- Do YOU have a story? Send an email to tips@dailymail.com
Alex James admitted being in a band is “supposed to fuck you up” as he compared the Blur reunion to “rehab” on Monday.
The bassist, 56, recalled laughing when he reunited with bandmates Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree to record their latest album, The Ballad of Darren, and shared his doubts about its success.
The band went on hiatus in 2015 and then announced news of their reunion in November 2022 before performing a series of concerts at Wembley for the first time.
Speaking in an interview with LoadedAlex explained: ‘Being in a band is supposed to fuck you up. It’s what sends most people to the Muppet Room. The Blur reunion was the complete opposite. “It was like fucking rehab.”
The musician was forced to get fit before his Wembley shows and took up boxing in a bid to lose a few kilos.
Recalling his doubts, he added: “On the first day I was cackling on the M40 on the way to the studio. I mean, what band is even liked after thirty-five years, much less ends up making a decent record again?
Alex James admitted that “being in a band is supposed to fuck you up” and compared the Blur reunion to “rehab” on Monday.
The bassist, 56, recalled laughing when he reunited with bandmates Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree to record and shared his doubts about their success (LR Graham, Dave, Damon and Alex pictured in 1997) .
Alex continued: ‘This time it seemed like the audience was a lot younger. There were many young people between 18 and 32 years old buying the tickets. A whole new audience. There was a lot to be surprised, happy and even scared about. ‘
Blur released a new feature film documenting their recent reunion in July.
‘Blur: Until the end’ was filmedDirected by Toby L, the film goes behind the scenes as the iconic English rock band reunites after almost 10 years for their 2023 album, The Ballad of Darren.
Speaking in the film, Alex said: “We’ve barely communicated for the last 10 years… I mean, even when we really broke up, it didn’t take that long to make a record.”
“But the wonderful thing is that as soon as the four of us are in a room together, everything is exactly the same as it was when we were 19.”
Graham, the band’s lead guitarist and backing vocalist, chimed in: “In the ’90s, it was a very intense time. On the same level as a relationship, or marriages and things like that.
Frontman Damon added: “I think it’s okay to say that the time apart is spent on other friendships and just recovering or doing other things.”
‘I don’t think any of us thought we’d make another record, especially a record like this. I guess that’s why I wanted to try to do my best.
In an interview with Loaded, Alex explained: “Being in a band is supposed to fuck you up.” It’s what sends most people to the Muppet Room. The Blur reunion was the complete opposite’
He continued: ‘We all have very complicated and complicated lives and we are very lucky to be able to spend this time together, just the four of us. And that’s the beauty of it.”
Toby L, who directed the long-awaited film, said rolling stone: ‘To The End is an intimate look at relationships, motivation and mortality, the sights and sounds of a lasting friendship that discovers a new conquest to overcome together.
‘On the topic of capturing a band that has been so well documented, we sat down at the beginning of the project and agreed that the film had to tell a new story, be filmed entirely on location and, most importantly, be honest.
“In To The End, that’s what I hope people can see and, most importantly, feel.”