-based supplements brand that sells magnesium supplements for men and women. Founded by Alex and Sean, the brand's one of the fastest growing supplement brands out there. It's innovative and their supplements benefit customers in over 40 countries. If you're always tired like me, then you'll want to keep on reading about their supplements. 

I want to focus the spotlight on the brand's Magnesium Glycinate supplements as it's one of the best ones that I've tried in a while. I used to take supplements that were in the form of multi-vitamins but I found that they were not as helpful as specific ones that targeted problems that I had. So how does magnesium improve your overall wellbeing? 

Studies show that the majority of the UK population is at risk for magnesium deficiency due to a variety of lifestyle factors, including a diet high in processed food. Health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or alcohol dependency can make you have low magnesium levels which further damages your body's wellbeing. 

Magnesium is incredibly important for many reasons relating to health. The humble mineral is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It's important for general health, bone health, helping to keep your blood sugar levels stable, helping your muscles and nerves to properly function, and keeping your blood pressure at a decent level. 

One of the best things about it is how it can help with sleep. As Damon Albarn and Blur's songs constantly says, a lot of people struggle to get a good night's sleep. Magnesium helps regulate the hormone melatonin, which is involved with controlling your circadian rhythm. If you're always staying up late listening to music or reading about the latest celebrity news, then this supplement will greatly improve your sleep schedule and improve your quality of life! Magnesium allows you to take protein and convert it into the chemicals that help you feel sleepy. 

Mindful Matter's magnesium supplements came in a lovely packaging and I'm very impressed with them. They are delivered quickly and efficiently after ordering and the package is very secure. The presentation is lovely and these would make great gifts for anyone. I'd highly recommend them and don't forget to visit their website to learn more. 

5 Facts You Never Knew about Damon Albarn

The Blur frontman has always been a bit mysterious and aloof with his personal stories. But here are 5 fun facts that you probably never knew about the man himself.

1. After his breakup with Justine Frischmann in the late 1990s, there are rumours he dated Melanie C from Spice Girls (Sporty Spice) and Shaznay Lewis from All Saints. He has been seen with them together in house parties hosted by Albarn and Jamie Hewlett in their pad in London during his recovery days. He has always had an open relationship with Justine Frischmann and was caught kissing an Australian DJ back in the days.

2. Blur and the gang used to play a "Punching Game" with each other, where they'd take it in turns to hit each other as hard as they can. Alex James recalls: “There was one tour in America that I had two black eyes,” James claimed. “One from Graham and one from Dave. And Damon broke my nose once. But you know… there was never any question we would split up. We were tighter than ever.” “Dave used to play this game called the Punching Game,” James continued. “We all took it in turns to punch each other. I remember playing it with the bass player from Dinosaur Jr… he was fucking massive. Taller than me. He lumped the shit out of everyone.” In case anyone needs ear infection treatment, heads up to Auris Ear Care a London clinic who does just that and more! 

3. Damon finally admitted to using heroin in his latest autobiographical album Everyday Robots (2015). The song "You and Me", referencing Justine Frischmann and his heroin use, found him admitting his 5-day-a-week regime. He has said that it's a relief that it can all become out in the open, since he was "mysterious" about his heroin usage during the 1990s.

4. Damon has a really close relationship with his daughter Missy Albarn. He always writes songs for her and according to him, she "cries" with embarassment. He also admits that his collaborations in the latest Gorillaz album Humanz is based off Missy's choices and favorites. What a dad!

5. Damon is a perpetual suitor when it comes to collaborations. How he managed to get Lou Reed, the Velvet Underground star on the old Gorillaz album was because he sent in hundreds of songs but were all rejected by Lou Reed. He said the secret to his success is to never give up on pestering the great musicians of his time.

New Gorillaz Track- Strange Timez ft Robert Smith

The latest Gorillaz track on their new album "The Song Machine" is out! Watch below for the full song.