Get Tickets For Blur's 2023 Reunion Concert

The news of Blur's upcoming concert at Wembley Stadium on July 8th 2023 is sure to be met with excitement from music fans around the world. The British rock band is one of the most influential acts of the 90s and their music has had a lasting impact on popular culture. Formed in London in 1988, Blur rose to fame with their mix of alternative rock, Britpop and electronica. The band’s groundbreaking sound is credited with helping to shape the musical landscape of the 1990s. Blur’s first three albums (Leisure, Modern Life Is Rubbish, and Parklife) were all critically acclaimed and established the band as one of the most influential acts of the decade.

Blur’s Wembley Stadium concert will be one of the biggest events of the summer. The band is sure to perform some of their classic hits, as well as some of their more recent songs. The show will be a must-see event for fans of Blur and 90s music. The band’s Wembley Stadium concert is part of their worldwide tour which will take them to several countries. Blur’s tour is sure to be a hit with fans of their music from all over the world. The band will also perform in some of the most iconic venues in the world, including London’s O2 Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden.  

Blur’s concert at Wembley Stadium will be an unforgettable experience for music fans. The show is sure to be a celebration of the band’s groundbreaking music and their lasting influence on popular culture. Don’t miss out on your chance to see Blur in the summer of 2023 – get your tickets HERE now! 

Blur To Reunite For Wembley Stadium Gig in 2023

Breaking news- Blur has announced that they will be playing in Wembley Stadium, UK on 8th July 2023. The band will playing their only UK show of 2023 at the iconic venue.

Blur will be supported by Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap. This is the first Blur concert to happen since their reunion gig in 2015, when they released their critically acclaimed album 'The Magic Whip'. The band has not released any new singles since 2015. No other details about the gig has been released.

“We really love playing these songs and thought it’s about time we did it again,” said Damon Albarn, the frontman of the band who became UK's most famous Britpop legend in the 1990s. 

Guitarist Graham Coxon said: “I’m really looking forward to playing with my Blur brothers again and revisiting all those great songs. Blur live shows are always amazing for me. A nice guitar and an amp turned right up and loads of smiling faces.” 

Bassist Alex James said: “There’s always something really special when the four of us get in a room. It’s nice to think that on 8 July that room will be Wembley Stadium.” 

Drummer Dave Rowntree also chipped in: “After the chaos of the last few years, it’s great to get back out to play some songs together on a summer’s day in London. Hope to see you there.”

Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday November 18th 2022 and will be available HERE.

New Gorillaz Single- Cracker Island OUT NOW!

Gorillaz's latest single Cracker Island has just been launched on 22nd June 2022, and it's proving to be a banger. The virtual band's latest drop features Thundercat, an American bass guitarist and songwriter from Los Angeles who is a member of the band Suicidal Tendencies. 

The new single has been performed live during Gorillaz's latest world tour,, featuring guest vocals from Thundercat. It was not confirmed whether he would appear on the studio mix but it appears that he made the cut. 

Damon Albarn, the lead singer and genius behind the band has been busy with his solo career, and this is the first Gorillaz release since 2020’s Song Machine series. 

“It’s nice to be back, I’m well into our new tune, it brings back weird and scary memories of stuff that hasn’t happened yet”, Albarn said about the track in a press release, according to NME.

This single is going to be featured on Gorillaz's new album which will be launching in 2022. There is no news on the release date but stay tuned for more. 

Meanwhile, listen to the track below!! 

Lyrics

[Verse 1: 2-D & Thundercat]

On Cracker Island it was born
To the collective of the dawn
They were planting seeds at night
To grow a made-up paradise
Where truth was auto-tuned (Forever Cult)
But it's sadness I consume (Forever Cult)
Into my format everyday (Forever Cult)
In the end I need to pay (What world is this)
In the end I have to pay (I purged my soul)
In the end I have to pay (I drank tonight)
I've got nothing more to say (I drank tonight)

[Chorus 1: 2-D & Thundercat]

They taught themselves to be occult
They didn't know its many strategies
They taught themselves to be occult
They didn't know its many strategies (Fantasies)
What world is this?
What world is this?

[Verse 2: 2-D & Thundercat]
On Cracker Island it was raised (Hey, hey, hey, hey)
By the collective from the grave (Hey, hey, hey, hey)
It only came out at night (Hey, hey, hey, hey)
It ate up their paradise (Paradise)
Where truth was auto-tune (Forever Cult)
And it's sadness I consume (Forever Cult)
And I heard it everyday (Forever Cult)
In the end I had to pay (What world is this)
Out there on the silver lake (I was not there)
Everything it will be great (Beneath the hills)
I'm like a ship between the tide (I saw myself)
I held on to my surprise (We feel the void)

[Chorus 2: 2-D]

They thought themselves to be a cult
They didn't know it's many strategies
They taught themselves to be a cult
They didn't know it's many strategies
Tragedies

[Verse 3: 2-D & Thundercat]

On Cracker Island it will die (Forever Cult)
Join the collective from the sky (Forever Cult)
And on the shining bolt of light (Forever Cult)
Go out to paradise (What world is this)
Where the truth is auto-tuned (I purged my soul)
And it's sadness I consumed (I drank tonight)
Into my format everyday (I drank tonight)
In the end, I had to pay (Forever Cult)
In the end, I had to pay (Forever Cult)
In the end, it will be great (Forever Cult)
Nothing more to say
Nothing more to say, now
Nothing more to say
There's nothing more to say

How To Dress Like Graham Coxon from Blur

 Graham Coxon has always been the most stylish man from Blur. We all know it, and we cannot deny it. Nicknamed "tweedo" by fans, Graham Coxon is known for his signature British suits, chelsea boots, leather jackets and classy gentlemen-esque fashion. If you want to dress like the famed Blur guitarist, look no further. Here are some recommendations for your style picks. 

1. Classic Black Leather Belt 

Graham Coxon frequently wears suits for photoshoots and formal occasions. Getting a black leather belt is therefore essential if you want to dress like Graham Coxon. A classic black belt, such as from the lovely selection of Men's Belts over at Trendhim, fits the bill perfectly. Trendhim's a lovely men's gift shop that sells a lot of stylish accessories for men, and they have a lot of accessories that the Blur boys would wear, including cufflinks, bow ties and silk ties. Their items are great quality (tried and tested by the owners of this blog!) and they ship worldwide. As for Graham, he often dons on his tweed suit with matching shoes and a belt, plus a fancy shirt to finish the look off. Black leather belts goes well with 90s and 2000s suits, which Graham Coxon often appears in during Blur photoshoots. 

2. Striped Tee 

Graham Coxon's look would not be complete without a signature striped t-shirt. Striped tees scream "hipster" but Graham Coxon perhaps invented the hipster chic look before it became cool. The guitarist is known for his awesome collection of t-shirts, including some bizarrely striped ones in green and yellow. In fact, Graham Coxon is often seen wearing striped t-shirts during Blur gigs, and fan favorites include the blue-striped tee, the yellow striped tee and of course, his red/black striped long sleeved shirt! 

3. Blue blue jeans

4. Funky shirts 

A guitarist wouldn't be complete without his collection of eye-catching, funky shirts, and Graham Coxon is no exception. The guitarist is known for his unusual shirts such as the one below, featuring green and red stripes. Stripes definitely seem to be Graham Coxon's thing, and we think that his wardrobe would be teeming with different vintage shirts. Try out something a bit more colorful if you want to mimic his early 2000s look. 

5. Waistcoat 

Finally, Graham Coxon is always seen with a black waistcoat which would be worn over his white tee. This unusual look screams "I am a guitarist" and looks smart but laidback at the same time- just like Graham Coxon's personality! Graham Coxon has always been somewhat of a vintage man, and he is known for his archaic collection of tweed suits and blazers. The waistcoat is a nod to his love of classical pieces such as the three-piece suit. 

Dressing like Graham Coxon is simple, and the man is simply one of the most fashionable guitarists of all time. Hope these tips helped! 

Damon Albarn Revives Blur Songs On Piano

Damon Albarn is undoubtedly having a musical revival in 2021- and this time's he's back in his full glory with his 2021-2022 Piano Tour. The singer, who has spent lockdown writing songs and releasing a new solo album 'The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows', has recently been seen on tour in England and just played at the Union Chapel, London, on 15th December 2021. 

However, fans will be delighted to know that Damon's new tour isn't just about promoting his new solo album. He also revives classic Blur and Gorillaz tracks by playing them with a piano band- featuring one bassist, two violinists and one cello player, an ensemble which accompanied him throughout his shows. Blurballs will review his Union Chapel performance exclusively, but we want to share some of his latest piano covers below for your enjoyment. 

1. No Distance Left To Run

2. Beetlebum

3. The Universal

4. For Tomorrow

Damon Albarn's latest Union Chapel show in London features piano versions of 'Girls and Boys', 'El Manana', 'End of a Century', 'For Tomorrow' and more. It looks like fans are in for a treat when they go and see Damon's latest tour. If you haven't booked tickets yet, we highly recommend you check out his tour now.

If you have any footages from his latest tour that you'd like us to post, please email our team! 

Damon Albarn's New Solo Album Is Out

Damon Albarn's long-awaited solo album may just be the hottest thing in 2021, and it's finally out for pre-order today. The album, titled The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows, is finally available for fans to order before it's official launch on 21st November 2021. 

The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows was originally not intended to be produced as an album, but as an orchestral piece inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Damon Albarn returned to Iceland where he found new musical inspiration and recorded this 10-track album which explores the themes of loss, fragility and emergence. The album is essentially a  story of Damon Albarn's journey with music, discovering Iceland and the loss of previous identities. 

A new track, titled "Royal Morning Blue", was released today via Youtube and is available for streaming online. You can listen to it below. 

TRACK LISTING 

1. The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows 
2. The Cormorant 
3. Royal Morning Blue 
4. Combustion 
5. Daft Wader 
6. Darkness To Light Esja 
7. The Tower Of Montevideo 
8. Giraffe Trumpet Sea 
9. Polaris 
10. Particles

Pre-order the album HERE. 

Damon Albarn Releases New Song 'The Tower of Montevideo'

Damon Albarn has released a brand new track. Titled ‘The Tower Of Montevideo’, it’s the latest to be lifted from his new solo album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, which is set to arrive on 12th November 2021. You can check out the track now via a live video directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L.

Speaking to NME ahead of the album’s release, Albarn expounded on how it was conceptualised as a way to lift him out of the “storms” of the outside world and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I just felt like the beginning of this year was so grim and I had to do something to lift me out of those, I wouldn’t call doldrums, but storms – those terrible north wind storms that you get down by the sea in Devon sometimes,” he explained.

Damon Albarn is set to perform in a new tour next February for a run that includes two nights at London’s Barbican Hall.

The singer recently a cryptic message: "At the end of the world, Stay by my side" while posting a photo of himself playing the piano over the sunset. 

Damon Albarn debutes new song Polaris

Damon Albarn has released “Polaris,” the lead single from his upcoming solo album The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, out November 12th via Transgressive Records. The song arrived on Tuesday with an accompanying live performance video featuring Albarn on piano as he leads his band and a string quartet through the orchestral rock track. 

The “Polaris” clip is the first in a series of performance videos from Albarn titled Sublime Boulevards – Performance Films. Directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L and shot in black and white, the video series will feature selections from The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, and will be premiered in stages leading up to the album’s release date. 

Albarn originally intended for his new album to be an orchestral piece inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. However, during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, he began to develop the 11 tracks further into narrative pop songs. 

The hybrid sound can be heard on the album’s title track, which Albarn previewed last month. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows takes its title from the poem “Love and Memory” by John Clare and marks Albarn’s first solo LP since 2014’s Everyday Robots.

Along with a digital release, Albarn is prepping a limited-edition color vinyl version of The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, as well as versions on CD and cassette. There will also be a deluxe version packaged in a casebound book with additional photography, original scanned lyrics, original artwork, a copy of the album pressed on white vinyl, and a bonus seven-inch featuring an exclusive song from the recording sessions.

Watch the video below to see the full performance.

 

Damon Albarn- Polaris (Lyrics)

Polaris

If you get blown off course

In filling in the parts of your life that have disappeared

Medicating

Quick step reflections

In the dark mirrors of our lives

Polaris

Watching the embers fall

On to sublime boulevards

Medicating

Joining the saline to start

The inspection of the lines

See the birds

They have been taken by the wind

They are not together now

They will have to wait until tomorrow

To see each other again

Polaris, Polaris

Polaris, Polaris

See the birds

They have been taken by the wind

They are not together now

They will have to wait until tomorrow

To see each other again

We sprawl out among the gutters

In the shadow of the world

I miss the alarm, the music therein

And so back to the visions

All around us

When you will be

Gone

Polaris, Polaris

Polaris, Polaris

Source: Rolling Stone

Damon Albarn on his Manchester Comeback

Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn has described his return to the stage as "kind of like getting back into a dating game". 

Albarn performed as part of the Manchester International Festival 2 weeks ago for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at Manchester Central, he said: "These places need to be alive and if it's OK for Wembley to have 60,000 people, then it's definitely alright for this to have 10,000 people."

Watch a video below for an interview before his Manchester performance. 

How To Clean While Listening to Blur Music- LeJoy Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

With the amount of time spent at home listening to Blur music, my house is getting pretty dirty and messy. Working from home isn't easy, but today I want to share a robot vacuum cleaner that I used to speed up my cleaning process.

LeJoy is a new brand selling robot vacuum cleaners, something that I've always wanted to try. Seriously, vacuuming takes me a long time and these gadgets have been around for years. I've never quite managed to save up enough to buy one, but this LD20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner is affordable (only around 290 GBP on Amazon) and shipping only took a day for Prime members.

This is my honest review of the robot vacuum cleaner, which came in a compact, beautiful box. Take a look below! 

For starters, this vacuum cleaner is ultra quiet. It enables me to listen to Damon Albarn singing while it cleans- yes it's that quiet. My normal vacuum cleaner was cheap and inefficient, and was so loud that it hurts my ears. This little device saved me from so much time! In terms of the power, the vacuum cleaner is strong enough to suck up all the dust from my carpets, and the hairs lying around. The rotating brushes picks up small pieces of dirt and does really well with cleaning crumbs and little bits of food on the floor.

This cleaner doubles up as a mop too, so it's fantastic if you have hard floors. Living in the UK means that there are lots of dust and dirt around the air, especially being in a city- vacuuming is such a chore. Overall, I'd rate this cleaner a 9/10 and would recommend it as an addition to any house. Note that it can't clean the whole house by itself as it's quite a compact package, so you'd probably add it to a cleaning routine rather than use it to replace your existing vacuum. 

Use FLOW15 for 15% off Lejoy! 

Note: this is a sponsored post. Blurballs may have received compensation for the review but all opinions are completely honest and genuine. 

Graham Coxon Revisits Modern Life Is Rubbish in 2021

Watch Graham Coxon talk about his love for Modern Life is Rubbish in a little snippet of nostalgia! Hope you Blur fans enjoy this gem of a video!  

Damon Albarn performs Aries Live

 Old news, but gold news nonetheless. Watch Damon Albarn perform "Aries" in one of his best live performances in a long time.

Interview with Veikko from Veikko's Blur Page - vblurpage.com

For long-time fans of Blur, we all know that there has been a host of Blur fan sites that have come and go over the last 10-12 years since the Internet began to bloom. Some pages have stayed (like this one!) but most Blur fan sites have disappeared off the internet. We are fortunate to talk to the founders of one of the biggest Blur fan sites in existence- Veikko's Blur Page. 

Founded by Veikko, the Blur site is regularly updated with Blur news plus the band's latest musical offerings and discography. The best part of the site is that it hosts a Blur forum where fans can gather and share their love of the band. Some fans may remember that the official Blur website used to contain a discussion forum which was shut down after Blur announced their comeback a few years ago. 

Read on for an exclusive interview with Veikko, who talks about his love for Blur and what inspires him to run one of the biggest Blur fan sites out there. 

1) How did you get into Blur? 

I first saw the videos of "Girls & Boys" and "Country House" on MTV, and a few months later my mum bought me The Great Escape album as a Christmas present. I got hooked to the album's diverse music style and started to explore the band's back catalogue with a wide smile.

2) Name your 3 favourite Blur songs and why! 

1. The Universal - a perfect song with a great arrangement. 

2. Tender - another beautiful classic. 

3. Beetlebum - a magical and brave tune. Love the guitar work!

3) How do you think the Blur fans community has changed over the years? 

I don't think it has changed at all, and that's a good thing! 

4) What inspires you to keep running VBlurPage? 

New releases and live shows from Blur and related artists like Gorillaz, feedback and support from fans, contributions (pictures, setlists etc.) that I can add to my site.

I want to say huge thanks to Moritz, Ewa, Diego and Vítek for providing me with a huge amount of material over the last few years. 

5) How do you encourage people to use your forums and what kind of blur fans are there? 

I try my best to keep the forums a nice and safe place for discussion. Forums may be out of fashion, but I think they are still the best platform to have discussions. It helps that most of the people on my board are very nice and moderation is very rarely needed. 

6) What do you think Blur will do in the future? 

My guess is that they will do a few live shows in 2022 or 2023. 

7) What do you think Blur fan sites should focus more on? 

There are no bosses in this hobby, so just do what you enjoy to do! :)

VBlurpage: http://www.vblurpage.com

Damon Albarn Confirms New Solo Album in 2021

Breaking news- Damon Albarn has announced that he has signed a record deal with Transgressive Records for a second solo album to be released in 2021 or 2022. The last time Damon has made a solo album was in 2014 when he released the critically acclaimed album titled "Everyday Robots".

“Damon has recently put the finishing touches to his much-anticipated, second solo album, full details for which will be released soon,” Transgressive announced recently on their social media outlets. 

The indie label was initially founded by Tim Dellow and Toby L in 2004 and produces records for artists such as Arlo Parks, Alvvays, Foals and Johnny Flynn.

According to Transgressive: “We have had the great pleasure of collaborating with Damon over the years via the incredible Africa Express project, which has introduced many gifted artists to the Transgressive world. His voracious passion for music and exploration knows no bounds and repeatedly defies convention or categorisation, whilst always remaining utterly inviting and intoxicating throughout. 

“Truly prolific, his latest solo work is amongst the finest of his career. We really couldn’t be more honoured to welcome Damon and his phenomenal team at Eleven Management into the Transgressive family, with an ongoing focus to break new ground and subvert expectations in a way that only he can.”

Damon is also scheduled to play at Edinburgh International Festival alongside the likes of Laura Mvula, Caribou and The Snuts in August 2021. 

It looks like this is the beginning of a new era for the musician and undoubtedly, Damon Albarn fans will be looking forward to lots more news to come. 

Back in 2012, Damon announced that he was releasing his first solo album of his career. titled Everyday Robots The album was made available via online streaming to the public. You can listen to the album in full below. 

Stay tuned for more and do subscribe to Blurball's Facebook page to get the latest news and updates on all things Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Blur and Gorillaz. 

The Real Reason Why Damon Albarn turned down Prince

Rumour has it, Damon Albarn turned down a meeting with Prince because of his love of cigarettes and drinking. In an interview from 2018, Damon told the interviewer that he was invited to go an play with Prince at the Purple One’s studio at Paisley Park, but he turned down the invitation after being informed that Prince didn’t want people smoking in his studio. 

Damon said: “I was having a drink and a fag—I don’t actually smoke anymore, knocked that one on the head—but if you can’t be who you... If I’ve invited someone to my studio, they’re my guest, and there aren’t any conditions like that.”

“Anyway, it’s like, I can have a cigarette outside if I needed it—I’d be fucking excited, right? Why the fuck would I not want to fucking go mad if I’m with Prince? I’d rather not do it and not get pissed off with the whole thing. It’s just one of those ‘could have been’... I’ve got a few of those.”

Damon is set to perform on stage in Glastonbury Festival in England on the 22nd May, as well as in the O2 London for his Gorillaz concert in August of the same year. 

Listen to Damon talk about his experience below! 

Damon Albarn On Playing To Cows At Glastonbury 2021

 Damon Albarn recently spoke out about playing to the "cows not the crowds" at this year's Glastonbury 2021. Damon was recently featured on ITV News talking about Brexit, Covid and playing at this year's live streaming event during Glastonbury 2021.

In response to what it was like playing to the cows instead of crowds, Damon responded that he quite "liked" playing to the cows. Dressed in a beanie cap, sunglasses and golden necklace, the singer gave a good-natured interview to the media and also discussed the challenges facing musicians during the pandemic outbreak. 

Damon also talked about Brexit. He talked about how a lack of travel and ties to Europe is hurting musicians' ability to travel to play. He concluded that if we can "meditate" on these serious issues during these tough times, then people can move forward and continue to create good music. 

On streaming culture, Damon said that the deals between the industry and artists has always been "outrageous" and "unbalanced". Damon empathised with how difficult it must be to have a livelihood when main source of income for musicians have evaporated. 

Watch the full interview below. 

Best Damon Albarn Quotes Of All Time

Damon Albarn has always had a way with words. He has said so many memorable things over his musical career. Here are some of the highlights from the man himself. 

1. "I must admit that I always found it incredibly easy to get off with girls. When you’re a teenager, picking up girls is a bit like getting run over by a large vehicle. You see a juggernaut approaching and you have to know when to throw yourself under it. I always seemed to know when to throw myself on the floor and get what I wanted." (on getting girls)

2. "I don’t feel anything with a passion. I’m not a very passionate bloke. I can’t bring myself to actually believe in passion." (on his interests)

3. "Life is very different in my home. My status is extremely different. I’m not taken very seriously, in a good way. I walk around in my pants, which my daughter finds highly embarrassing. I’m just a normal, down-to-earth dad." (on fatherhood)

4."I’m actually really passionate about puppets. I had these puppets made of me when I was in Jakarta. I originally wanted to use them in a video for a song on the album, 'Hollow Ponds', which has a strong dateline of me growing up. So now I’ve got these ten puppets of me at home – and one of Barack Obama. I may turn it into a puppet show for kids. I love puppets." (on his passions)

5."That’s just been lost this year. I think that, even though we’re not necessarily aware of it at the time, we all evolve when something like this happens." (on Covid lockdowns)

6."When you’re in an indie band it’s like a marriage, you know? You’re married to everything about it. I was just at the front being a fucking knobhead frontman for quite a long period of time." (on Blur)

7."I was always accused of being a bit of a dilettante back in the day. I never really saw it like that. I was just interested in lots of different things, and I wanted to see how I could somehow articulate my own thing through other things. No one actually comes up with something that reinvents music." (on music)

8."Rock is the easy option. You can write mediocre songs, mumble words, put a lot of attitude into it and be successful. But pop is so much more of an expose. If 'Girls and Boys hadn't had something to say and the sounds that we used hadn't been thought through, it would have been embarrassing." (on writing pop songs)

9. "I don't think anybody understood the irony. I seriously doubt it. Modern Life Is Rubbish [1993] and Parklife [1994] were angry records. The Great Escape [1995, number one in the UK, and Blur's biggest-selling album worldwide to date] was a rather cynical album, everything seemed to be going down hill, and I was cynical, too cynical." (on his albums)

10. "We were together for eight years. Eight years are a long time, a very long time. Especially if the relationship is as public as our relationship was. I went through a phase where I thought I've got to justify my feelings, everything I invested in that relationship. As a musician usually music is your way out." (on his ex-girlfriend Justine Frischmann)

Gorillaz to play in the O2 London in August 2021- Buy Tickets Now

Head's up for all Gorillaz fans out there. Gorillaz the biggest virtual band in the world is set to play one of the biggest shows ever in The O2 in London on 11th August 2021. 

Gorillaz has embarked on a tour to promote their latest offering Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez – one of their most well-received albums that has debuted online in 2020. 

In reviewing their album, the NME wrote: “‘Strange Timez’ is a varied affair that pulls from Albarn and the band’s perchance for exploration: punk rock sits effortlessly next to glitzy piano ballads, while playful hip-hop and melancholic post-rave ambience soothe our pounding heads. It’s a further reminder that while the post-genre mindset is now crucial to mainstream success, Gorillaz have always been ken to encourage emerging artists to embrace their diverse inspirations.”

Notable tracks from Song Machine include MLS, Aries and The Pink Phantom (featuring Elton John). The album is interesting in that it features many famous collaborators, such as Peter Hook, Beck, Slaves, GoldLink, St Vincent and others. 

Gorillaz have also announced a wide range of other new collaborations such as their new Fred Perry clothing line coming soon. 

Get tickets and reserve your place at the band's 2021 tour HERE! 

Versace Mixes Up Blur and Blue For Fashion Show

If you have been a Blur fan for long enough, you'll understand the familiar problem: you search for "Blur" songs and out pops "Blue", another 90s boy band with several hit singles. We have certainly had this problem before, but this time one of the members of Blue has spoken up about just how often the two bands have been mixed up. 

Blue has recently admitted that they once "stole" Blur's golden tickets to the fashion show in Milan. Apparently, Blur was invited to fly via private jet to the esteemed fashion show and was invited to meet Donatella Versace personally. However, there was a huge mix-up which resulted in the band Blue getting chauffeured all the way to Milan- and back. 

Antony Costa from Blue has regaled a hilarious story about his band getting mixed up with Blur near 20 years ago. "In 2001 we released our first single ('All Rise'), it was going really well for us and we got invited to Milan Fashion Week by Donatella Versace.” Costa told Ben Hanlin's Ben Behaving Dadly podcast.

“So we got kitted out by Versace at Bond Street. We got a private plane out there, they flew us out there. We landed, went to the fashion show, and afterwards they were like 'Look, we want you to meet Donatella’.” 

He said: “So we lined up, like we were meeting the Queen, and she looked at us. I said to Simon (Webbe), 'This is a bit weird, we're supposed to be one of the guests. Why wouldn't she want to say hello?' "Anyway, to cut a long story short, when we get back to London, and she had invited Blur and not Blue."

Costa continued: "The mad thing was I meant Alex James years later and he was mucking about and was like 'Oi you. You took or tickets!' I was like 'Mate, I didn't know!'"