The quest for Damon's boots.

I'm very excited to report that Damon Albarn's sartorial choices lately seem to be riffing on Modern Life Is Rubbish era Blur and less on "homeless man in a trucker hat".
In the video below Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are being interviewed by Zane Lowe, and the most important topic is Damon's brogue boots (which are very impressive). Apparently we have Mos Def to thank for upping Damon's game. However, I think a bigger debt is owed to Graham Coxon, who's style is systematically being usurped. I've heard Damon mentioning that Paul Simonon is responsible for the Plastic Beach look, but the stripey t-shirts and classic British footwear are all quintessential Graham.
I suppose it doesn't matter where Damon's sudden penchant for fancy duds has come from, it's just nice to see, you know?
Here's the video featuring said boots, thanks to Gorillaz-Unofficial for the twitter-tip.


Now, the quest begins to find those boots. It's a matter of great importance that you all have the opportunity to spend exorbitant amounts of money emulating Damon Albarn's feet. You're welcome.

These Light Tan Stow Brogue boots by Trickers are pretty close, and for only $470 can be yours, there's even a view on the website showing them with turned up jeans, a la Damon.













Also a close contender, these Fred Brogues by Grenson could do the trick, and for a paltry $255, why not get two pairs?















I think these Country Brogues by John White are the closest, and "with Goodyear welted leather soles with storm welt in supple fine tan calf leather" they sound about right. They're also made by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, so maybe Prince Phillip is throwing shapes about in these? $178...a bargain.

NEW Blur single: It's real, I know nothing.

So maybe I'm too pessimistic? Yesterday I thought this Blur single thing was a stretch at best, but it turns out it's real! ABC News is reporting it (weird.) To be fair they're reporting it from the NME, who in turn might be reporting it from The Sun, but still...
Rough Trade's twitter confirmed it this morning too. According to the ABC article, the single was recorded two weeks ago, confirming that I know nothing. About anything. At all. Ever. Oh Blur, why must you be so mercurial?
I still haven't sleuthed whether or not this will only be at British record shops, or if there will be any floating about in America (doubtful). I will be at Coachella on Record Store Day so fingers crossed that the record tent has one (I know, I'm deluded).
[NME: Blur to release newly recorded song for record store day]
[ABC: Blur to release first new single for seven years]

"Red Carpet" interviews from the Blur movie premiere: For God's sake don't make them listen to their own music!

There's not much the Blur lads agree on, but not listening to Blur is one of them...

In this first interview for Sky news Graham refers to Damon as his brother, and before you all go "awwwwwwww" he likened their brotherly relationship to the Gallaghers of Oasis, and the Davies' of The Kinks. So, you know, not too cuddly really... Graham also jokes that the others still hate him, and although it's all said in jest I can't help but think there's a grain of truth when he reveals they haven't phoned since the summer (sniff).


It's Absolute Radio's turn to annoy Damon. Despite trying to affirm his "Blur cred" by stating he was at one of the Hyde Park shows, this poor interviewer gets only a few seconds with a shifty eyed Damon. When confronted with the question "how does it feel to be a movie star" he grumpily states that he's definitely not one. I think someone's forgotten a little film called Face.
Damon's probably in total Gorillaz mode at this point, so all this Blur stuff is a huge pain in the arse for him. I'm starting to think the hat was an intentional choice to show his apathy, or maybe I just want the hat to be ironic, please let it be ironic.


Ever the gentlemen, Dave happily chats with Absolute Radio. Looking dapper, Dave's quite easily the nicest, and least ridiculous member of Blur (Vote Dave).


Even though Damon's a grumpy bastard, he's still my favorite genius, so all my snarky comments are said with the utmost respect (before you think I've converted).
Thanks to Blureu for the video tips!

Blur at premiere of reunion doc. "No Distance Left To Run"

In a shocking sartorial twist, Dave Rowntree is the best dressed Blur member. Damon, regressing further into some sort of mid-life crisis "homeless" mode, is again wearing the most wretched hat ever to have graced the head of a musical luminary. As it's a special occasion, he even showed up without his dental crown for that truly authentic toothy grin of someone who just doesn't care. Of course, we'll always love them, and it's nice to see that I'm not the only one who's aged these past ten years.
(All images © Getty)

Victorian Horror Holiday...

I'm hopefully (weather permitting) off to North Carolina for the next few days. I'll be back to blogging in no time with the conclusion of the Victorian Horror Best Show of 2009 competition, as well as the final "A Decade of Damon".

Something to stuff in your stocking...apparently Damon Albarn kicked Graham Coxon in the face as a sort of Alcoholics Anonymous substitute. Um, can't wait for the Blur doc...

Anyway, Happy Christmas everyone, I just want to thank all of you who have taken time to comment this year... You are all lovely! I know 2010 will be just as busy with Plastic Beach on the way...

"And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie
A good Christmas pie that may we all see
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee"

Blur before Blur: Seymour live at The Square, Essex - 18th December 1989

Oh wow, this is pretty amazing. A video's up on Youtube of Seymour, Blur's first incarnation. You must watch! Baggy jumpers, strange trousers, and Graham's perfectly coiffed hair abound! Link below.

Seymour - Superman

[via Guardian Music's twitter, and Scissorkick's youtube]

Graham tells XFM "There will be more Blur shows"

O.K. so who to believe? Graham or Damon?

Graham told XFM:

"We're talking about doing some more shows abroad... I'm not sure how much I can say about that, but we're definitely talking about it."

XFM is interpreting this as shows in Europe...I'm thinking "abroad" could mean the U.S as well!

Photo and source [XFM]

Now Graham wants to do a new Blur album?

Oh, it's an emotional roller coaster. In a recent interview, Graham had this to say about the prospects of a new Blur album:

"I'm up for it, doing another one - it would be a really interesting thing to do. I don't want it to be like 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' or nostalgic b******s. I want it to be a development. There's nothing saying there's a great big 'No'. My gut feeling is, 'Why not?' Since we got into '13' we just went 'bang', creatively. So I'm not worried about it. Think Tank' was another kind of animal as well. It's almost like we can start wherever we want, do whatever we want."

The current tally:
Damon and Alex are saying no on a reunion
Graham is saying yes
Dave has yet to weigh in.

Honestly, I kind of just want the Gorillaz album ASAP, so maybe hold off on the Blur if it's going to happen? I know that's blasphemous, but I'm super excited about Plastic Beach (if that's still what it's called).

Via Contact Music.

Blur's T In The Park show to be canceled? went on as scheduled.

UPDATE: Blur went on a little late...but Graham made it to their final gig.


The NME is reporting that Graham's in hospital, and that Blur might need to postpone or cancel their headlining slot at T In The Park.

Could the hospital stay be due to Graham's lunch? Six hours ago he tweeted this: "oysters and mackeral at the fishers, lieth. super place!!"

Uh oh. I'm sure the oysters and mackerel are great...and yep Leith is a really cool place, but maybe lay off the shellfish on the day of a big show.

Anyway, I guess check NME for updates since they've apparently got the details.

Get well soon Graham!

Blur likely to record new music (says Graham in weeks-old interview that's been made to look current by The Mirror)

Of course it seems likely that Blur will make new music together again. Do we really think Damon's going to give up the Blur glory that easily?
The Mirror has a new article announcing that Graham has confirmed a new album, it's a shame they use interviews from weeks ago as evidence.

Blur to record new music? blah blah blah...Alex says...blah blah...who cares unless they come to America?

I was recently visiting my parents and found a photograph of myself, circa 1996, wearing a Blur Parklife t-shirt. I might use that photo in some sort of desperate plea to get Blur to come to America. I'm thinking an open letter to Damon, Alex, Dave, and Graham in which I document the various Blur injustices I've had to endure (not including the On Your Own video).

God, my headline. I would hate anyone who wrote that, and sort of hate myself for it! I don't mean it in the sense that I think nothing's important unless it's happening in America...I'm British after all. I'm just growing anxious to hear of any further developments on the U.S. show front. It's been a month since Chris Morrison hinted at some European and U.S. stops...and nothing!

Being jealous is not how I want to spend my summer.

Oh right, the new Blur music story. Well basically it's Blur oracle Alex talking about them jamming during rehearsals.
Here's the link.

A Fantastic Guardian Article On Blur

I know it seems like I'm just pasting the latest Blur snippets incessantly on here, mostly without comment. It's been such a rush of Blur news lately that sometimes it's hard to keep up. It's long way from my DaMonday's posts of yore.

This gold rush on Blur culture is quite fantastic, but I feel slightly anxious too. What's to become of Blur now? Will they record again? It felt as though they "ended" on a really high note with Think Tank. They never fell into the trap of nostalgia, or repetition the way that other britpop stalwarts like Oasis did. I suppose it's a little selfish that I want to keep Blur the way they were. If you look at their track record, I shouldn't worry that they'll resort to pandering to their fans in lieu of innovation.

There's a lot of good that's come from the Albarn-Coxon reunion. Obviously the biggest excitement is that I might get to see them live at last!

John Harris has a brilliant article in the Guardian, interviewing the band and giving some great insight into the realities of the Blur breakup. There's a brutally detailed account of Graham's "firing", and a reassuringly sweet tale of Damon and Graham's subsequent reunion over eccles cakes.

Throughout the piece Alex appears as the main instigator of the reunion. He's sort of the oracle of Blur- mentioning the reunion months before it came to fruition. With this track record it's very exciting when he says this:
"Apparently, we've been offered Madison Square Garden in New York. Blur have never been bigger. Why? Fuck knows. Fuck knows."
There's hope for a Blur show in the U.S. yet!

Damon even speaks to John about Justine Frishmann, and in a "where are they now?" moment we find out that she's married and living in California.

Read the whole article here. [Guardian]

VIDEO: Blur accept their Mojo Honor from some "special" fans

Blur at the Mojo Awards

Bananaz DVD released, Blur and Gorillaz appear on video games...

I'm getting ready to leave on a little trip so Victorian Horror might be a bit quiet until next week. Never mind...it'll give you time to digest these news items. I'm intentionally ignoring any and all rude comments made by one Liam Gallagher...All I have to say about that is it's better to be a shit Blur than actual Oasis.

Gorillaz Bananaz doc. out on DVD, with an hour of bonus footage!



If you've ever wanted to be Damon Albarn, you can realize those fantasies (sort of.)
Blur and Gorillaz are on the new Guitar Hero, and Gorillaz are on the new DJ Hero.
Never mind that you'll be channeling Graham more than Damon on Guitar Hero (good enough), and I'm pretty sure Damon didn't use turntables for his stuff in Gorillaz...
Honestly if you really want to be Damon, you should wait for the upcoming Melodica Hero...out soon(ish)!

A BLUR SONG A DAY: Battery In Your Leg

It might have come as a shock to most Blur fans to get a song this soulful out of Damon. Sure 13 tucked a few brilliant breakup songs into the Blur canon... However, weirdly enough, I think it's this song about Graham's departure, rather than any of the Justine Frischmann-inspired introspection from 13 (No Distance Left To Run, Caramel, Tender, 1992) that gets into truly gut-wrenching, truthful beauty. Apparently one of the final times Graham played with Blur was during a session recording of this track, so its got all of the melancholy mythology to back it up.

Battery In Your Leg could have been an over-the-top, almost "musical theatre" sounding song had it been arranged in a slightly different way. Luckily, Damon's genius wonky timing, and oblique lyrics turn it into a crushingly pretty, yet still powerful track.

I think Damon finds it challenging to be this open and emotional musically. In almost every live performance I've seen of this (like this one, and this one) he has a lit cigarette in one hand, as if he's saying "nahh, not really! See I'm still a geezer..." Damon's awkwardness is probably a testament to how personal the song is.

The first time I heard this it absolutely floored me.
Here's a live performance of the song from their Think Tank tour. It's a really great performance, and although Damon looks nonchalant at the beginning once you get to the 2:39 mark you'll understand why it's so great. Even Damon himself seems surprised that he held the note for so long.

Graham Coxon's in The Sun again...this time he wants to be a cobbler

More from Graham Coxon's press tour...he told The Sun he wants to make shoes...

Blur's 1999 South Bank Show appearance on youtube

If you haven't seen this, it's a pretty great watch. Graham's at his mumbliest and Damon takes us back to where it all began, Stanway School.
All in celebration of Blur's 10 year anniversary.
I've embedded part one below, click through for the rest. Thanks to ClivesVidCollection for the upload.

Graham Coxon: "I can imagine Damon strutting about in the 18th century, wearing tall powdered wigs, lace ru es on his shirts."

Graham's certainly making the rounds, he's been giving interviews left and right. It's The Mail on Sunday's turn this time, and Jon Wilde gets some really brilliant responses out of him.

On Blur's relationship to technology:

"Dave (Rowntree) is a mid-21st-century kind of guy. Alex (James) is definitely late 20th. I can imagine Damon strutting about in the 18th century, wearing tall powdered wigs, lace rues on his shirts. I'm quite medieval compared to them, especially about technology. I think most technology is rubbish. It's supposed to improve our lives but it just makes it worse."

On his love for fashion:

"I've never stuck with any particular look. I want long and short hair - at the same time. I want to look like Sterling Morrison from the Velvet Underground and Steve Marriott from the Small Faces. I want to look like an old colonel and a sharp indie kid. Usually I settle for a look that, to me, is classically English. That's why I do most of my shopping at Cordings."
I certainly share Graham's conundrum. I always want to look like the music I'm listening to. This past week I've been wearing my hair in a rockabilly style in honor of Morrissey's quiff. Sadly, my musical tastes veer strongly towards mid-nineties British...so there's a lot of Adidas involved. Ugh.

For the full glorious interview: Every time I came back from a tour, I'd have to kill off my girlfriend's suitors,' says Blur's Graham Coxon

More Blur talk from Graham

The fact that Graham's out promoting his new album is a boon for reporters wanting the scoop on the Blur reunion.
Basically I'm just going to copy and paste what the NME had, because they just basically copied and pasted what Radio 4 had...and before the end of the day, these quotes will be pasted up all over the blogosphere. In a nutshell: Blur rehearsals are giving Graham goosebumps (in a good way), Country House is still on the bill, and although he has respect for Keith Allen and Damien Hirst, he knows that the Country House video was crap.
Here are his comments in full:

"You do get a little bit of the goosebump thing going on!" he told BBC Radio 4's Front Row about the rehearsals. "First of all, when I went into the room and I saw all my guitars and my old amplifier sitting there next to Dave's [Rowntree] drums again, and then Alex's [James] amplifier, it was like, 'Wow!'

"And then we were getting our instruments on and making a noise and we decided to play an old song, our first single, 'She's So High'. I think it was a passable rendition! It wasn't perfect!"

Coxon also gave more details about the possibility of Blur playing 'Country House' on the tour.

"I think I'd like to reclaim the song in some way and I'd like to play it, whether we do it in the old jump up and down 'oompah' style that we did it in, or whether we do it in a different way. I'm up for experimenting with it," he said.

"But the thing about playing with these songs is that they are the public's property. I feel a little bit worried about playing around too much with the songs."

With Damon Albarn admitting recently that 'Country House' was a 'stupid moment' in Blur's history, Coxon said the song does have its plus points.

"I like that song, because lyrically I thought it was really clever. I think we just overdid it with all the 'oompah', and the video. I've got nothing against Damien [Hirst, video director] at all, or Keith [Allen, who starred in the video], but I just think the whole collaboration just went towards the farcical end of things a little bit."

Speaking of the possibility of Blur recording new material or playing more shows after this summer, Coxon remained coy.

"I think there's all sorts of things being discussed," he revealed. "We had a few years apart and we know our worth with each other. I don't see why we should not be in each other's lives for another eight years, I don't think that's gonna happen. Whether it's as better friends, more involved in each other's lives as friends or musically – I'm sure we're gonna be around for each other."

[NME]