Blur To Reunite

11/25/08 6:01pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

After months of speculation and the U.K. press nearly driving itself mad with almost every Blur-related comment from Damon Albarn, the former Blur frontman has confirmed the band will reunite in 2009.

Albarn spilled the beans just before he performed his Monkey: Journey To The West opera at London, England's BBC Radio Theatre on Tuesday.

"Blur are going to rehearse and see if we're into it," he told host Janice Long.

The original lineup — featuring Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree — haven't played together since sessions for 2003's Think Tank. Coxon only appeared on one of that album's tracks before he left to pursue a solo career.

Coxon had been recording solo material since 1998's The Sky Is Too High, but released 2004's Happiness In Magazines and 2006's Love Travels At Illegal Speeds after he left Blur.

Since then, Albarn has continued to work on his Gorillaz project and recorded an album with The Good, The Bad & The Queen, who include former Clash bassist Paul Simonon, The Verve's Simon Tong and Nigerian drummer Tony Allen. Monkey: Journey To The West premiered in Manchester last year, and its soundtrack was released in September.

Albarn and Coxon haven't had the best relationship since the guitarist left Blur. James stated the band had been offered a headlining gig at this year's Glastonbury festival, but Albarn stymied it.

Albarn said Blur were "over" after being asked about reunion rumours earlier this year. Coxon responded to that comment on Blur's message boards.

"Damon didn't consult anybody else before he took it into his own hands to make this comment," he wrote. "Therefore I think it is nonsense. It isn't for him to decide."

Coxon later said things were complicated, that he'd "done so much work on my own problems," and had been trying to contact Albarn about a possible reunion. That led to Coxon and Albarn hanging out.

"We had lunch the other day," Albarn told BBC Newsbeat earlier this month. "He's great, it's fantastic to get my old friend back. So it's good, but I can't really say any more than that."

Blur formed in 1989 and released seven albums. Their 1994 Parklife LP is considered a Brit-pop masterpiece. "Song 2," from 1997's self-titled album, turned Blur into international hitmakers and spawned a memorable Labatt commercial with racing grocery carts.