Blur
Formation and Early Years
Blur formed in London in 1988 under the name Seymour, around Damon Albarn (vocals, keyboards), Graham Coxon (guitar), Alex James (bass), and Dave Rowntree (drums). The four met at Goldsmiths College in London. Renamed Blur by their label Food Records, they released their debut album Leisure in 1991, influenced by the baggy movement and shoegaze.
The Battle of Britpop
The artistic shift began with Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), a response to American grunge that embraced a distinctly British identity. With Parklife (1994), Blur became a leading force of Britpop, winning 4 Brit Awards in a single night.
The media rivalry with Oasis peaked in August 1995 with the simultaneous release of “Country House” (Blur) and “Roll with It” (Oasis). Blur won the chart battle, but Oasis sold more albums overall. The self-titled album Blur (1997) marked a shift toward lo-fi and indie rock, featuring the global hit “Song 2” and its iconic battle cry “Woo-hoo!”, now a stadium anthem.
Evolution and Legacy
Damon Albarn launched the side project Gorillaz in 2001 with illustrator Jamie Hewlett, becoming the best-selling virtual band in history. Blur reunited for concerts at Hyde Park in 2009, then released The Magic Whip in 2015 and The Ballad of Darren in 2023.
The band has sold over 21 million albums and remains one of the most influential British rock bands of the 1990s.
Signature Guitar
Graham Coxon is closely associated with the Fender Telecaster and the Gibson Les Paul, with a playing style that shifts between crystal-clear pop melodies and abrasive noise. He also uses Fender Jazzmaster and Gibson ES-335 guitars, and is regarded as one of the most underrated guitarists in British rock.
