The British Music Experience is a permanent exhibition at the O2 in London. It has made a home in the O2 Bubble, just one small part of the huge complex formerly known as the Millennium Dome, which now has the O2 Arena at its heart.

The British Music Experience opened in March 2009, and costs £15 per adult to visit. For that, you gain entry into the main exhibit, which comprises a hub, with several rooms dedicated to each important time in British music around the outside.

There are costumes and merchandise from the key artists of the periods, with descriptions of each available via headphones. There are also interactive elements, including the chance to try your hand at several instruments and the opportunity to mimic dances from the decades.

The ticket you receive for the exhibition can be swiped over any of the exhibits, with the information from that part of the BME saved for later viewing via the official Web site. So, the Smarticket creates a multimedia memento of your visit.

I spent a good few hours at The British Music Experience and enjoyed it. However, I think the £15 asking price is a little on the high side, and if it were priced more attractively would attract more visitors.

That’s not to take anything away from the exhibition, which is attempting to fill a void that definitely needs to be filled. British music is the best in the world, and needs to be celebrated in the U.K.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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The album covers being featured in the Classic Album Covers series of stamps are:

Blur – ‘Parklife’
Coldplay – ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’
David Bowie – ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’
Led Zeppelin – ‘IV’
Mike Oldfield – ‘Tubular Bells’
New Order – ‘Power, Corruption And Lies’
Pink Floyd – ‘The Division Bell’
Primal Scream – ‘Screamadelica’
The Clash – ‘London Calling’
The Rolling Stones – ‘Let It Bleed’

All of which are truly classic and inspired album covers which have definitely stood the test of time. Some are probably good enough to hang in art galleries, so they’re definitely more than worthy of being turns into stamps.

The Classic Album Covers stamp collection goes on sale tomorrow (Jan. 7).

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Blur’s last arranged gig was at the T In The Park festival in Scotland. Albarn set tongues wagging by saying, “This is our last gig” while introducing a song. Since then both Alex James and Graham Coxon have admitted Blur have no future plans.

Now comes Albarn adding his voice to the band members stating it’s all over for a second time.

In an interview in The Observer, he said of the reunion:

“It was stadiums and everybody singing and very euphoric. For me, it was so nice to do that again and to know that I had left on a good note with Graham, Alex and Dave. Then after the last gig in Scotland I got on the train and left it all behind. That’s it, I haven’t thought about it since. I loved every second of it but then when it had finished it was like, we’ve all got to get on with our lives now.”

And that appears to be it for Blur. I’d, obviously mistakenly, assumed that their reunion was going to be a semi-permanent one. At one time there was even talk of the band heading back into the studio to record new material. Now, that’s not happening, and nor are the band on any level.

This is a sad day for Blur fans everywhere. However, it’s good to know that the split this time seems to have been friendly and by agreement, with no arguments or massive disagreements contributing.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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Glastonbury was the big winner, with organizer Michael Eavis taking home the award for ‘Best Major Festival’ and seeing Blur carry of the prize for ‘Best Headline Performance’ for their Glastonbury set. Bestival and Beach Break Live also racked up multiple wins at the ceremony held at London’s O2 Arena last night (Nov. 19).

UK Festival Awards Winners (Courtesy of NME)

Best Headline Performance: Blur, Glastonbury
Best Major Festival: Glastonbury
Anthem of The Summer: Kings of Leon, ‘Sex On Fire’
Festival Fitty Award: Damon Albarn, Lily Allen
Best Breakthrough Act: Florence & The Machine
Best Family Festival: Camp Bestival
Best Toilets: T in the Park
The Greener Festival Award: Croissant Neuf Summer Party
Best Metropolitan Festival: Gaymers Camden Crawl
Best New Festival: Sonisphere
The Grass Roots Festival Award: Leefest
Virtual Festivals’ Critics Choice Award: La Casa Azul
Best Brand Activation Award: The Schuh Welly Exchange
Best Overseas Festival: Oxegen
Best Dance Event: Creamfields
Promoter of the Year: Beach Break Live
Best Line-Up: Lounge on the Farm
Best Small Festival: Beach Break Live
Best Medium Festival: Bestival
Lifetime Achievement Award: Katrina Larkin

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Damon Albarn suggested it was over again when he said, “This is our last gig,” after playing the opening song of the Glasto set. Then Alex James made it clear that as much as they all enjoyed coming back together to play live again, there were no plans in place for anything further.

And now Graham Coxon has backed up that claim by insisting Blur have no further plans at this moment in time.

According to NME, Coxon said:

“We’re in touch and we say ‘Wotcha’ and all that but nothing has been mentioned about any more shows or anything else. Everyone’s slipped back into what they do when the Blur creature isn’t heaving around. Law and cheese and music, I suppose.”

Coxon is back doing his solo thing already, with a short tour in November which will see him perform with special guests under the moniker, The Graham Coxon Power Acoustic Ensemble. Albarn probably has his fingers in lots of different pies as usual, and James and Rowntree have fallen off the radar.

I think Blur have a lot more to give, both live and on record. So I’d truly love to see them back in the studio working on new material and preparing for a full tour. But at this point in time that doesn’t look likely. Unfortunately.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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Nothing really, except Blur making a new record. Unfortunately, that looks unlikely, and the reunion may already be over. Blur spent the summer playing live to excited crowds in London and Manchester, and at the Glastonbury and T In The Park festivals. At the latter of those gigs, Damon Albarn uttered a throwaway line that implied Blur were over once again. He said, “This is our last gig,” after playing the opening song of the set. The only question being whether he meant the last gig for the time being or the last gig for ever.

Now, not only has Graham Coxon returned to his solo career, playing a gig packed with acoustic songs at the Roundhouse venue in London, but bassist Alex James has confirmed that Blur have no further plans, either to play live together or to record new material.

James told BBC News:

“That was what we said we’d do and we did it and it was great. It hasn’t been mentioned the idea of doing anything else but hey, it was great.”

“I’ve spent the last week staring at a bonfire muttering to myself. I haven’t been able to contain the joy that it brought to all of us. It was very, very emotional. Everything we hoped it would be and more.”

“[Glastonbury was] kind of like doing an away gig, you’re not playing to your own crowd. The weather was perfect, the crowd were up for it, we were up for it and between us we smashed it to bits. What was amazing was the band’s and the audiences’ connection. Best gig we’ve ever done. Amazing.”

“[We have not talked about] doing anything else whatsoever.”

So, the band all seemed to enjoy playing together as a foursome again, with James insisting it was more than they could have wished for. But they haven’t even broached the subject of what to do now. Which seems a little strange to my mind. Surely one of them would have decided to speak up and forward the idea that maybe, just maybe this band works and should carry on working together.

I’d hate to see Blur disappear again just a few months after we got them back. Albarn and Coxon obviously have other projects to work on, while Alex James and Dave Rowntree weren’t exactly sitting at home twiddling their thumbs before the reunion took place. But as busy as they all are, surely there’s room for Blur in their lives. I know there’s room for Blur in my life and in the millions of other fans’ lives.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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Fast-forward six months to June of this year and Blur completed their comeback by performing live for the first time in almost a decade. Granted, there was only family and friends in attendance, but it was still an event to be cheered. Then came a headlining slot at the Glastonbury festival, and a string of sold-out shows in London and Manchester.

Sunday night (July 12) saw Blur once again take the stage, this time at the T In The Park festival in Scotland. The gig nearly didn’t happen due to Coxon being struck down with food poisoning, but the band did play, with Coxon rushing from a spell in hospital to perform his duties.

According to the NME, the set was almost the same as at Glastonbury, and very few people left disappointed. However, a throwaway line from Albarn has raised concerns that Blur may be splitting again. After performing She’s So High as their first single, the front man said, “We nearly didn’t make it. Graham literally walked out of a hospital to come here. He’s alright. This is our last gig.”

Hang on, back the truck up a little. This was Blur’s last scheduled gig of the year but could Albarn have been intimating it was also their last gig of all time? I seriously hope not because anyone who has seen footage of the newly-reformed Blur playing live in the last month would agree they look like they belong together.

Could it be that the handful of gigs Blur undertook has been enough to prove to them that splitting up was the right decision after all? I know Albarn has many different projects on the go so could it be that he’s decided to walk away to pursue those more fully? The sooner the band clear upon this confusion the better but until then we need to keep our fingers crossed this isn’t the end.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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Graham Coxon has already spoken about the possibility of Blur recording music together again, stating back in April that it will likely happen but it won’t be immediately. Now, other members of the band have backed up Coxon’s remarks but also revealed that the magic is already returning, with rehearsals turning into impromptu jamming sessions.

In an interview with BBC 6 Music, bassist Alex James said:

“Damon [Albarn] will be jangling along with some chords and I’ll start banging along and you’ll [Coxon] join. Our musical cup overflow-eth at the moment. It’s all good.”

While Coxon added:

“I think it’s giving it time and doing justice to it really. We wouldn’t want to just sling stuff together to play this summer. It wouldn’t be right.”

“We really don’t want to put ourselves under any pressure. I think we want to have fun with these gigs and then we’ll think about that really.”

Which all sounds good to me. I’d personally love to hear some new stuff from Blur but I agree that rushing it could be a disaster. It’s a much better idea to get used to playing with each other again, get the live dates under your belts, and then look at heading back into the studio to see what direction you want to go in for a new album.

Blur have always been experimental, trying different sounds and styles throughout their career. As much as I love Oasis, this is one area in which these two old enemies are a long way apart on. While Oasis sound pretty much the same now as they did a decade ago, I’m guessing any new material coming from Blur would be innovative and fresh.

Make it happen, but by all means take your time. We can wait.

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That’s exactly the question BBC 6 Music asked of the guitarist, songwriter, and mainstay of Oasis. This was kind of a loaded question, not only due to the reaction Gallagher’s comments received last year but also because one of the headliners at Glastonbury 2009 are Blur. I’m sure no one, least of all Noel, has forgotten that the newly-reformed Blur were, at the height of Britpop, Oasis’ arch enemies.

Thankfully, Noel has matured over the years. I know it’s hard to believe with some of the stuff he still comes out with but he has, now giving his opinion without resorting to mud flinging. At least most of the time.

“Blur are playing. That will be exciting for Blur fans. Particularly if you’re a Blur fan that’s come along since the however many years it is they’ve not been doing nothin’, and you’ve almost waited a lifetime to see them – it will be quite exciting I would have thought.”

“I like Bruce [Springsteen]. I don’t know, do I like Bruce? I don’t own any of his records. I like Crosby, Stills and Nash. I love Neil Young, he’s playing isn’t he somewhere and I love The Specials – I’ve just been to see The Specials.”

If I’d have had anything to do with that bill Franz Ferdinand wouldn’t have been on it. The Script are playing though. They’re brilliant, and The Wombats.”

Note Noel doesn’t express his excitement at seeing Blur play live, probably because he couldn’t give two hoots, but at least he now realizes there are many Blur fans out there who will be ecstatic to see the band perform on stage once again.

The rest of the line-up is very old school and I get the impression Gallagher at least has a grudging respect for Bruce Springsteen et al, even if he’s not a great fan and doesn’t own their back catalogs. I do, however, find it strange he hates Franz Ferdinand but loves The Script. The former are innovative and exciting while the latter are purveyors of cheesy pop. I know which I prefer.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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This one-off gig was invite-only and purely for friends and family, and, it would seem, at least one NME journalist. It took place at the East Anglian Railway Museum near Colchester, the site of Blur’s first ever gig when they were playing for a birthday party and still known as ‘Seymour’. How times change.

This gig represented the first time Blur had played live together as a four piece in about a decade, so there would have been some excuse for them being rusty. However, by all accounts, they were nothing of the sort, and banged out a two-hour set which included their biggest hits as well as early tracks specially for long-time fans.

The setlist for the gig, courtesy of the NME:

‘She’s So High’
‘Girls And Boys’
‘Tracy Jacks’
‘There’s No Other Way’
‘Jubilee’
‘Badhead’
‘Beetlebum’
‘Trimm Trabb’
‘Coffee & TV’
‘Tender’
‘Country House’
‘Charmless Man’
‘Colin Zeal’
‘Oily Water’
‘Chemical World’
‘Sunday Sunday’
‘Parklife’
‘End Of A Century’
‘To The End’
‘This Is A Low’
‘Popscene’
‘Advert’
‘Song 2′
‘Out Of Time’
‘Battery In Your Leg’
‘Essex Dogs’
‘For Tomorrow’
‘The Universal’

Last week saw Blur upload videos to their YouTube channel showing them rehearse in preparation for this gig. The video embedded below shows the newly-reformed and clearly re-energized Blur rehearsing Song 2, one of their most famous hits, and one which has seen me almost attacked by my neighbor for playing it very loud at 3am.

Blur are now, without a doubt, back. And they’re looking and sounding fantastic. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so tight and baulked at the asking price for tickets to the M.E.N. Arena show.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

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