Damon Albarn wants Blur to reunite for more gigs

"I can't wait to sing Parklife again"

Damon Albarn on stage with Blur
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 16th Sep 2020
Last updated 16th Sep 2020

Almost five years on from their last full concert together, Damon Albarn says he’s up for another Blur reunion.

Damon recently sat down for a chat with Music Week and was asked if we’ve heard the last of Blur. He responded: “I really hope not.

“I love doing those gigs, they’re great, but it’s not something I need to do. I only do it because there’s a joy in doing it. It’s an absolute treat. I can’t wait to sing Parklife again.”

Blur last performed together at The Big Top in Leytonstone hosted Africa Express in March 2019 where they played ‘Clover Over Dover’, ‘Tender’ with the London Community Gospel Choir and ‘Song 2’.

Blur's Graham Coxon, Alex James, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree in 2015

However, their last ‘proper’ full gig together was at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2015 as part of The Magic Whip Tour.

Elsewhere in his chat with Music Week, Damon spoke about Gorillaz’ Song Machine project, which has seen the virtual band drop new episodes every six to eight weeks throughout 2020.

Each episode consists of a new song, a video created by Gorillaz animator Jamie Hewlett and an accompanying podcast. The most recent episode dropped last week and was a musical collaboration with The Cure’s Robert Smith called ‘Strange Timez’.

Asked what made him release music in this way, Damon replied: “I’d just had enough of having to finish a whole body of work and wait for six f---ing months.

“I wanted to just do a tune a month and put it out. It hasn’t worked quite like that because of Jamie having to do so much. Animation just takes a long time, it’s impossible to do it any quicker.”

Damon also waxed lyrical about the songs Gorillaz have produced, adding: “We’re going to put it all together, we’ve got a great running order and it sounds f---ing unbelievable, it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever made.

“It’s a really strong album because every tune has that single intention to it. To make an album of all singles is such a rigorous pursuit you don’t normally do it – but accidentally, we’ve done that.”

He also confirmed there will be as second season of the Song Machine project, following the emphatic success of the first one.

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