In our recent interview with Damon Albarn the singer suggested that after this summer’s shindig in Hyde Park, there’d be no more Blur gigs. Now, in a chat with The Guardian, Albarn seems to have confirmed that Blur will end this summer… and that his Gorillaz project could also be finished.
Regarding Blur, Albarn seemed to lay the blame for any lack of new material during the recent reformations at the feet of drummer Dave Rowntree and bassist Bellend. "I find it very easy to record with Graham," Albarn says. "He’s a daily musician. With the other two, it’s harder for them to reconnect. You know what I mean? It’s fine when we play live – it’s really magical still – but actually recording new stuff, and swapping musical influences… it’s quite difficult."
Albarn went on to say that there’d be no more Blur records or gigs after Hyde Park. Asked if "that’s it?" Albarn replied "I think so, yeah" and said that "in all likelihood" this would be the end of Blur.
He also aid that it would be "unlikely" that there would be any more Gorillaz albums as Jamie Hewlett feels "done" with the project after they became "at cross purposes somewhat" over the project’s last, Quietus-praised record, The Fall.
Asked if he had fallen out with his Gorillaz sparring partner, Albarn replied ""Erm… well, that sounds very juvenile, doesn’t it? But being juvenile about it, it happens. It’s a shame." When it comes to former foe Noel Gallagher, though, relations have thawed. After a meeting at the Brit Awards, Albarn now says that the smarter of the Gallagher brothers is "A lovely man." Whatever next? Damon and Brett Anderson in country rock tribute album to the UK motorway system?
