Damon: Reunion 'a bit terrifying'

Greg Cochrane
Newsbeat music reporter

Damon Albarn said he was thinking about returning to Blur

Damon Albarn has admitted to being 'terrified' about Blur's plan to return to live action next summer.

The foursome confirmed yesterday [9 December] that they'll play together for the first time since 2000.

Albarn also confirmed they'll play warm-up shows before their massive gig at London's Hyde Park on 3 July.

Speaking to Zane Lowe he said: "It is a bit terrifying because we haven't even thought - any of us - on that scale for a long time."

Mending relationship

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon joined Zane Lowe last night to speak about their decision to play together live again for the first time in eight years.

Guitarist Coxon also explained more about the absence.

"We didn't argue or fall out - we just went away," he said. "I seemed to just go off and they seemed to just go off and that was it.

"We did talk a couple of times during the last six, seven years but it seemed clear but we weren't very at peace with the situation."

"Graham and I suddenly clicked again after what seemed like a lifetime," said Damon. "We stopped communicating a long time ago."

Blur confirm massive outdoor show

Different directions

Graham Coxon left the band in 2002 during recording sessions for Blur's seventh album Think Tank when relations between himself and Albarn became increasingly strained.

The reformed line-up of Blur including Graham Coxon

Coxon continued to make solo records, while Albarn busied himself with Gorillaz and Monkey: Journey To The West.

Damon Albarn said: "We've gone and done our own thing for a while and hopefully now we're going to come back and be more focussed."

However, he agreed that returning to Blur after such a long time would take some getting used to.

"In a way we sort of cleared that part of our brain," he explained. "It's just about approaching it in a way where we can really give people what they want."

Why Graham Coxon is at the heart of Blur

Absent friend

Albarn also revealed that time spent in Blur after Coxon left in 2002 was a difficult period.

"I didn't want to make another record. I just didn't ever want to play ever again those songs without Graham," he said. "It wasn't easy - any of it.

"It wasn't the same - it never would be the same," he added. "Bands should never really do anything unless it's got the same chemistry as it had."

We can't just walk onstage after a 10 year hiatus and play Hyde Park - it's a bit foolhardy Damon Albarn, Blur

Meanwhile, Graham Coxon also admitted to having forgotten a lot of his own songs: "I realised that as I started Coffee And TV that I've completely forgotten it.

"There was a bit of YouTube watching and watching my fingers."

The foursome will now concentrate on which tracks they'll start to play again next summer.

"I thought we were all going to come up with a list of things we like - then they'll be definitely [songs] or hopefully ones that all four of us want to play and go through it," said Coxon.

There will also be confirmation of more shows soon.

"We have to play quite a few warm ups. I think we'll start really small and slowly…round the country," said Damon.

"We can't just walk onstage after a 10 year hiatus and play Hyde Park - it's a bit foolhardy."

Listen to Zane Lowe speaking to Blur

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