Blur

Blur are...

• Damon Albarn - vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Alex James - bass
• Dave Rowntree - drums
• Graham Coxon - guitar (left 2003)

The leading lights of the Britpop era that weren't Oasis, Blur began their career with the lightweight baggy pop album Leisure in 1991, before pre-empting the nationalism of Britpop with Modern Life Is Rubbish in 1993. The phenominally successful albums Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995) followed, before the band decided to dramatically change course. Blur (1997) and 13 (1999) were heavily influenced by US lo-fi rock and both continued their chart-topping tally. Arguments between Albarn and Coxon led to the latter departing before the release of the long-awaited Think Tank in 2003, with many believing the band will finally split up in its wake. Tom Edwards