May 11, 2012

Damon Albarn previews Under the Westway for the second time

Some say it's like something out of Damon Albarn's solo album The Good, The Bad and The Queen; some say it's a melancholic ballad; some live it, some hate it, some fans even claim it's the ultimate clue to what any new Blur material (in the future) may sound like.

Ladies and gentlemen, Damon Albarn previewed the new Blur song 'Under the Westway' on the BBC Front Row show on the 7th May 2012. This is the second time the song has been played - the first was during the War Child live gig earlier this year, where BlurBalls exclusively filmed the touching, two-man performance.



Damon was interviewed at his studio and he previewed the new Blur track. This song is rumoured to be included in the band's Blur21 massive box set as the mysterious track. The box set will include remasters of all their catalogue and many exclusive, unreleased tracks.

Listen to it on BBC iplayer HERE, or watch the youtube footage with Damon on piano below:



Alternatively, you can download the mp3 file (credits to Gorillaz Unofficial) HERE.

The track seems very promising, and of course, melancholic...just in time for Blur's massive Hyde Park gig this summer. But can it compare with the band's earlier track 'Fools Day' ? Is this too Beatles-esque? Or is it a new direction for a future Blur?

Guess fans will have to wait and see. The box set will be released on July 2012.



Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE
Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

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May 7, 2012

Rekindled- Damon Albarn had been recording with Graham Coxon again

A positive update on Blur's future - Damon Albarn tells Irish Independent that he's "sketchy" on the band's future, but won't totally rule out any records after the gigs this summer. This interview followed on from another positive interview (click here) earlier from ShortList, where Damon Albarn quashed his earlier comments about the 'end of Blur and Gorillaz'. Check out the scans below and click to read them in full. 

Credits to eyebrowy for the scans
Damon's obviously in high spirits when he was interviewed. Perhaps the frontman feels pressure from the media, especially after some of the negativity surrounding their Brit Award comeback performance. Or perhaps he simply likes defying the audience's expectations on anything.

Yet, Damon did say more surprising things recently. He made a comment during one of his Amsterdam gigs, when asked about the future of Blur, that he had been recording with Graham Coxon in the studio recently.

Damon Albarn was also featured on the Jools Holland show performing his new opera Dr Dee. Watch his performance of 'Apple Carts' and interview below:





But one thing's for sure - Blur's still going to be around in the future, contrary to all the rumours last month!


Read Damon's full Guardian interview deeming the end of Blur HERE
Read all about Blur talking about their future HERE
Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE

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May 3, 2012

Damon Albarn clarifies that Blur are not ending

Damon Albarn has spoken out finally about The Guardian interview a while ago, when he deemed the 'end of Blur' and possibly Gorillaz, his successful virtual band. The good news? He dismissed the rumours surrounding the comments he made in the article, which definitely helped clear up many of the things he said previously.

In the latest issue of ShortList, Damon seemed quite unhappy about how some of the comments he made got distorted - and even got to correct some of it.


When asked whether Blur will make a new record in the future, he stated that there are no concerete plans as of right now, but that the band will see how it is after their massive Olympics Hyde Park 2012 gigs-  "It would be interesting to see where it would arrive, because it would be very different, I'd imagine."

He also said that "there could be another Gorillaz album", as he was willing to make the music as long as Jamie Hewlett wanted to collaborate and do the illustration.


It seems that the article implied Damon is not saying Blur's over, The Guardian article exaggerated his comments and that the four boys are on good terms. It also seems that the Hyde Park gig this summer will be the make-or-break gig which may just determine the band's future prospect.


Albarn also said he was willing to collaborate with Noel Gallagher "if he [came] on the African Express train this September". The African Express Train will be Damon Albarn's new musical tour, set inside a train, travelling around Britain (click here to read more).

Scroll down for the scans for Damon's ShortList interview below (credits to JackS for the scans).




















It's brilliant news that Damon Albarn, the frontman, finally clears up the rumours and mixed messages so prevalent in recent media about Blur. Now, it all boils down to Hyde Park and whether the gig for the London Closing Ceremony will be a success, or a disaster.



Read Damon's full Guardian interview deeming the end of Blur HERE

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May 2, 2012

Graham Coxon narrowly escapes death from burning hotel

In the 90s, the media reported Graham Coxon's narrow escape from death - Graham was photographed getting hit by a car during an evening out. Here at BlurBalls, we dug up from his archive interviews what Graham said on his first near death experience:

Jamie: Have you ever been in a car crash?
Graham: I was run over when we signed our first record deal - it was almost the shortest career in the world. I was around Notting Hill Gate and I found myself bashed up into the sky and landing on the road.
Alan: Were you driving?
Graham: No, I was just drunk - walking in the road and this copper said 'Hey sonny, wake up' and I said 'Am I dead?' and he said 'No, but you've had a nasty knock, son. We're taking you to hospital.'
Jamie: Were you alright?
Graham: I had huge concussion - this Irish nurse was wheeling me around the hospital for hours doing tests. I just kept asking her to marry me all the time. There's nothing so good when you're drunk and concussed as an Irish voice. Not one of the harsh ones, but the soft ones.

Now, in 2012, he has done it again. A huge fire destroyed the seafront Best Western Hotel in Falmouth, Cornwall yesterday, and Graham Coxon narrowly got away, yet again. Staff and guests, including the Blur guitarist, was evacuated and no one was hurt.



On Coxon's official twitter page, he, who is performing at Princess Pavilion in the town, wrote: "We have rooms at the beach hotel and had to leave."
He later tweeted: "We watched it... We had to leave the foyer and then watch it get worse and worse... rather sad."
Watch the video clip, and listen to an appropriate Graham Coxon song below. Graham Coxon's luckily unscathed!  
Read Damon's full Guardian interview deeming the end of Blur HERE

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If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet! 


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