Blur Pictures

Arctic Monkeys Side Project The Last Shadow Puppets Arrive in NYC

Though no one could quite remember the name of the band, a few dozen New Yorkers showed up at Brooklyn’s Sound Fix Lounge last night for a “surprise” acoustic gig by the Last Shadow Puppets: a collaboration between Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner and his mate Miles Kane from U.K. group the Rascals. The pair worked through unplugged renditions of eight songs from their forthcoming album to a crowd that included Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij. (VW fans will be pleased to know that drummer Chris Thompson is doing just fine after being hit by a taxi in London last week. “He didn’t even need stitches,” Batmanglij says.) The Puppets’ set was decidedly low-key, coming on more like noir-ish Sixties soundtrack music than the loose-limbed Brit-punk of the Arctic Monkeys. Or, as one astute fan noted: “If the Arctic Monkeys are Blur, this is the Good, The Bad and The Queen.” The duo’s debut album, The Age Of Understatement, is due out April 21st, if that sounds like your cup of tea. For our part, we were impressed. [Photo: Bao Nguyen]

Published: 2008-03-05 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows

Prince Causes Another U.K. Uproar, Marilyn Manson’s Movie Gets a Shoot Date, Flaming Lips-Scored Doc on the Way

He’s not an official royal, but Prince is generating more ink in the U.K. than anyone named William or Harry. The Mail on Sunday, the newspaper that’s giving away free copies of Planet Earth, is threatening to sue the British equivalent of Billboard for not allowing sales of the newspaper/CD to count toward the album charts. Marilyn Manson’s Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, starring his girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood as Alice (of Wonderland fame), will begin filming in late autumn. Graham Coxon may or may not be rejoining Blur. The band booked studio time in September as a four-piece, which fueled speculation that Coxon is the fourth piece. Summercamp!, a documentary about (surprise!) summer camp that’s scored by the Flaming Lips, will hit theaters soon. Or you can Netflix it now. Do you ever pause in the supermarket and wonder what happened to key members of Quiet Riot, Cinderella and Nitro? Well, wonder no more, thanks to this article.

Published: 2007-07-14 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup

Blur Join “LEGO Rock Band”: See the Band’s Avatars

Many a Britpop fan in the Nineties described Blur as “adorable” — and that was before Damon Albarn and Co. were turned into LEGO versions of themselves for the upcoming music video game LEGO Rock Band. The recently reunited group’s “Song 2″ appears on the title’s in-game playlist (see the full list below), and Rolling Stone has your first look at the band’s avatars and a little video of their playable characters in action. Blur join Iggy Pop and David Bowie, whose LEGO avatars have already been

Published: 2009-10-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Video Games

Damon Albarn - Albarn Concerned About Blur Shows

Damon Albarn has confessed to being concerned about BLUR'S reunion shows, in case they are not up to scratch.The iconic Britpop band recently announced they will ...

Published: 2009-01-19 Provider: Contact Music

Blur - Bun Reunited Blur

BLUR frontman Damon Albarn has revealed the all-important catalyst that led to the reunion of the seminal Britpop band – a bun.The much-missed band ...

Published: 2008-12-30 Provider: Contact Music

Blur - Blur Top Myspace Survey

BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN has another reason to celebrate - his animated band GORILLAZ are the most popular on the internet. The cartoon rockers were the most listened ...

Published: 2008-12-23 Provider: Contact Music

News Ticker: Flaming Lips, Patti Smith, Arcade Fire and Blur

Photo: Winter/Getty The Flaming Lips will curate and perform at the third night of next year’s All Tomorrows Parties festival in New York. The band will take the stage on September 13th, 2009 at the Kutshers Country Club in Montecello. Animal Collective, Panda Bear and Suicide are among the other bands on the bill. Patti Smith, the Apples in Stereo, Ingrid Michaelson, Tommy James & the Shondells will pay tribute to R.E.M. at a benefit concert at NY’s Carnegie Hall on March 11th. Once’s Glen Hansard, Kimya Dawson and Bob Mould will also appear at “The Music of R.E.M.” The Arcade Fire will release a live DVD documenting the band’s Neon Bible tour. Miroir Noir was filmed by Vincent Moon and directed by Vincent Morisset. Check out the film’s trailer here. Blur have continued mapping out reunion tour dates, adding a second show to their stint at London’s Hyde Park on July 3rd. The band will also play some rehearsal dates in smaller venues in the weeks leading up to the Hyde Park concerts (and potentially Glastonbury.)

Published: 2008-12-12 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Morning News Roundup

Blur Reuniting For London Concert, Possible Glastonbury Slot

Photo: Getty After months of rumors, informal lunches and supposed practices, Blur finally revealed today that the Damon Albarn-led band will reunite for a concert at London’s Hyde Park on July 3rd, 2009. Guitarist Graham Coxon, who left the band during the recording of 2002’s Think Tank, will join his bandmates Albarn, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. “It just felt it was right again,” Albarn said of Blur’s reunion, “It somehow feels like there’s something for us to do again, we’re not completely useless or pointless, we’ve got a reason to exist.” One rumored reason to exist: Glastonbury 2009, which the band hinted it might headline. “We’ll do something in London because that seems sensible,” Albarn added, “but we’re also playing in other parts of the country working up to [Glastonbury].” While no new album plans were revealed, Albarn has made it known he was eager to begin work on the third Gorillaz album in early ‘09. Related Stories: • Blur “Certainly Going To Rehearse” In 2009, Says Damon Albarn • Gorillaz Duo Use “Monkey” to Promote BBC Olympics Coverage • Album Review: Blur, Think Tank

Published: 2008-12-09 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Blur “Certainly Going To Rehearse” In 2009, Says Damon Albarn

Photo: Cattermole/Getty This is probably the umpteenth time we’re reporting news like this, but according to Damon Albarn, he and his Blur mates will all enter the studio in 2009. “Blur are certainly going to rehearse and see if we’re into it,” Albarn told the BBC this afternoon. Guitarist Graham Coxon, who left the band while they were worked on 2003’s Think Tank, also factors into the reunion equation. The band reconnected numerous times this year in non-musical situations this year, first meeting for lunch and then attending Albarn’s performance of his Monkey: Journey to the West at London’s O2 Arena. If Blur were to reunite for albums and the lucrative festival season, they’d have to compete for Albarn’s time with his other project Gorillaz, as Albarn stated in September he hopes to begin work on the follow-up to 2005’s Demon Days in January. Related Stories: • Album Review: Blur, Think Tank • Album Review: Gorillaz, Demon Days • Albarn Goes Ape Over Gorillaz

Published: 2008-11-25 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Weekend Rock List: Hidden Tracks

As Coldplay fans may have noticed, the band’s new Viva La Vida contains not one, but two unlisted tracks. To pay homage to the secret song, a victim of the MP3 era, this week’s Rock List is dedicated to hidden tracks. Whether they’re left off the track list, tucked away on an album’s pregap or buffered by 10 minutes of silence after the last song, let us know your favorites and on Monday we’ll reveal the Readers’ List. Here’s our picks: • Nirvana – “Endless, Nameless” on Nevermind • Dr. Dre – “Bitches Ain’t Shit” on The Chronic • Bruce Springsteen – “Terry’s Song” on Magic • Blur – “Me, White Noise” on Think Tank • Coldplay – “To Kingdom Come” on X&Y A few more staff faves from the Nineties — a decade that was all about the hidden track — are after the jump. • Pearl Jam - “Master Slave” on Ten • Cracker - “Eurotrash Girl” on Kerosene Hat • Dave Matthews Band - “#34″ on Under the Table and Dreaming • Alanis Morissette - “Your House” on Jagged Little Pill • Green Day - “All By Myself” on Dookie

Published: 2008-06-20 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Lists

News Ticker: The Who, Blur, Nas and Sonic Youth

Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters and the Flaming Lips will take the stage on July 12th to pay tribute to the Who in an upcoming VH1 Rock Honors episode. The Who will also perform at the event, with all proceeds from the concert benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust. Former Blur bassist Alex James says a reunion of his old band will probably happen eventually. James cites time commitments as the chief factor preventing the group from reforming. Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the biggest critics of Nas’ decision to use Nigger as an album title, applauded the name change. Radiohead, Beck and Eddie Vedder are among the artists that have chosen their favorite Sonic Youth song for the Starbucks compilation Hits Are For Squares. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-05-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Muse Lose Honor Thanks to Acronym For Boner

The coastal town of Teignmouth, England, was all set to honor local boys Muse with a billboard boasting “Home of Muse” at the entrance to town. (According to David Cox, the town’s council chairman, “a small but significant number of foreign tourists come to Teignmouth because it’s the hometown of Muse.”) Then things went terribly wrong: Somebody with way too much free Googling time discovered that MUSE is an acronym for “Medicated Urethral Suppository for Erection,” which is a really hard way to say Viagra or Levitra. The plans were scuttled. “I thought the slogan ‘Hometown Of Muse’ would create a fresher, younger image for the town,” Cox said, “But now I see the Muse slogan might not send the right message.” The town isn’t entirely disowning the band. Cox is planning for Teignmouth “to honour some of [Muse’s] most famous songs,” whatever that means. Meanwhile, the town of Colchester, England, has launched a full-scale investigation into hometown band Blur.

Published: 2007-11-09 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News