Blur book reveals Britpop excess

James' lifestyle epitomised Britpop

Blur bassist Alex James believes he has finally grown up after writing his autobiography, A Bit Of A Blur.

James was one of the frontmen of Britpop, renowned for his partying lifestyle and numerous affairs.

The book charts his journey from the beginning of his involvement with the band, to his marriage and new life on a farm in the Cotswolds, where he specialises in making cheese.

"Any rock and roll journey is a whole series of rapidly-changing improbable scenarios, with bit-parts played by famous actresses," he told BBC World Service's The Beat programme.

"When I got married I realised I'd been on this journey that had finished. It was a good time to sit and think about what had happened. It was an incredible journey.

"I think people are intrigued by the process of the rock and roll machine and what it does to people."

'Murdered heart'

James' excesses with Blur, at the height of Britpop's popularity in the mid-1990s, are all detailed in the book - stories involving champagne, women, drugs, orgies, famous models and upmarket London clubs.

"That's just what your twenties are about - it's what everybody wants when they're in their twenties," he said.

ALEX JAMES Joined Blur (then called Seymour) in 1989 Described himself as "the second drunkest member of the drunkest band in Britain" Formed Fat Les in 1998 with comic Keith Allen and artist Damien Hirst Has written songs for Sophie Ellis Bextor's Read My Lips album Writer and critic for The Observer newspaper and Q Magazine Formed WigWam with pop singer Betty Boo in 2006 Campaigner for action on Darfur crisis (above)

"When you're in a famous rock and roll band it does enable you to have what you want - but it's curiously unsatisfying. And I guess that's what the book's about."

He stressed that writing the book had made him realise "how much I'd enjoyed it all", describing the process of writing it as "cathartic".

But he also said that, while he had no regrets, being in Blur had cost both him and his other bandmates dear.

In the book he recalls being a "morally bankrupt fatso with a stupid grin and a girlfriend with a murdered heart".

And he claims that, from his perspective, success actually costs more than failure.

"When you get what you want, you always lose what you have," he said.

Reunification

James - who was at the centre of the famous feud with Britpop rivals Oasis - said that it hard to let go of being in a band, and being young.

James (left) believes Blur have not yet made their best album

"A lot of people in bands do have trouble doing that, and end up being a grotesque, aging child," he added.

But he remains optimistic that the group, who have never formally split, will reunite.

"I saw Graham [Coxon, Blur's guitarist] a week before last, and Dave [Rowntree, drummer], and I think I'm seeing Damon next week," he said.

"We've all managed to find ourselves since the last record. I think we're all happy where we are now - it's quite remarkable really.

"I think when we were at our peak of success, when Country House was number one and there was all the Battle of the Bands business, we were probably most at sea.

"Now that we've all managed to grow into ourselves and find a place where we're happy, we can probably face each other again.

"It's at that point where we don't need each other any more."