Damon Albarn Spotted With New Girlfriend 2025

Blur frontman Damon Albarn was seen enjoying a quiet stroll through London earlier this week with a new female companion, marking the first time he has been spotted publicly with someone new since his highly publicised split from long-term partner Suzi Winstanley.

The 57-year-old musician kept his look casual in a white T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, while his mystery companion opted for a camouflage jumpsuit. The pair were seen walking Albarn’s dog before stopping by a corner shop to pick up snacks and other essentials during the outing.

Albarn’s appearance comes two years after the end of his 25-year relationship with Winstanley, an artist known for her collaborative wildlife work with Olly Williams. The couple, who share a 25-year-old daughter, Missy, were said to have kept their separation discreet, only confiding in close friends.

A source revealed in 2023 that Winstanley was heartbroken by the breakup, which was reportedly influenced by Albarn’s busy travel schedule and preference for spending extended periods of time at his Devon home, where he had set up a recording studio. “Suzi really tried to make it work,” the insider shared at the time. “It was incredibly sad for her when it ended.”

Winstanley was so affected by the split that she reportedly found it difficult to listen to Albarn’s 2023 Blur album, The Ballad of Darren. The record, widely interpreted as a reflection on their relationship, includes candid lyrics hinting at regret and loss. 

In The Ballad, Albarn sings, “I just looked into my life / And all I saw was that you’re not coming back,” while St. Charles Square opens with the line, “I f***** up / I’m not the first to do it,” suggesting personal responsibility for the breakdown.

Albarn and Winstanley first met in the late 1990s, shortly after his split from Elastica’s Justine Frischmann. At the time, Albarn was living in a Ladbroke Grove flat with cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, who would go on to co-create Gorillaz with him. By the end of 1999, Albarn and Winstanley had moved in together and soon welcomed their daughter.

Over the years, Albarn rarely spoke about his private life, often emphasizing his desire for privacy in interviews. “I appreciate that people want to fill in the gaps, but I just don’t want to talk about my private life,” he told The Guardian in 2003. “I never have done and I never will.”

Despite the breakup, Winstanley continued to show support for Albarn’s work, even attending Blur’s Wembley performance shortly after their split.

While Albarn has not commented on the new relationship, his relaxed appearance during the London stroll suggests he is embracing a new chapter in his personal life.

Ash Unveil New Album Ad Astra Featuring Graham Coxon and 2025 Tour Plans

 Northern Irish rock veterans Ash are back with a bang, officially announcing the arrival of their ninth studio album, Ad Astra, which lands on October 3. Alongside the album drop, the band will hit the road across the UK and Ireland, with headline gigs planned well into 2025 and 2026.

The upcoming release sees Ash deliver a new single, "Give Me Back My World," now available to stream. Frontman Tim Wheeler explained the song’s roots, noting its emotional weight and relevance, even five years on from when it was written.

“If I told you this song dates back to 2020, you’d hardly need a degree from the school of Marple, Holmes and Poirot to figure out what it’s getting at,” Wheeler said.

“And although those sentiments may be just a memory from the standpoint of 2025, the song’s heart still feels relevant. In a time of chaos, disruption and angst, there’s still a beautiful world out there and it’s worth fighting for. Have you ever had one of those moments where you feel the rug has been pulled from under you? Everything you took for granted goes up in smoke and you are no longer in control, and you can only look back in hindsight at a life that’s no longer yours? I think we’ve all had those moments.

I think you can all relate to this song. But luckily for you it a) rails against this loss of control and b) is a total banger. So, fire it up and rage with us against the dying of the light.”

Adding to the excitement, Ad Astra includes two guest appearances by Blur and The Waeve’s Graham Coxon, who lends his talents to the track “Fun People” and the album’s climactic closer, “Ad Astra.” The collaboration marks a rare team-up between two iconic figures from the Britpop era and has fans buzzing with anticipation.

Ad Astra – Full Tracklist:

1. Zarathustra

2. Which One Do You Want?

3. Fun People (featuring Graham Coxon)

4. Give Me Back My World

5. Hallion

6. Deadly Love

7. My Favourite Ghost

8. Jump In The Line

9. Keep Dreaming

10. Dehumanised

11. Ghosting

12. Ad Astra (featuring Graham Coxon)

In addition to the new music, Ash have mapped out a sprawling tour schedule beginning with support dates for Manic Street Preachers and Richard Ashcroft in August 2025, followed by their own headline shows across major UK cities, as well as international festival appearances and a stretch through Japan in October.

Key Tour Dates – 2025:

• Aug 2 – Audley End House, Essex (w/ Manic Street Preachers)

• Aug 7 – Sonorama, Aranda del Duero

• Aug 9 – Custom House Square, Belfast (w/ The Darkness)

• Aug 22 – Victorious Festival

• Aug 23 – Live at Scorrier House, Redruth (w/ Richard Ashcroft)

• Sep 9 & 10 – Scala, London

• Sep 26 – Visor Festival, Valencia

• Oct 14–21 – Various cities in Japan (Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, Sendai, Yokohama)

• Nov 14 – Shiiine On Weekender, Minehead

• Nov 16–25 – Swansea, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Blackpool, Sheffield, Oxford

• Dec 5–13 – Irish leg: Listowel, Dundalk, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Belfast

The band won’t be slowing down once the new year hits either. A run of dates has been revealed for February 2026, hitting intimate venues and fan-favourite stops across England.

Confirmed Tour Dates – February 2026:

• Feb 6 – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells

• Feb 7 – Junction, Cambridge

• Feb 8 – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes

• Feb 10 – Phoenix, Exeter

• Feb 11 – The Trinity Centre, Bristol

• Feb 13 – Grand Central Dome, Liverpool

• Feb 14 – The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent

• Feb 15 – The Welly, Hull

• Feb 17 – Epic Studios, Norwich

• Feb 19 – O2 Academy, Birmingham

With new material, high-profile collaborations, and a tour that spans two years and several countries, Ash are making a serious case that they’re not just back — they’re galactic. Ad Astra promises to be one of their boldest offerings yet.

Gorillaz 2026: Damon Albarn Confirms New Album in Four Languages

Head's up- a new Gorillaz album is coming up in 2025! 

Damon Albarn has pulled back the curtain on his whirlwind of creativity, revealing that he’s been “buried in music-making” and, in a twist, the upcoming Gorillaz album will feature four different languages.

Speaking to The Sun, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman shared how the post-reunion rush of Blur didn’t slow him down one bit. “It’s been non-stop,” he said. “I was staging an opera in Paris while diving into the new Gorillaz record. Honestly, it’s been mad. But, let’s face it, the whole world’s gone mad, so none of this feels strange anymore.”

He added, “I’ve been ridiculously busy creating music -that’s my heartbeat. I guess I’ll have to start letting people hear it soon. There’s always this metaphorical dustbin bag of songs waiting to be tipped out and recycled into something new.”

While earlier this year Albarn hinted that fans might get the record in 2025, he told The Times that the album won’t drop until 2026. Still, he left us with a tantalising tease: “My new Gorillaz record is in four languages!”

On Britpop’s Fiercest Rivalry

In the same interview with The Sun, Albarn gave a surprisingly humble take on the legendary Britpop face-off between Blur and Oasis. Reflecting on the 1995 chart showdown, where Blur’s Country House beat Oasis’ Roll With It, he now shrugs it off:

“Oasis won — the battle, the war, the whole campaign. Let’s be real, it was obvious, wasn’t it?” he admitted. “They’re the victors. They’ve got the crown. I’m happy to step aside and concede. This summer belongs to them, and good on them. I hope it’s brilliant for everyone. I’ll be in a very, very different place.”

He even cheekily called himself “prophetic” for predicting the Gallagher brothers would eventually patch things up. “I mean, come on two brothers? They were always going to reconcile. It’s a good thing.”

On Music and Missteps

Albarn also spoke to The Times about wanting to collaborate with artists in Palestine and Israel amidst the ongoing war. He took a swipe at the controversy stirred by Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, calling it “one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve ever witnessed.”

The rap-punk act faced backlash after chanting “death to the IDF” and making provocative gestures during their set. “When he started goose-stepping in tennis whites — I mean, I’ve done some questionable things on stage, but not quite that bad. Testosterone takes over, you lose perspective. It’s a shame, but everyone’s just on edge these days,” Albarn remarked.

Upcoming Gorillaz Shows

Fans won’t have to wait until 2026 for a taste of Gorillaz magic. The band is gearing up for a series of exclusive shows between August 29 and September 3 at London’s Copper Box Arena. Each night, Albarn and the full Gorillaz crew will perform one of their iconic albums from start to finish, paired with immersive visuals by co-founder Jamie Hewlett.

To top it all off, there’s a mystery gig scheduled for September 3 2025, though details remain tightly under wraps. These shows will also coincide with the final week of their House of Kong exhibition — an unmissable treat for fans.

15 Things You Wish You'd Heard Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett Say- Quotes

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, two halves of chart-topping band Gorillaz, have known each other for a little over 20 years. Hewlett Damon met Jamie, an artist that was best known at the time for his series 'Tank Girl', when they shared a house. They also share many entertaining quotes and have said many things about each other throughout the years.  

These quotes offer a glimpse into the dynamic between Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, as well as their collaborative process in creating Gorillaz's unique and influential music.Take a look at some of these below. 

"We've been through too much together for it to be that big of a mountain to climb. We've just fallen out like mates do sometimes. I'm not the only person to fall out with mates and then make up again – everyone does it." - Damon on their falling out (2012)

“ We’ve lived in each other’s pockets for the last 13 years: we shared an apartment, our kids have grown up together, we’ve been inseparable for a long time"  Jamie Hewlett (2012)

"There's some kind of simian connection. We have a kind of money madness". - Jamie, Vanity Fair (August 2013) 

“ You’re very lucky if you meet a partner like that to work with, he instilled a lot of humour and perspective for me."— Damon Albarn on Jamie Hewlett | Damon and Jamie’s Excellent Adventure 

“ Jamie cured me of all my rock star pretensions. He’s just fucking brilliantly funny and doesn’t give a shit about anything like that, you know. And that rubbed off on me in the end, and I became a happier person for it, because I was never really comfortable being like that. As you can see now. I hope."- Damon Albarn on Jamie Hewlett, Q (2007)

“ What kind of person is Damon in your eyes? “He’s a lovely sunny boy." — Jamie Hewlett on Damon Albarn (2005)

"What blew me away, and I’ve done a lot of festivals in my time, was the response to the new material. It was great. Best reception I’ve ever experienced in America in 20 years." — Damon Albarn

"I’d love to say yes. We just rehearsed it. It’s a lot of rehearsal that goes into it. We did a little tour with just the band, really small venues in England in the back of a van, just so we could grind through the repetition of getting that." — Damon Albarn

"So I thought we did pretty well considering. It could’ve been a lot worse, put it that way." — Damon Albarn

"Well you know just because they’re your heroes there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work when you actually go into the studio. It’s not guaranteed. And there’s a lot of people who we’ve asked who haven’t done it." — Damon Albarn

"It’s quite frightening to get into that moment where you haven’t actually seen what it is. And we weren’t sure what it was, and then we were really sure what it was." — Damon Albarn

"I remember, sorry. Yeah, thank you. I said 'I'm going, 'cos we got to work in the morning and I'm a really good boy.' And you said, deeper voice 'No. I'm staying here.'" – Jamie Hewlett​​.

"Well there’s nothing like Glastonbury, Glastonbury’s just a stormy mess." – Jamie Hewlett​​.

"We’re more at the point now where Gorillaz is well known enough that maybe we can be a little bit cheeky." – Jamie Hewlett​​.

"He starts making songs, and I start thinking. And then he said to me, probably about three weeks after we started, 'I wanna call it Plastic Beach.' And that was the sort of catalyst for everything." – Jamie Hewlett​​.