Blur: New Album 'The Ballad of Darren', Wembley & Reuniting | Apple Music

[@12Saintsrow]

Damon Albarn has to be one of the hardest working musicians right now

[@valdotc8559]

It doesnt mean best quality. Even though blur is my favorite band, I must admit Damon has been releasing a lot of weak music lately (actually, since humanz Id say).

[@soood3os]

​@@valdotc8559he's done an opera!

[@12Saintsrow]

@@valdotc8559 Song Machine was weak to you?

[@thewillk7967]

@@12Saintsrowikr! Song Machine and The Ballad of Darren are some of my favourite records to date, ever

[@Zzzinnia_]

@@valdotc8559I agree with you

[@jastrology4192]

Why is this not at least an hour?? Dudes just made the best album of the year

[@alimay2221]

What an absolutely lovely bunch of people, so modest, so open, and so grounded. Damon gracefully embracing sadness as a natural part of the process of becoming 55 was touching.

[@urmumsbaps]

Except the drummer, who was, and still is, an obnoxious piece of dirt

[@if3054]

They really have that look in their eyes of pure love for each other, I don't think I've ever seen that in them before.

[@ElleElle7830]

I'd love to see an extended version of this interview. They seem so comfortable with Matt, and that made for a wonderfully genuine conversation.

[@cloudzundersky]

Alex James is such a good interview. Weirdly the spokesperson for the band since Damon and Graham literally communicate through music

[@marc1128]

What a brilliant interview, could have watched 2 hours of that

[@CalumetColorado]

Man, i love howmthey havent changed a bit! Theyre literally just older versions of their peak Blur personas. Even the haircuts! What an era it really was. The greatest.

[@paulya1269]

Here’s an example of the difference between an enduring band, whose members respect one another, and Oasis.

[@charlotte.murphy]

I love how humble and genuine they all are. It just shows that they’re mainly here for the music and brining joy to the people. Sadly that doesn’t apply to many musicians these days

[@rafrick]

Wasn't the case when Dave was interviewed by nardwuar. At least he's mellowed in old age.

[@AlexParadiseMusic]

Love that Alex is all "This is easy!" and Graham is like "yeah, for you..."

[@WACarroll95]

I was there that Sunday at Wembley. I think anyone that was knows what it means. So special

[@WikiNicoBrz]

I had never seen Blur so comfortable with an interviewer. Being back at their old pub probabky helped! Nice job!

[@dn9597]

Great interview! I love that the interviewer is very respectful and let the guys talk instead of interrupting them when they are talking. Blur is one of my favorite bands ever! I'm happy that they reunited. Love from America

[@AlexanderBarreto]

I was at the Saturday Wembley show and it was pretty magical too. They sounded fantastic and the energy was so cool. Happy to have been there.

[@arjunkaliyath6389]

Such an amazing band. They truly stood the test of time with their music and even now all their songs from the 90s sound so fresh . Blur truly got lucky to have two amazing producers Damon and Graham together.

[@patjackson8649]

Sunday Wembley was spiritual 💙🙏🏼

[@thebeatlesandoasis05]

Damon sang to me during Tracy Jacks. Keep hoping he will mention me in an interview hahaha but that’s just selfish of me. So glad they are back and loving the new record

[@rebecca_lane_]

It absolutely was. Monumentous.

[@mizpah1993]

Great interview with the band. Kudos to Matt Wilkinson (more interviews by him, please)

[@themusicbuilding]

indeed

[@whitleybayman123]

Loved the Album. As Im the same age as them and grew up with them I know and understand the album they just put out.

[@StratsRUs]

I understand The Beatles.

[@glennoc8585]

I'm the same too. We grew up as kids in a time if the whole records, NME, cool tv, crazes and simple pleasures. I wouldn't change a thing

[@ijw2009]

@@StratsRUs Me too, but I understand Blur in 2023 as well.

[@lurba]

Wow, what a fantastic band! Blur's connection to that pub is truly fascinating. Having worked for two years around the corner (and having myself a few too many pints in that pub), you must have felt the pulse of the area and its rich history. It's one of the things that make London so special-the way history and culture are interwoven into every corner of the city. Exploring such connections can bring a deeper appreciation for both the music and the place itself. London is a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered.

[@tbzzz888]

Saw them both at Wembley and Apollo yesterday. I tried to keep myself together at Wembley and managed to actually not cry but yesterday I let myself go and cried constantly honestly two such different experiences both unimaginably amazing lot of love for this band thank you for all the experience’s ❤❤

[@Baron_von_Fargone]

I love the band Blur and I love the individual lads in blur . In 1997 we named our son Damon directly after Damon albarn .over the years I am more and more pleased to tell people why I chose his name . He seems ok with it too ✌️

[@Mmxxaamm]

I swear I could watch an entire hour of them just casually walking through London

[@the_oslovian]

Well, I have always said I love "sad young man often British rock". No wonder I love Blur, even if we all are not young anymore. Though you can only imagine what my favourite band is... Few if any fits it better than Radiohead. I love the dynamics of these for people. How they push and pull constantly, I think people like these makes the best friends 😉

[@Pinkflare984]

Saw blur last night at Eventim Apollo (my first concert) LOVED IT

[@hanymgamal]

I sincerely love these guys

[@wolf349onyt]

Saw them live in Dublin. Had soo much fun. And I got within 2 meters of Damon. Watching this just blows my mind, I was that close to that man 🤯

[@Dennis-oe5ty]

Saw them in Amsterdam, was just magical.

[@Noetoe06]

I was there too! It was simply amazing

[@firewalkwithme90]

Me three!

[@jeniestra.]

I was there too. Magical is the right word to describe it.

[@bobvilashomeagain1400]

Great interview. Great band. Great album.

[@moononastick8628]

Is there more to the interview? A really interesting listen, they’re so relaxed here and much more open than you often see. Great work! And obviously the album is incredible. X

[@endymion_2337]

These guys are so caught up in the comfort of the old world, that they do not have any inkling as to what is coming, do they? Bless them.

[@Blonde_Somnambulist]

Not many do ...sadly.

[@yourdasellsavon9928]

Wilko such a good interviewer

[@HedgeCCL]

What a great interview. All credit to both sides, loved it.

[@madness9651]

Funny to have Damon placed below a picture of W. A. Mozart when he is working on the Magic Flute: Part Two as his next opera.

[@TomWardComedian]

Brilliant interviewer makes such a difference. Thank you

[@electrolinks]

A very well conducted interview.

[@ijw2009]

As a Wembley-Sunday attender i'm so glad he still feels the same way about that gig after having now had some time to reflect upon it as it really was a magical time, just like last night was at the Apollo. This interview got something really good out of Damon here in his admission about his sadness. At times I just want to give him a hug, crazy really given he's 10 years older than me, hugely more successful and creative than I could ever be, just I get his point... just like the Weezer song 'all my favourite songs are slow and sad' too.

[@asyria]

my favs ❤️ so happy there’s a new album!

[@peterharrison966]

Great Interview, I was there at the Saturday gig & loved every minute of it, Always liked Blur but strangely as I’ve been thousands of gigs all different Genres of music, But until Saturday I had never seen them live, At 58 realise I’ve missed out big time, But hopefully they Announce some gigs up Northwest way soon🤞

[@glennoc8585]

All the times i e visited London ive never consciously been to St Charles square or Soho but im surevive been there at some point. As a similar age to the boys i understand the bond of knowing people closely as friends it's something special vif youre lucky to have it.

[@mariajosecarmona4497]

Love them so much. Blur is an amazing band and they love creating music and sharing it with people. Love seeing how much respect they have for each other and how they have work their differences to be together

[@Mmmmmmira]

Absolutely love the interview. A job well done as always by Matt. The video is boss too. Looking forward for more!

[@johngammon963]

As far as titles go 'The Ballad Of Darren' has to be up there.

[@Ukedc259]

Livestream tonight was fantastic … Pyongyang!!

[@linksauce_1]

I prefer it to the album version. It was a great performance

[@modehead101]

A terrific album not quite as depressing as the interviewer finds it, more reflective. I find Blur a far more interesting band now musically than their Britpop heyday.

[@ijw2009]

I think depressing is the wrong word, melancholic, for at least some of it (Everglade and Far Away Island for example), is a more appropriate term

[@michaelwallden7261]

Such great meeting and reflections, a band who change my life, day and nights

[@daveylong3089]

It’s a great new album. Fair play to this enduringly special band.

[@DivineDIVINE26]

Graham saved the day 😅😉team player that one ☝️

[@Riviere8281]

I love them!!

[@譚鈺瑋]

So tell me where’s the bin. I will pick ‘em up🫠

[@hughphillips1427]

Bless you needing a little cry 😀

[@Droxcy]

Let's go!

[@clivealcaraz_musicculture8338]

Brilliant interview.

[@cultfollower814]

That is amazing! Damon and I both feel some kind of connection with G minor, makes me feel less alone.

[@brasiloikos]

the mics are awesome.. uau what a clear and fat wave

[@ministerodelrock7456]

I sold Wembley's sunday for Lucca, being Italian. I only hope there was at least an inch of that emotion in there too for them...

[@pinkyhandle]

Such an interesting interview. I’m glad I watched it.

[@barca1397]

Damon's voice is so low. I like Graham's glasses.

[@Xirsuyx]

Its a moscot Lemtosh if u wanna get one. Same ones Paul Dano uses in The Batman

[@clivealcaraz_musicculture8338]

I want those frames

[@BlackCatScott]

Matt always knock’s it out of the park with his interviews.

[@charlotte.murphy]

I can‘t help but notice the little whistle Damon makes when he speaks, its so funny

[@daisychain9713]

Because he has a gold crown in his mouth

[@robsdianten1]

​@@daisychain9713the whistling was already there before the gold tooth

[@daisychain9713]

@@robsdianten1 no it wasn't... obviously you have never listened to his interviews when he was in his 20s & 30s when he had his own front teeth no whistling then😉

[@robsdianten1]

@@daisychain9713 of course I have... and I've always noticed some little whistling even in his early interviews, it's due more to the way he pronounces the "S" than the golden tooth

[@kevinsd6192]

​@@daisychain9713Not really If you listen the isolated vocal version of Essex Dogs (which is from 1997) you can already listen that little whistle he makes hahah

[@hildadominguez2549]

11:37 dice algo que hoy me toca en el fondo del alma.

[@celioazevedoofficial]

Great band!

[@jojoba11]

Interview gold!

[@laluna5177]

Love them 😍

[@luispiros]

I went and saw these guys live in ‘98 after immediately noticing their use of Gm. and it carried on to Gorillaz. Love it!

[@christiangalindo633]

Great musicians..of my times Cheers 👍💥 😎🇧🇴

[@maxdemchenko6840]

Damon is such a seasoned daaaawg xD he talks like a gangster now

[@leejames4586]

Loved you from the start and i'm from manchester. 1990 driving around blasting theres no other way at college. Fuck oasis and i'm a city fan

[@aanalia]

OMG YAYAYA ❤️❤️

[@donnaspears1970]

Love this! Thank you ❤

[@artcoloursband]

great but needs to be longer!

[@thecrankedamps]

Love these guys

[@johnfishnet]

At wembley on the Sunday, great great great, as Damon says.

[@TheOtherKine]

The dichotomy of the four is what makes Blur work, the weird pseudo-cohesion produces the sounds, not really caring whether they fit into the trend of the times, they just do their own thing, which is how these bands last such a long time, eh!

[@usernotfound904]

Woo, Hoo

[@takemyplace9733]

love them💘

[@StratsRUs]

That whole Oasis V Blur was silly.Both bands are more than good. Only one of them's truly great, though. That's Blur. OBVS.

[@JetsonDrums]

It was all media hype. The bands certainly went along with it and got involved but at the end of the day, those of us who knew good music loved both of them.

[@androgi]

Los cincuentones más sexys de UK

[@DrEko2012]

How does the interviewer look so old and so young at the same time?

[@mefel]

Why is this so short ? 😥

[@simonecelante4174]

Nice

[@sunnysyl7]

❤

[@Dialsquare-eh4ho]

Well that was pretty good

[@credenceia3572]

❤❤❤

[@cameronspeirs1588]

Loving the new album….check out ‘Russian strings’….my favourite! 🎹🍷

[@kobilala2369]

💕💕💕

[@singIeservingfriend]

What are they doing with the rest of their songs? The TBOD 13 songs are close to perfect. We’ve not had this since their album 13.

[@rodfrost3]

Mozart sonata in G minor or C?🤔 14:30

[@StephenOBG]

Sad Ballad Man.

[@trogman43988]

I wonder if Damon and Justine used to live in St. Charles Square...

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

Christ , it’s Peter Sellers

[@Iusedtohavemojo]

Just came here from the Nardwuar interview. I recomend everybody to see it.

[@alforstman8238]

🇦🇷 🇱🇻 🇦🇷 🇱🇻 🇦🇷 🇱🇻

[@DigitalDaffodil]

Reuniting? They never split up

[@fluxfotos22]

For a minute there l thought Damen was wearing my original burberry harrington, but sadly not.

[@Gorztoast]

Very shmoll on stage like ants-Damon Albarn 2023

[@DSilsbury]

I think the name Darren is because it was a name of their age and only working class. I'm a Darren, Dazza, Bobby Dazzler. They're posh compared to my upbinging. They pretend to be Dazza's. Damien wishes his name was Darren, it's not. F'in win. I'll take it.

[@andydixon2980]

Damien and Graham have aged well. The other 2 looked f*cked.

[@faustosuppo2680]

Can someone kindly indicate the exact model of the blue Ray Bans used by Damon in this interview? thank you very much

[@MUFCmatt98]

Can someone explain to me how Damon was really campy back in the early blur days and now looks quite threatening 😂