Damon Albarn has revealed Blur’s reunion gigs last summer helped to heal old wounds following Graham Coxon’s departure from the band in 2003.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Albarn said the shows “healed a very deep wound for all four of us”, but also insisted they have no immediate plans for Blur at this point, stating “that’s that for the moment.”
Albarn also discussed Blur’s memorable appearance at the 2009 T In The Park festival, when it seemed they would have to pull the gig due to an illnessl: “T In The Park was one of the most insane days, I have to say. Graham was in hospital until an hour-and-a-half before we were supposed to be on stage.”
Meanwhile, Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis has spoken of the process which led to Albarn’s project Gorillaz replacing U2 at the festival which begins later this month. “Within a few minutes of word going out, the phone started ringing with all the headline bands in the world offering to replace U2,” he commented. “Funnily enough, Gorillaz got in there first. It sounds like a really interesting thing, and they have the most amazing guests they’re going to bring on, who shall remain nameless. It gave me so much encouragement for the future, because it could have been a disaster. When we needed them, they came to the rescue.”
Gorillaz will headline the Pyramid Stage on Friday, 25th June, and will be followed by Muse and Stevie Wonder.