Gorillaz to release Best Of collection - Oct 2011

GORILLAZ CELEBRATE A DECADE WITH NEW SINGLES COLLECTION

The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 the career-spanning best of from Gorillaz, will be released on November 28th 2011 by Parlophone Records. 

A 15-track collection of the band’s singles, videos and remixes, The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 celebrates 10 years of audio visual innovation and three studio albums from the most successful virtual band in the world ever. The Singles Collection will be released as a standard CD, CD and DVD and 140 gram vinyl. A special edition 7” box set will also be made available.

Formed in 1998, the band released their revolutionary debut album Gorillaz in 2001. The launch had many industry detractors who saw the idea of an animated pop group as merely folly and gimmick – but the album went on to sell 6 million copies around the world. The hugely successful campaign took its toll on Gorillaz. As guitar-playing wunderkind Noodle noted sadly “Every great band is destroyed by their success. Cartoon bands are no exception". Despite this, she wrestled the band back together for the release of second album Demon Days in 2005 and a run of groundbreaking animated live shows at Manchester International Festival and Harlem’s Apollo Theater. In early 2010 Gorillaz resurfaced again – this time from an island in the South Pacific with the album Plastic Beach. The lead single Stylo featured a bad ass Bruce Willis chasing down our intrepid Gorillaz who made a clean escape and headed out on their first World Tour with a crack team of musicians including Clash greats Paul Simonon and Mick Jones.

In ten years, Gorillaz didn’t just top charts around the world, hit number 1 in more than a dozen countries and garner sales in excess of 13 million, they received influential awards and recognition that represented the band’s significance beyond their music. Alongside a Grammy and an Ivor Novello, Gorillaz were nominated for four CAD awards and took home the coveted Webby Award for Artist of The Year 2006, plus the Jim Henson Award for Creativity. In 2006 Jamie Hewlett was awarded Designer of the Year for his work on Gorillaz; four years later the band graced the cover of tech bible Wired Magazine.

Always open to an interesting collaboration, Gorillaz have worked with numerous artists including Dangermouse, Ibrahim Ferrer, Del the Funkee Homosapien, De La Soul, Kano, Bobby Womack, Ike Turner, Lou Reed, Mark E Smith, Bootie Brown, Tina Weymouth, Bashy, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Snoop Dogg, Dan The Automator, Mos Def, D12, Phi Life Cypher, MF Doom, Rosie Wilson, Shaun Ryder and Neneh Cherry.

Gorillaz are Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, 2D and Russel Hobbs.

1. Tomorrow Comes Today
2. Clint Eastwood
3. 19-2000
4. Rock The House
5. Feel Good Inc
6. DARE
7. Dirty Harry
8. Kids With Guns
9. El Manana
10. Stylo
11. Superfast Jellyfish
12. On Melancholy Hill
13. Doncamatic
14. Clint Eastwood (Ed Case & Sweetie Irie Refix)
15. 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)


From Gorillaz Unofficial:


It will be available on CD, CD+DVD and double vinyl formats, and a 7" box set will also be released with the same 15 tracks spread over 8 7" vinyls all in a clamshell box. The standard 15-track tracklisting - used for the CD (both versions) and both the vinyl formats - is entirely previously released material. The DVD contents are unknown at this time.

For the cover, see here on Amazon. For the full tracklisting and the full official press release, click 'Read More' below.

More features including a slightly interactive version of the album cover, over on www.gorillaz.com.

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Damon Albarn to revive The Good, The Bad and The Queen for Greenpeace charity gig

Lifted from the Greenpeace blog:

We’ve got some really exciting news for you, Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon and Simon Tong will come together for a special one-off The Good, The Bad and The Queen gig celebrating 40 years of Greenpeace and the arrival of the new Rainbow Warrior III in London.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen are big supporters of Greenpeace. Bassist Paul Simonon said, “We've always supported Greenpeace and their amazing work. It should be a great night, we're really looking forward to it."

Our Executive Director John Sauven added "I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 40th Anniversary than with The Good, the Bad and the Queen. What makes it really special is that this show will coincide with the arrival of Greenpeace's brand new Rainbow Warrior to its new mooring on the Thames.”

The gig will be on Thursday 10 November at London’s Coronet, New Kent Road. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9am. So we’ll see you there right?

Tickets are available from this Friday 7th October at 9am from the usual outlets and on 0844 249 1000 / 0844 811 0051 / 020 7734 8932 / 0844 844 0444 / coronettheatre.co.uk /gigsandtours.com / ticketline.co.uk

Blur plays an alternate version of Song 2

This is the most amazing Blur video I've watched in a long time - Blur performs their song "Song 2" in a completely different style, essentially a "cover of" their own original song. It's brilliant, totally chilled out and Damon's voice just vibrates and forms awesome rhythms. Watch below and comment on what you think - Yay or Nay ?

Alex James to judge Ambition AXA Awards

AXA, in association with Arts Council England, have recently launched the Ambition AXA Awards, making available £200,000 to 5 talented 11-18 year olds in the UK.


Each winner will receive up to £40,000 worth of personalised mentoring, to help develop their ambitions in their chosen field of arts, enterprise, science, community or sport. The prize will be judged by an expert panel, which includes Laura Gander Howe, ACE Director of Learning and Skills Strategy as well as celebrity musician Alex James from Blur.


He also had a little interview that talked about his life, bio and achievements so far. 

Alex James - How to aim for a career in the arts and get the most out of it 

I’ve always loved music, but I never thought it was a career option.

My dad bought a piano when I was 13 and showed me how to play boogie woogie. Not much later I got a bass and joined a band. I went to London to study French, but spent all my time playing music. I dropped my studies because I wanted to be in Blur.

It’s very hard to know what you want to do with your life – in fact it’s the hardest thing there is. I’ve never had a master plan, but I’ve always followed what has interested me most.

Do what you love

I don’t think you can help following interests. And it’s vital, even if it makes you look ridiculous – there was a time when leaving university to be in a band that had songs that all went very, very fast and were very, very loud seemed ridiculous, but that was what I cared about.

I’ve always loved music, but journalism and even inventing cheese are equally creative. I really love cheese so I always find it interesting.

Get into a band

Whenever you find something that interests you, you’ve got to go after it with everything you’ve got even if it makes you look stupid. If it’s music, get involved in a band. If it’s writing, write. If it’s cheese, er, give me a call. Whatever it is, the important thing is doing it, not dreaming about it.

Don’t fret about music lessons/training/not having enough money

I didn’t have any training when I was younger. I just played every day and eventually I could do it. Pop music is great, as you don’t have to know loads -  it’s just a way to express yourself. But I don’t think I’ve ever stopped learning. I’ve had loads of music lessons recently, and I wish I'd done it years ago.

Enjoy yourself

I like playing the guitar on my own. I love making records, I love playing music, I like talking about it – always have, always will. So I was drawn to music.

If you dedicate yourself to something you like, it is surprising what will come out of it. I still find it amazing that what I enjoyed messing about at as a teenager has led me. Who’d have thought when I formed my first band in my bedroom all those years ago that I’d be playing to thousands at Glastonbury? (Apart from me, I mean – I knew it was going to happen).

Read about Alex James from AXA's official website HERE. 

Albarn's 'DRC Music' tracklist revealed

Damon Albarn's Congo collaboration album "DRC Music" has been premiered on Soundcloud a few days ago. 5 tracks has been made available on the online streaming website, and you can head over there to listen below. 


The album from this is called 'Kinshasa One Two' and it will be released digitally by Warp Records on 3rd October 2011 with a CD/vinyl release to follow on 7th November 2011, to benefit Oxfam. 


"Hallo" (feat. Tout Puissant Mukalo and Nelly Liyemge)
"K-Town" (feat. N'Gotshima and Bebson)
"African Space Anthem (A.S.A)" (feat. Ewing Sima of Tout Puissant Mukalo)
"Love" (feat. Love)
"Lingala" (feat. Bokatola System and Evala Litongo)
"Lourds" (feat. Yende Bongongo of Okwess International)
"Respect of the Rules" (feat. Loi X Liberal)
"We Come From the Forest" (feat. Bokatola System)
"Customs" (feat. Bokatola System)
"Virginia" (feat. Magakala Virginia Yollande and Yowa Hollande)
"Ah Congo" (feat. Jupiter Bokondji and Bokatola System)
"Three Piece Sweet part 1&2" (feat. Bebson)
"If You Wish to Stay Awake" (feat. Washiba) "Departure" (feat. Bokatola System) 


You can hear Damon Albarn sings in the track "Hallo". Apart from that, the tracks sound a lot like Gorillaz's ipad album "The Fall" and parts of Damon's unpolished demos from not only the Blur era, but also from Monkey Journey to the West. Seems like he reused parts of old demos and incorporated  some more exotic instruments to compile this interesting piece!  


Listen to some of the tracks HERE 

Damon Albarn to make first solo album for 2012

Damon's going to make a solo album! Exciting news everyone! 

DAMON Albarn's done a lot in his 20-year career in music but he's still missing one thing from his lengthy CV – a proper solo recording (The Sun)

Now the Blur and Gorillaz man has pledged to follow fellow Britpop hero Noel Gallagher and spend most of next year recording an album of his own.

But Damon has three albums to get out first.

One is a project by Africa Express – a collective of Western and African musicians – recorded in the Congo.

Another is a collaboration with Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers and drumming legend Tony Allen.

The third is a recording of his Elizabethan opera.

After that he'll get to work on his first solo disc so it's ready for release some time in 2012.

A source said: "Damon's finally ready to make a solo album after years of hiding behind cartoon band Gorillaz and working with collectives of musicians.

"He's looking forward to it and his label bosses at EMI are pleased as it's sure to sell by the bucketload."

Although it's bad news for fans holding out on a full Blur reunion – a Damon solo disc is still an exciting prospect.

What's up with Alex James after Blur ? Interview August 2011

Alex James

The musician and cheese maker talks about his family

• Interview by Nick McGrath
• The Guardian, Saturday 6 August 2011
• 
  
• 

My uncle was a jazz pianist and my granny's sisters were on the stage. My grandma was part of a glamorous dance troupe called the Dolly Sisters, so music was in my blood. My dad taught me how to play the piano, but that was the only musical training I had. Mum and dad would have much rather I'd been an accountant – until Blur started getting written about, by which point they were very pleased to tell all their friends.

My family dealt with me becoming a public figure remarkably well. I think they all liked it. My mum got doorstepped a bit by journalists when I first got famous but everyone has just enjoyed the benefits and didn't make a fuss about the negatives. My mum and dad came on tour with Blur at the height of Britpop and loved it.

My grandfather was a chef and because of that my dad never cooked a blooming thing. It can go two ways when your dad's a chef; you're, like, "What's going on here, how do I do that?" but my dad was, like, "Ooh, thefood here is really good", so he never cooked anything in his life. But he had a very developed palate so we discovered food together and food is absolutely the focus of family life for me.

I'm protective of my sister, Deborah. She's two years younger and we've always been close but are very different. She's really good at painting and drawing; she's got visual acuity. She's a glass artist and has made a few pieces for Damien Hirst.

Meeting my wife Claire happened at the same time that Blur sort of stopped, so it felt like a new part of my life was starting. I think when you get married that it's the end of rock'n'roll. When you start having kids something does change. It's been amazing, though. When I was 18 I thought I was going to have to kill myself when I hit 40. I thought it would be all over, but it keeps getting better and better as you evolve. What you want out of life changes, and my idea of heaven now is good food with my family. It's pretty simple but it's about as good as it gets.

I've got five children and people say, "are you busy?" and it's like, before I even go to work, I'm busy. I've got five kids. I need a spreadsheet to keep track of them. No one ever regrets having children. To be honest, I don't know how people do it with less than five.

I thought I was getting the hang of parenting and then our first girl came along. She is two now and she amazes me: "What? You'll just sit there colouring and you're happy to do that? Really?" The boys need constant attention – they want you to fight, play football or make Lego with them. It's all about doing things.

I live on a farm now, which is a natural environment for an ageing rock gentleman. There's a reason I wanted to put down some roots after all those years living out of suitcases. You can't be more grounded than on a farm. so I've built my life around my family. They're my main source of pleasure, and of pain too, but it's worth fighting for. It takes absolutely every ounce of your strength to keep the ship sailing straight, but fucking hell, it's worth it.

Alex James is an ambassador for MasterCard's Big Lunch campaign, which encourages people to embrace community spirit. For more details visit www.thebiglunch.com

Damon Albarn to perform in Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2011

Back in 2008 we were first presented the first-ever Honest Jon’s Chop Up!, a gathering of music from global artists who all had recorded for the influential West London label Honest Jon’s, which specializes from postwar black music in Britain to African highlife, from 70s English folk to modern Southern Soul. 

And now it’s back! With another helping of extraordinary artists including a new project featuring Damon Albarn, Afrobeat legend Tony Allen and bassist Flea. Plus Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, Chicago brass sensation Hypnotic Brass and Detroit techno/house alchemist Theo Parrish.

Damon Albarn will be one of the headline acts set to perform at this year's Guinness Cork Jazz Festival on October 21st 2011.


Albarn will lead a collaborative show with 25 other artists under the collective name of 'An Honest Jon's Chop Up' – named after the Britpop icon's music label.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, and afro beat drummer Tony Allen will also play as part of the group, in what will be the third such performance of the collective. The show will kick off the Jazz weekend, which takes place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend.

For more details of the gig and a full programme of events during the Jazz Festival visit www.guinnessjazzfestival.com.

To book your ticket now, click HERE.

Stay Tuned and remember tosubscribe 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! 

Damon Albarn's new album - DRC Music - Aug 2011

A collective of producers lead by Damon Albarn will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to produce a new album for Oxfam. 

Travelling with Damon to Congo are T-E-E-D (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs), Dan The Automator, Jneiro Jarel, Richard Russell, Actress, Marc Antoine, Jo Gunton and Kwes. They hope to make an album in 7 days.

Wracked by years of conflict, the DRC is home to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, and proceeds from the album will go to helping Oxfam's work, helping thousands of the DRC's poorest people. 


Albarn previously visited Mali with Oxfam in 2001 which produced the album Mali Music. He has since recorded in Nigeria with Tony Allen and has visited Congo, Mali and Nigeria with Africa Exprez.

Listen to a section of a new track HERE

Visit their website here