Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn and Richard Russell appeared on the talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night in support of Womack's latest album, 'The Bravest Man In The Universe'. The musicians performed 3 songs on a purple-lit stage.
Wearing a black cap and sunglasses, the soul singer sat on the middle of the stage and gave an emotional performance.
Albarn, sporting a new shorter haircut was wearing a colorful cap and a jacket that has "BOBBY WOMACK" stitched across the back, played piano on the sidelines, looking relaxed and chilled. As usual, his piano playing makes the songs chilling, and sentimental at the same time.
Watch them perform the tracks 'Jubilee', 'Bravest Man In The Universe' and 'Whatever Happened To The Times' below.
September 22, 2012
Womack and Albarn guests on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
September 19, 2012
Blur has plans for US Tour in 2013
Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack was at New York's Apple Store Soho last night, and not only did they perform a medley from Womack's latest album (co-produced by the Blur singer), but some new Blur developments were revealed by Damon after the show.
Blur, it turned out, has "plans" for a US Tour for 2013. One of our readers was at the performance, and told us the detailed run down of the meet and greet:
According to the reader, who sent us the news, Damon Albarn said that Blur had been discussing the possibility of playing shows in the USA next year for 2013, but wanted to be sure there would be the demand for it. Another member of the audience noted that Damon was "non-committal" about the prospects of a Blur American tour, but did not seem to dismiss the idea completely.
Blur always had ambivalent attitudes towards their American 'success' - their first tour in 1991 to promote Leisure and 'There's No Other Way' was short and sweet, just as any first tours would be. But the next one in 1992 was rather close to a disaster - broke, penniless and depressed, Blur had no album to promote and were forced to sell merchandise to pay off their debts. Fast forward many years, and a few more Blur US tours, Damon Albarn finally successfully dominated the American charts by his band Gorillaz.
 |
| Gorillaz success in America - is Damon and Jamie's feud over ? |
Damon Albarn, Richard Russell and Bobby Womack will also appear on the local talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where they will be guests alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Penny Marshall on Friday, September 21st 2012. For all fans currently in US, this is a must watch and a rare chance to see Damon Albarn on American television.
The Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack Apple Store event was filmed for a podcast series called 'Events at the Apple Store', which will be available for download soon.
Maybe Damon and Blur will shed more light on their "planned" American tour. Or are they still remaining tight lipped ?
Meanwhile, stay tuned for more new Blur developments, and watch the footage of a performance below.
September 17, 2012
Damon Albarn to feature on The Child of Lov's new album
Just days after Damon Albarn was announced as the musician to compose BBC's 90th anniversary celebration score for Project Radio Reunited, there's a new Damon Albarn collaboration track to be released in the coming future.
Relatively unknown, mysterious musician The Child Of Lov is releasing a new album that will feature Blur's Damon Albarn and DOOM. Damon Albarn is set to becoming a guest on the new funk / eclectic artist's forthcoming mixtape.
Today, DoubleSix Records tweeted a new promo clip, accompanied with the message “New project coming up called The Child of Lov. Damon Albarn, MF DOOM & Thundercat are all playing a part! Details soon”.
Damon has also featured on several prominent collaborations and appearances for other musicians. Not only did he produce soul legend Bobby Womack's latest album 'The Bravest Man in the Universe', but he also played piano on Ghostigital's track 'Numb' from album Division Of Culture & Tourism (released June 2012).
September 16, 2012
30 things you wish you've heard Damon Albarn say - Quotes
"Mr-Quotable" Damon Albarn said many things in his 20+ year musical career, given outrageous interviews, given thoughtful speeches and uttered many very, very memorable phrases. Here's our top 30 Damon Albarn quotes of all time.
1. "I've got people camping outside my place in Kensington. In sleeping bags. It's not that irritating, except we haven't got any curtains in the front room, so we can't walk round in the nude." - height of Blur fame.
2. "Yes, I am a middle-class twat“.
“I’ve got a PhD in tits" “It’s good to read a book and get a hard-on at the same time (December 1995 interview)
3. "It’s a very romantic idea, to go on a cobbled-together trip on a train with an African diner and rehearsal rooms and sliding doors that allow for playing on to platforms, and people meeting and planning concerts for the evening and watching the English countryside pass by. It’s a beautiful thing." - Africa Express 2012
4. Have I ever punched anyone in the band? Oh yeah, all of them! I used to punch Alex a lot. He used to say really annoying things deliberately. I almost think he liked being punched. (2000)
5. "We'll always be friends now. I like the idea of seeing each other being really old and doddery." (On Graham, Select, 1994)
6. I'm a mixed up person. I've got this real essex man vibe...I cant help it... i cant stand the idea of being a sad lonely bed-sit poet... I'd rather be perceived as loud and arrogant.
7. "There's always been a hip-hop element to my trousers."
8. In the sixties people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, people take Prozac to make it normal.
9. "My guaranteed way of sending myself into deep depression is to read music trade papers and watch MTV."
10. "What do we stand for?So we don't lie down all the time!"
11. "I find computers to be sort of uncharted seas. And as soon as you set out on them, you're lost." - on Technology and why he doesn't use computers
12. "I had a Black girlfriend when I was five" - on women
13. "It's weird because with guys it's not a long thing ,it's more of a "let's be mates,let's get on stage and ,woargh,nice one!"sort a thing .It's funny , I really love that.If that's as far as I ever get in communicating with people,that's great .I just like the idea of everyone cuddling each other"
14. "My fantasy Glastonbury would be to be 18 again and to go with a girl that I've just met and that I was really, really into. Either that or go with my mates and meet a girl there. I certainly wouldn't want to go with any famous people. I'd just go and take loads of drugs and watch all my favourite bands. I'd drink, smoke spliff, drop an E and watch The Silver Apples. Er, this is the 18-year-old Damon, not me now talking, of course." (Damon in 1997)
16. I really try to avoid all photographs now,I don't know why, I was so into it when I was younger. But let's face it, if you're a good-looking young male with talent you're not going to get taken seriously. I do feel that looks are something you have to get over... It was a great day when I realised I didn't need to see myself any more. I knew who I was... (On aging and looks)
18. "Aww man... Aw, I'm so sweaty I can't play properly any more... And I have difficulties playing anyway, so this just makes it virtually impossible for me. I wanna do this song justice as well." - Just before 'Young and Lovely', B-sides gig
19. (What will you be if you were not a singer?) A farmer My grandad and uncle were farmers.I used to spend my summers in Lincolnshire on the farm.I'd to get up at 5.30am,and sit on my grandad's tractor. I loved it.
20. "Cheeky, confident, insecure, sharp, direct." - Albarn on 5 words to describe himself
21. "There were reports in the papers of people breaking up their relationships, because one liked oasis and the other one liked blur...One woman left her husband because he put our CD in the microwave." - on Blur and Oasis's chart battle
22. "I have to wear a new T-shirt every night. I throw them into the audience. One day I'm going to go around the world and reclaim all my T-shirts" - on his live shows
23. "Yeah, Write Songs" (When asked for any tips on songwriting by a budding young songwriter)
24. "I love the whole atmosphere here.The other day I was walking past the cementery and I could hear singing coming from inside.After a while I realised it was a West Indian family singing a spiritual song.The rhythm sounded so incongruous,yet amazing at the same time.That's what is so special about round here.It's such a rich of cultures and images." - On the Cemetery
25. "WE ONLY HAD THREE THINGS TO SAY IN OUR FIRST INTERVIEWS: WE'RE GREAT WE'RE NOT AN INDIE BAND AND DON'T JUDGE US NOW - JUDGE US IN FIVE YEARS' TIME. AT LEAST NOW WE'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT LIVES UP TO MY BIG MOUTH." - on Blur interviews
26. "I've been self-destructive over the years. Anyone who's interested in me will have a rough idea that i've kept a lot of things quiet. I choose not to define my low points." - Q Magazine 2006
27. “Brothers is a much better word. There are moments when we absolutely and utterly connect without even having to say anything and there are other times when we might as well be on other continents. Like now, for example.” - On Graham Coxon, 1997
28. "I'm turning into a croaky old singer" - Hyde Park 2009
September 15, 2012
Bobby Womack and Damon Albarn meet and greet - New York Soho event
USA fans and all fans in America - heads up! Damon Albarn is going to be in New York's Apple Store Soho next week to present legendary soul singer Bobby Womack's latest album, 'The Bravest Man In The Universe' to all.
Now that Africa Express is over, the Blur front-man duly heads to America for a meet and greet in the large Apple music store. This CD event will involve Damon Albarn, Bobby Womack and Richard Russell, performing a few short songs from the album and answering some questions.
The date of this special event is September 18th at exactly 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
For those who have been following Damon's non-Blur career, he produced Womack's album, which was released on June 11th 2012. This is the singer's first LP of original songs in nearly 18 years. The two musicians have collaborated for Gorillaz on the band's third album 'Plastic Beach', with 'Cloud of Unknowing' featuring vocals by Womack.
Very exciting news for fans in New York - Damon Albarn has got to be the most hard working man in the musical universe.
Check out Apple Store's Soho page (Apple Store SoHo, 103 Prince Street, New York), with directions and more to the event here.
Preview Bobby Womack's album 'The Bravest Man In The Universe' on iTunes here.
September 11, 2012
Damon Albarn to compose tune for BBC's 90th anniversary
So after the remarkable Africa Express finale two days ago, we've got once again some new Albarn news. And it's big.
Damon Albarn, who seems to be gaining more and more collaborative opportunities (including with Sir Paul McCartney) after Blur's successful Hyde Park concert, will curate 'Radio Reunited', an event to celebrate 90 years since the British Broadcasting Company BBC transmitted it's first show via radio.
 |
| What an honour it must be for Damon to be chosen, amongst all the other musicians in England. He completes Africa Express. |
Digitalspy reports on the juicy details:
Radio Reunited will air across all local, network and national BBC stations, along with the World Service; reaching a potential global audience of 120m people.
The three-minute transmission will be based on recorded messages from listeners around the world on the theme of the future.
Each of the around 60 participating BBC radio stations will select one message from their listeners, and then these will be mixed together and set to a score composed by Blur frontman Albarn.
He said: "I love the idea of stations across Britain and the World Service coming together, with all of our different lives and circumstances, even if it's only for a few minutes. It's a powerful idea."
The landmark BBC broadcast will form the centrepiece for the BBC's celebration of 90 years on the airwaves, along with a range of special programming planned across BBC stations
The process of pulling together Radio Reunited starts this week, when listeners will be invited to contribute a short messages to their favourite BBC station, addressing the future generations who may be listening to radio 90 years from now.
 |
| Graham and Damon on BBC's Steve Lamacq show |
 |
| Blur have had a long standing relationship with the BBC - airing new debuts...interviews |
One message from a lucky listener will be sent to Damon Albarn from each station. He will then string them together into a unique 3 minute composition which will be played on air. It's the idea of bringing together each and every single radio station from BBC, to celebrate the company's long history.
So, first Blur at the Olympics, then now this grand, large scale production ? Damon Albarn seems to be getting the best of all worlds in 2012. That's why he's looking very pleased with himself these days!
Radio Reunited will be held on November 14th, at 5:33pm GMT. Remember to tune into this exciting show online at BBC.co.uk and listen to Damon debut his new song.
September 9, 2012
Paul McCartney joins Damon Albarn in Africa Express finale
Paul McCartney joined Damon Albarn and 40 other musicians abroad the Africa Express train musical tour, and performed two Wings song on September 9th 2012.
Right after being awarded the French Legion of Honour, the Beatles singer met Damon Albarn in Granary Square and hopped on board the train.
Sir Paul McCartney also performed alongside Led Zepplin's bassist John Paul Jones, Tony Allen and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. A star studded cast for the last night of Damon Albarn's newest tour.
After rumours that Gorillaz will collaborate with Paul McCartney were rejected a few years ago, many were probably wondering when Damon Albarn and the legendary Beatles singer will cross swords. So, here it is...finally our Beatles-Gorillaz-Blur connection!
September 7, 2012
Blur - Sir Elton John's Cock Lyrics
September 5, 2012
Damon Albarn having the 'party of his life' after Blur
Before we get to the details, look - Damon Albarn played Gorillaz during his Africa Expres Train tour!
Dailystar reports that Damon Albarn is "having the time of his life thanks to booze from the Olympics". According to recent interviews, the singer is having the ultimate musical party of his life after embarking on an Africa Express Train tour, all around the UK and Scotland.
And with many other prominent musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Gruff Rhys, Eliza Doolittle, Rizzle Kicks and many African musicians on the train, the Africa Express is indeed a musical riot.
 |
| Party!... from xlrecording's twitter |
 |
| Damon peering out of his train of music |
“It’s a 24-hour party.
"It’s not necessarily a massive drunken party, but it’s one celebrating music and how it makes us feel.” The final date this Saturday at King’s Cross Granary climaxes the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Festival.
Damon added: “There’s a bar on the train, it’s booze left over from the Olympics that takes up a few carriages.” Africa Express began in 2006, with Damon wanting it to show the brighter side of the continent.
He explained: “It reminds people that Africa isn’t the cliché of this struggling place ravaged by war and famine. Those are very big problems there, but it’s also a very exciting continent, futuristic and forward-thinking in many respects.” The gigs, including “some pretty surprising” guest stars on Saturday, are totally unrehearsed.
Damon laughed: “It’s rhythmical, groove-orientated stuff, so you go into a bit of a trance on stage. “Although, on a bad day, you think: ‘Oh, this is getting a bit boring.’ It’s a fine line. “But that’s what we’re doing on the train, getting inspired together, so hopefully by London we’ll be fairly articulate.”
Last year’s album Rocket To The Moon which Damon made with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, 49, and drummer Tony Allen, 72, was inspired by them travelling to Lagos for Africa Express. And Damon revealed: “I might well make another record with people on this trip, you never know.
“That’s one of the joys of Africa Express, that spontaneity.”
Could this mean a new album for Damon Albarn after the tour ends?
The Africa Express train tour is currently up in Glasglow, Scotland as of today. It will end in a finale concert on September 8th 2012 in London's Granary Square, King's Cross.
 |
| Check out Africa Express's official website with lots of pictures here |
Although tickets were long sold out, do check out The Guardian's live coverage of the entire tour as it goes along. Damon Albarn sure is looking very happy up on his musical train. It is looking to be an excellent tour.
Tune in for a later post with the very best pictures of Africa Express 2012 - the highlights.