A small collection of the funniest, wackiest Blur related gif animations.
Blur fans are a creative bunch indeed. Know any more animations we can feature next time? Feel free to leave a comment and link below.
August 21, 2013
August 18, 2013
Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher collaboration 2013
A recent interview found on the Sziget Festival website quoted Blur's Alex James saying that Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn are working on a "lot of stuff" together. Blur bassist Alex James said the two former enemies are "like best mates now" who had been "working together on a lot of stuff"
Interesting snippets from the article include:
Blur/Oasis britpop rivalry: "Damon and Noel Gallagher are working together on a lot of stuff, so whatever was back then is not relevant anymore. But we have to add that young bands today are all very nice. We were totally intolerable."
On the early Blur recordings: "Last year we’ve released a collection in which all our previous songs got remastered and we’ve gathered an incredible amount of recordings from the past. We found a 9 minute recording from our very first jam session and if you listen to it you immediately know it can’t be any other band, we were Blur already back then. We got into a room, started to jam and it was this distinctive Blur sound from first moments. We are really happy that the chemistry between us works."
Blur/Oasis britpop rivalry: "Damon and Noel Gallagher are working together on a lot of stuff, so whatever was back then is not relevant anymore. But we have to add that young bands today are all very nice. We were totally intolerable."
On the early Blur recordings: "Last year we’ve released a collection in which all our previous songs got remastered and we’ve gathered an incredible amount of recordings from the past. We found a 9 minute recording from our very first jam session and if you listen to it you immediately know it can’t be any other band, we were Blur already back then. We got into a room, started to jam and it was this distinctive Blur sound from first moments. We are really happy that the chemistry between us works."
Change since the 1990s British music scene: "If we look back at it now, the 90s were the golden age of music. It's weird for us to look at it from the outside since we were a part of it. From the 60s and even from the mid 50s a lot of cool stuff happened in music."
Noel and Damon ended their long-standing rivalry which started between their bands Oasis and Blur in the 1990s earlier this year. They appeared on stage together for a Teenage Cancer Trust concert in London's Royal Albert Hall, performing an emotional six-minute version of "Tender".
However, in another radio interview conducted by NME, Noel Gallagher outrightly denied that he is collaborating with Damon Albarn on new music.
In response to Alex James's comment, Gallagher said: "I read that Alex James said that - [but] it's news to me!"
Fun fact: The heated relationship between the Blur and Oasis in the height of the Britpop era fuelled fans to term the bands "Blurasis".
Noel and Damon ended their long-standing rivalry which started between their bands Oasis and Blur in the 1990s earlier this year. They appeared on stage together for a Teenage Cancer Trust concert in London's Royal Albert Hall, performing an emotional six-minute version of "Tender".
However, in another radio interview conducted by NME, Noel Gallagher outrightly denied that he is collaborating with Damon Albarn on new music.
In response to Alex James's comment, Gallagher said: "I read that Alex James said that - [but] it's news to me!"
Fun fact: The heated relationship between the Blur and Oasis in the height of the Britpop era fuelled fans to term the bands "Blurasis".
August 13, 2013
Blur confirms Tokyo for 2014 - Live in Budokan
The organizers for one of Japan's biggest music arenas, the Nippon Budokan known as simply Budokan have confirmed that Blur are back on the list for a show in 2014. Blur fans nearby can rejoice, as the chance to see Blur in Tokyo is here again despite a cancelled gig earlier in 2013.
Blur will head over to the other side of the world and visit Tokyo following the cancelled Tokyo Rocks show scheduled for earlier this year. Official confirmation came from Blur's Facebook page and the gig's organizers in Japan.
The Budokan arena is where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded, including those by musicians Bob Dylan, Blur and Ozzy Osborne. The stadium was originally used for judo competitions in the Olympics of 1964. The first rock group to perform in the stadium was The Beatles, who played a series of shows there in 1966.
The last time Blur played in Japan was ten years ago in 2003 at the Summer Sonic event and have since been waited upon by fans from all across the world who will be travelling to see them play live.
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Location: Budokan, Tokyo, 2-3 Kitanomarukoen
Venue opens: 18:00
Ticket price: A seat ¥9,000, S seat ¥10,500
Full show guide release date: October 5 (Sun) 10:00 am
Organizer: Creative Man
Blur also released a two-disc live album in 1996 titled "Live at the Budokan" which comprised of recordings from a live show in Japan during their The Great Escape Tour of 1995. Up until 2009, "Live at the Budokan" was the only official live Blur album. Listen to the whole album (including Damon speaking broken Japanese) for free below.
Blur have extended their 2013 tour to the early months of 2014. Will more venues in Asia follow? What will be next for Blur in 2014? All that is known for now is that Japan will be the second venue confirmed and will precede the recently announced Blur concert in Australia, set for January next year.
For more information: www.creativeman.co.jp/artist/2014/01blur/
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE
Blur @ Coachella- video and image gallery HERE
Blur confirmed for Mexico HERE
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
August 12, 2013
Blur Live in Dublin Ireland - Reviews and Run Down
Blur played a concert in Dublin, Ireland exactly ten days ago on August 1st 2013. This marks the second time Blur landed in Ireland; they performed in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham almost exactly four years ago. For fans who are overseas or have missed the show, scroll down for highlights, images and exclusive videos of the concert.
As quoted from a MusicNews review which described the concert: "Blur rifled through nearly twenty of their finest tunes over the course of the next hour and forty-five minutes, with almost every word Albarn sang repeated back to him by the capacity crowd.
Albarn isn't really one for on-stage banter but the smile that was plastered across his face for much of the evening suggested that this show was about as big a deal for him as it was for the masses in attendance."
Fans had differing opinions about the gig. Commenter Heidi remarked: Damon was great, so enthusiastic throughout. I was a bit freaked out after the gig by the crowds of people trying to walk through an arched stone doorway that wasn't designed for mass exit. Perhaps IMMA need to review this. It's a wonder nobody got hurt.
However, Blur fan Alan criticised the volume of the crowds and said that people talking affected his listening experience: Blur were very good, but the sound was very very poor. Couldn't hear vocals or guitars for the first 4 or 5 songs at least. On top of this, there were people having full conversations with their mates at a high volume throughout, even the quieter songs. I paid money to hear Blur, not everyone else yapping away!
Girls & Boys
Popscene
There's No Other Way
Beetlebum
Out of Time
Trimm Trabb
Caramel
Young & Lovely
Coffee & TV
Tender
To the End
Country House
Parklife (with Phil Daniels)
End of a Century
This Is a Low
Encore:
Under the Westway
For Tomorrow
The Universal
Song 2
Image Gallery - Blur live in Dublin, Ireland 2013
More images from the gig (54 photos) can be found HERE.
Video Gallery - Highlights: Blur Live in Dublin
Reviews for the gig are plentiful since it was fully covered by the Irish press. State Magazine reviewed the live concert with a sense of humour, as did Musicscene.ie (click to read). Check out a long but comprehensive review of the entire concert by Dublinconcerts.
Photos credited to catmaccy, cheryl.lenane, stephstarkey1975, unavoidable-collision, louise.johnston.33, jonathan.mcgonnell.3, anne.steffens.39, clarisasc, may_______may, andrssk, stephstarkey1975, Weepsie, mary.arundell, lynnwheatley
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE
Blur @ Coachella- video and image gallery HERE
Blur confirmed for Mexico HERE
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
August 7, 2013
Blur dates for Australia concerts confirmed - Big Day Out 2014
It's official - Blur will be playing in one of Australia's biggest music festivals, the Big Day Out festival from January 17th - February 2nd 2014. That's right, Blur will be extending their World Tour and head to Australia right from the start of the new year.
In several recent interviews, Blur Bassist Alex James says: "We had a great time in Australia last time, so I think it's going to be crazy. I'm having my mind blown by travelling all over the world again with the band, it's fantastic, and we're playing better than we ever have before."
“It’s hugely exciting and there’s something for everybody there,” Alex also said of the Big Day Out. “It’s a while since we’ve played festivals, but everything about festivals has got better … the only thing you can’t guarantee is the weather.”
"I didn't think it was going to happen, because [frontman] Damon Albarn wanted to focus on his solo album next year and we were still negotiating with Arcade Fire," said festival promoter Ken West said in an interview with News.com.au. "Then, both bands said yes, and there was no way I was going to knock back Blur."
Blur will be the last band to perform at the event, taking to the stage as Pearl Jam wrap up. Blur will playing on a new main stage, dubbed The Love Stage
Other leading artists lined up for Big Day Out include Snoop Lion, Mudhoney, Pez, Diiv, The 1975, Major Lazer, Steve Angello, The Naked and Famous, Dillon Francis, Toro Y Moi, Portugal The Man, Northlane, Flume, The Lumineers, Tame Impala, Mac Miller, Cosmic Psychos, The Algorithm, Peking Duk and Ben Morris.
The festival starts in Auckland, New Zealand on the 17th January. Blur will then head over to Australia's Gold Coast on 19th January and ends in Perth on 2nd February. Tickets for Big Day Out will be on sale from August 9th and the Sydney shows on August 8th.
Big Day Out 2014 dates
Friday, January 17 – Western Springs, Auckland
Sunday, January 19 – Metricon Stadium & Carrara Parklands, Gold Coast
Friday, January 24 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Sunday, January 26 – Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney
Monday, January 27 – Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney
Friday, January 31 – Bonython Park, Adelaide*
Sunday, February 2 – Claremont Showgrounds, Perth*
For Australian dates and ticket info click here
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE
August 6, 2013
Blur's new rumoured concert in Florida USA
Blur are rumoured to be playing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, on Saturday August 10th 2013 (12:00 a.m). The news was brought up by a fan, who saw a notification on Pollster about this new show.
The gig is listed to be held in 200 W Broward Blvd, the address of a local concert and musical venue Revolution Live. The website Tktsnow also posted a sales link for the Florida concert one day ago. The new show has also been listed in various other gig websites.
Blur have just finished a concert in Budapest, Hungary on August 5th 2013 for the Sziget Festival. The rumoured new date in Florida does not clash with the band's hectic schedule, as the band are currently on a month-long break in-between touring. Blur's next big show will be on September 6th-7th in Germany.
However, no further information about a possible USA date can be found on search engines, websites or the band's official social media pages. It also seems unlikely that Blur will fly over to the USA again after playing in Coachella a few months ago.
The ticketing website also looks incomplete, with the outdated picture and the gig listed as "sold out".
August 5, 2013
Milky joins Blur on stage in Milan, Italy Concert
Strange things have happened in past Blur concerts, whether it be during the Britpop heydays or the recent Blur 2013 World Tour (notably the Damon Albarn mask, which interestingly, Damon Albarn wore for a large portion of the Russian gig on July 13th).
For the band's show in Italy's Rock in Roma event held in Milan on July 28th, there was yet another surprise on stage. A fan dressed up in a milk carton inspired by Blur's music video for the hit single 'Coffee and TV' jumped on stage and joined in the band, dancing along as Damon sang the lyrics to the audience.
The picture was taken by none other than Dave Rowntree, Blur's drummer, who was undoubtedly in a prime position to shoot the epic moment from his view behind the drum kit. Dave Rowntree regularly tweets (@Dave Rowntree) images from the backstage of Blur shows to the fans.
Blur previously played in Italy during 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997. They last toured in Alcatraz, Milan in 20013 to promote their latest album Think Tank. Graham Coxon also performed in Milan during 2004.
Scroll down to watch footage of Damon Albarn singing alongside Milky during the song 'Coffee and TV'.
Past bizarre Blur concert moments
- Extra-large Milky Carton on show during Hyde Park 2009
- Damon Albarn wearing a cut-out mask that he borrowed from a fan in Afisha Picnic, Russia 2013
- Damon crying more than usual during Glastonbury '09
- Damon Albarn loses his special bracelets in Spain and threatens the crowd
The setlist was reported to be:
Setlist:
Read a lively review (in English) of the Blur Italy show by Indie Nation here. Alternatively, check out a local review (in Italian) here.
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE
Blur @ Coachella- video and image gallery HERE
Setlist:
(Theme From Retro)
Girls & Boys
Popscene
There's No Other Way
Beetlebum
Out Of Time
Trimm Trabb
Caramel
Coffee & TV
Tender
To The End
Country House
Parklife
End Of A Century
This Is A Low
Encore:
Under The Westway
For Tomorrow (Visit To Primrose Hill
Extended)
The Universal
Song 2
Girls & Boys
Popscene
There's No Other Way
Beetlebum
Out Of Time
Trimm Trabb
Caramel
Coffee & TV
Tender
To The End
Country House
Parklife
End Of A Century
This Is A Low
Encore:
Under The Westway
For Tomorrow (Visit To Primrose Hill
Extended)
The Universal
Song 2
Read a lively review (in English) of the Blur Italy show by Indie Nation here. Alternatively, check out a local review (in Italian) here.
Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown HERE
Blur @ Coachella- video and image gallery HERE
Blur confirmed for Mexico HERE
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
July 31, 2013
Win TWO pairs of free Blur Sunglasses !
We are launching a series of very cool new Blur giveaways - this month's giveaway is for not just one, but TWO pairs of free, extremely cool Blur sunglasses made by Iamkamty, a stylish online shop.
To celebrate Blur’s first live performance in Hong Kong in May 2013, Hong Kong based designer Millie Chiu has created this set of hand-drawn Blur shades! These colorful plastic sunglasses have tiny holes on them. So not only can you to see through them, the tiny holes actually can help short-sighted or long-sighted vision by filtering out indirect light sources – the result being sharper vision!
The winner will be able to win two pairs of the exclusive, one-off Blur sunglasses made by Millie. The design features the artwork of the 'Blur The Best Of' CD and comes in four colors, one on each eyepiece of the sunglasses.
Seeing how Damon Albarn loves fan-made masks and milky-outfits on stage in the recent tour gigs, these glasses would make excellent eyewear for fans who want to stand out in future Blur concerts.
Iamkamty.com is an online shop based in Hong Kong. Millie would like to create fun and unimaginable things out of ordinary objects. She thought to herself, “what if sunglasses could be colorful and vibrant instead of plain black shades?” And so, these wacky hand-drawn shades are created!
The shades are available in a wide range of cute, outrageous, vibrant designs, including Space Invaders, Pac Man, TV color bar and much more!
Check them out at her Etsy shop (iamkamty): https://www.etsy.com/shop/iamkamty . Like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/iamkamty.
The shades are available in a wide range of cute, outrageous, vibrant designs, including Space Invaders, Pac Man, TV color bar and much more!
Check them out at her Etsy shop (iamkamty): https://www.etsy.com/shop/iamkamty . Like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/iamkamty.
Millie created the Blur sunglasses especially to celebrate Blur: Live in Hong Kong on May 6th 2013.
You can also see more of her work and buy any of the sunglasses from the Etsy shop if you can't wait to see if you have won the competition.
You can also see more of her work and buy any of the sunglasses from the Etsy shop if you can't wait to see if you have won the competition.
Enter now in the Giveaways page.
Remember to tune in every month for the chance to win a fun new Blur item!
July 26, 2013
Damon Albarn Jamie Hewlett: "We have a kind of monkey madness" (Vanity Fair)
The August 2013 edition of Vanity Fair magazine features an exclusive interview and photo-shoot with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, both of whom talked about the relaunch of their opera 'Monkey Journey To The West' in Lincoln Centre, New York this July.
(Vanity Fair - Aug. 2013 (Click to enlarge. Scan by grahampls)
The duo had much to say about the opera and music, as quoted from Vanity Fair:
“Like all that has folk resonance, something from its past has carried forward and been delivered in a new way,” says Albarn, who composed the score, which sets traditional Chinese instruments against a contemporary electronic backdrop. “The first song inspired my daughter to start learning Mandarin.” Albarn, who is finishing a solo record, co-produced R&B singer Bobby Womack’s 2012 comeback album, The Bravest Man in the Universe, and headlined the Coachella music festival, in Indio, California, in April with Blur, his own award-winning band.
"We have a kind of monkey madness"
Jamie Hewlett on his relationship with Damon Albarn
Hewlett, who co-created the comic book Tank Girl in 1988 and won Britain’s Designer of the Year award in 2006 for his work on Gorillaz, created both Monkey’s animation and the fantastical costumes. “Suddenly you realize,” he recalls, “that all these costumes you designed have to be worn by somebody who has to leap 10 feet in the air, stand on somebody’s shoulders while he is singing, and do kung fu.”
Jamie has been busy promoting the opera for various media outlets, including conducting live Q&As on Monkey Journey To The West's official Facebook page. He was also recently interviewed by Inside Hook and Flavorwire.
Monkey: Journey to the West is showing at Lincoln Center through Sunday, July 28. Click here for the full timetable. Click HERE to visit their Facebook page and see the latest updates, pictures and rehearsal snapshots from the opera.
It's monkey business all the way for the duo - but one question that lingers is when will Damon monkey-around and make a new Gorillaz album? Will Damon change his mind yet again?
Visit THIS page to see more fantastic images of Jamie Hewlett.