Blur is an indie rock and pop band with art school origins, hailing from London, England. The group consists of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon (active from 1989 to 2002 and rejoining in 2008), Alex James, and Dave Rowntree. Originally formed in Colchester in December 1989 under the name Seymour, they rebranded as Blur in March 1990 after signing with the Food label. Their early music, including the album Leisure and its singles, was characterized as indie or alternative rock, drawing inspiration from the danceable rhythms of "baggy" bands associated with the Madchester scene and noisepop acts like My Bloody Valentine, with occasional influences reminiscent of Syd Barrett. This darker side of their sound was particularly evident in various single B-sides.
By 1992, the band sought to reinvent themselves, aiming for a fresher sound and a more defined purpose. They shifted towards a retro spectrum of British rock and pop, citing influences such as The Kinks and XTC, as well as nostalgic themes from World War II. Their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish, released in 1993, achieved moderate success and began garnering attention for its distinctly British flavor, foreshadowing the Britpop movement that would dominate the UK for the next two years, alongside other prominent acts like Suede. In 1994, Blur released Parklife, which became emblematic of the Britpop genre. The following year, The Great Escape presented a more vivid and somewhat cartoonish iteration of their established formula.
With their fifth studio album, Blur, released in 1997, the band underwent a significant transformation, moving away from Britpop and reintroducing the art rock experimentalism of their earlier work. This time, their music was influenced by a broader range of sources, including bands like Pavement. The album's second track, "Song 2," emerged as a hit on alternative dancefloors. Subsequent albums 13 and Think Tank further distanced the band from Britpop, embracing a diverse array of sounds and global influences.
After completing the album 13 and its associated tours, the band entered a hiatus as its members pursued personal projects. In 1998, Albarn initiated the Gorillaz project, while Alex James collaborated with Damien Hirst, and Graham Coxon released his debut solo album. During this period, Coxon struggled with alcoholism, which led to his absence during the recording sessions for Think Tank. Following its release in 2003, the band entered a full hiatus until December 2008, when they announced a reunion for concerts in London's Hyde Park, later documented in All The People. This was followed by major performances, including Glastonbury 2009. In 2010, a documentary titled No Distance Left To Run and the single "Fool's Day" were released for Record Store Day.
In July 2012, a comprehensive box set titled Blur 21 was issued, and in August, the band headlined a concert in Hyde Park for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was released as Parklive. Earlier in that year, attempts to record a new studio album with producer Ben Hillier were ultimately abandoned, leading to another pause in the band's activities in the fall.
In early 2015, Blur surprised fans with the announcement of a new album, The Magic Whip, which was created in just five days in Hong Kong following a canceled Japan tour in 2013. After the accompanying tour, the band entered another hiatus, reemerging in 2023 with their ninth studio album, The Ballad Of Darren, and a series of concerts. In April 2024, Albarn suggested that their performance at Coachella might be the band's "last gig." On July 19, 2024, a second documentary, To The End, directed by Toby L, premiered in UK and Irish cinemas.
Noteworthy live and session members include Cara Tivey (auxiliary keyboard player from 1993 to 1995), Diana Gutkind (auxiliary keyboard player from 1995 to 2000), Wayne Hernandez (primary vocalist with backing choirs since 1997), and Simon Tong (guitarist who replaced Coxon for the 2003-2004 tour). Mike Smith has also contributed as an auxiliary keyboard player, backing vocalist, and saxophonist since 2003.
