Dave Rowntree

Damon Albarn stops Blur sessions

Music Gossip

23 May 2012

Damon Albarn has stopped recording sessions for new Blur material. The band had been working with producer William Orbit - who produced their '13' album in 1999 - but the rest of the group were left confused when Damon cryptically halted the…

Blur announce intimate shows ahead of Olympics concert

Music Gossip

14 May 2012

Blur have announced a string of intimate shows before their concert closing the Olympics in Britain. The 'Song 2' band are to play in British towns Margate, Wolverhampton and Plymouth, as well as appearing at festivals in Sweden and Denmark before…

Damon Albarn finds opera hard to explain

Music Gossip

7 May 2012

Damon Albarn worries people think he has "lost it". The Blur frontman is currently focused on his 'Dr. Dee' project - a play and accompanying album of folk opera inspired by Elizabethan mathematician Dr. John Dee - and admit she is "nervous" about…

Damon Albarn thinks new Blur sound would be interesting

Music Gossip

3 May 2012

Damon Albarn thinks a new Blur album would be "interesting". The group - who have been largely defunct since 2003, apart from a series of one-off shows in 2009 - haven't released a record since 2003's 'Think Tank' and so the singer is curious to see…

Blur releasing box set

Music Gossip

19 Apr 2012

Blur are to release 65 previously-unheard songs as part of a new box set. The 'Parklife' hitmakers are to celebrate 21 years since the release of their debut album 'Leisure' with '21', a comprehensive body of work compiled by the band. The box…

Damon Albarn to release opera album

Music Gossip

7 Mar 2012

Damon Albarn will release an album from his 'Dr. Dee' opera. The Blur frontman recorded the 18-track record late last year with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and now the soundtrack to the production - inspired by mathematician John Dee - will be…

Graham Coxon hates music videos

Music Gossip

29 Feb 2012

Graham Coxon thinks music videos are "horrible". The guitarist has invited fans to copy dance moves posted on YouTube to create their own routines, with the clips then edited to make the promotional film for his track 'What'll It Take' and says the…

Blur still have issues

Music Gossip

25 Feb 2012

Blur still have the "same issues" as they did 20 years ago. Frontman Damon Albarn admits he now has less tension with guitarist Graham Coxon - who left in the band in 2002 after a dispute with other members before rejoining the group in 2007 - but…

Blur refused to accept BRIT Award in 2010

Music Gossip

23 Feb 2012

Blur refused to accept a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2010. The 'Parklife' group - who have been largely defunct since 2003, apart from a series of one-off shows in 2009 - picked up the prestigious accolade at the BRITs last…

Alex James hints BRIT Awards gig may be Blur's last

Music Gossip

20 Feb 2012

Alex James has hinted Blur's performance at the BRIT Awards could be their last ever show. The bass player for the group - who will be honoured with an Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the spectacle tomorrow night (21.02.12) - confirmed…

Blur will 'definitely" release new album

Music Gossip

10 Feb 2012

Blur will "definitely" release another album. The 'Song 2' group have reformed to appear at this year's BRIT Awards - where they will receive a lifetime achievement trophy - and guitarist Graham Coxon is sure they will make an eighth album…

Blur singer and guitarist to play charity show ahead of BRIT Awards

Music Gossip

2 Feb 2012

Blur's Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon will play a charity show ahead of this year's BRIT Awards. The singer and the guitarist will appear alongside Dry The River and Ed Sheeran at the concert, held on February 19, to raise money for the War Child…

Blur to work with William Orbit

Music Gossip

23 Jan 2012

William Orbit has sparked speculation he is working with Blur. The producer - who previously teamed with the Britpop legends on their 2002 LP '13', their last with guitarist Graham Coxon - revealed on his twitter account that he is going into the…

Blur drummer admits cocaine addiction

28 Aug 2007

Dave Rowntree has admitted that he was addicted to cocaine during Blur’s Britpop glory days. The drummer said in an interview that he had become hooked on the drug while the four-piece were at the height of their powers. He revealed: ‘I didn’t start…