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Graham Coxon. |
Coxon on how Blur regained focus
INTERVIEW: GRAHAM COXON
GRAHAM Coxon is in his wellies in a field searching for the rats and moles that are threatening his house in Kent.
While the media storm over Blur’s reconciliation brews around him, Graham stands calmly in the eye – his more immediate priority is dealing with feral pests.
As he prepares to discuss the intricacies of the reunion with Damon Albarn, Dave Rowntree and Alex James, Graham, who also lives in Camden, explains: “I’ve been assessing animal problems, seeing if any of my DIY is standing the test of time, seeing if there are any holes.
“We get assaulted by rabbits, moles and mice. Even in the middle of a field you’re surrounded by animals who gradually eat your house.”
Although they have now gone public with the news they are reforming, it’s clear the band have still got issues they need to overcome.
“We’re still chatting and hanging out,” says Graham. “I want to see Dave as well just to make sure we’re all secure as people in the situation. I don’t want anyone feeling insecure or a bit wobbly about it. It’s a big thing for us. We don’t want to fail each other as well as ourselves.”
The band famously split in 2002, when relations between Graham and Damon hit a rocky patch. But, as the years passed, nostalgia kicked in and Graham warmed to the idea of building bridges.
So he tackled it like a computer game.
“When Alex released his book there was a lot there that made me laugh and feel nostalgic,” he says. “I was starting to remember what freakish and funny personalities were in that group and I missed them and thought it would be a great idea to start making music again.
“I’ve seen Alex more than anyone over the years. I knew there were deeper issues with Damon and Dave. Things were just a lot simpler and more open with Alex.
“With me and Damon we’d let a lot of ourselves show but kept a lot inside and it’s those bits that were worrying me in getting in contact with them. We’re quite complicated.
“I slowly, like a Super Mario game, took them on one at a time then got on to the big one, which was Damon. I always knew we’d get there in the end. You can never write scripts to how it’s going to be when you haven’t seen someone for a long time, but I enjoyed it.”
There are still difficult memories to overcome: “My last contact with Damon and Dave was fraught and stressful,” he says. “We were all feeling paranoid and resentful.
“There are still things I want to say about things that have happened in the past and sometimes I can sound quite soppy and Damon just tells me to shut up.”
Although they have announced dates for Hyde Park next year, there’s still more to confirm. Graham believes they’ll stick to their back catalogue and is frustrated at the immediate calls for new material.
“This is 50 per cent for the fans of Blur and 50 per cent for us four as people getting back what we lost due to the pressures of rock and roll,” he says. “So give us a minute and perhaps we’ll write something. But there’s so much in our back catalogue we want to play and people want to hear.”
And as for the old rivalry with Oasis? “I don’t think rivalry’s the right word,” says Graham. “I think Oasis are the yardstick and one has to compare oneself to the yardstick. There’s nothing wrong with those boys – good lads.”
The best gigs he’s been to this year were My Bloody Valentine and Under One Sky, but, he said: “I don’t listen to new music really, I’m not an A&R man.”
And Christmas this year will be: “All my family with mice and rats and paper hats round the table.” His last thought before he returns to the field is to remind readers to “destroy Hannah Montana’s passport” – his only explanation being that he has an eight-year-old daughter.
For those who want to hear more of Graham’s own work, he’ll be touring with his new album next year. |
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