BLUR'S first interview 1990

"At the time of writing Blur have nothing committed to vinyl..." A trip to the British Library unearthed my Melody Maker Sidelines interview with the band.

How it worked

You review a gig because you have stumbled into an experience, an occasion, a sound that knocks you over sideways but stays to pick up the contents that fell out of your metaphorical bag. After that you haggle the editor of Sidelines; you must conduct a 500 word interview. This introducing format is still popular in music journalism, surviving the shift from print to digital. This is Blur’s Sideline piece and their first interview.

Personal Backstory

Blur played Roger Cowell’s Vertigo Club @ the Falcon a few days earlier. The PA groaned under the weight of proper tunes, even more so when singer Damon Albarn climbed onto the stack and dived into an audience of less than ten. Melodies with a traditional song structure - no grunge, feedback or shoegazing - sparkled inside a messy delivery full of swagger.

Interuption

Andy Ross, who died at 65 in 2022, was the force behind Blur and numerous other bands of this period, founding Food Records with ex Teardrop Explode, David Balfe.

In his Guardian obituary Dave Henderson wrote: “They then did a groundbreaking deal with EMI and had huge success with artists such as Jesus Jones, Diesel Park West, Shampoo, Dubstar and Idlewild. Most famously, Andy discovered Blur in March 1990, after seeing them play the Powerhaus in Islington the previous November – he persuaded them to change their name from Seymour to Blur. The band would go on to sell millions of records worldwide.”

BLUR Melody Maker Sidelines Transcript (copy below)

At the time of writing, BLUR have nothing committed to vinyl, but they’re already signed to EMI’s Food Records. and are fast earning a notorious reputation as a shit-hot live band. Singer Damon is particularly noted for his feckless skylarking.

Damon: “We played a few gigs where things got really dangerous, so much so that I frightened myself. Recently people have been coming to see us just in case I kill myself. When we finally have a record out they’ll appreciate the musical dynamics.”

Last year, under their former band name, Seymour, they supported The Young Gods and survived, and, at Blur gigs, if accidents do happen, they are never musical. Indeed, tonight at The Falcon there’s some serious soundchecking. They’ve even brought along an ancient harmonium and Damon is going to sit down (a first), to sing a new song ‘Bad Day’. Throughout their July tour, the essence will continue to be on the unexpected.

Damon: “We’ve already noticed that, when people love us or expect certain things, we shy away from it. We hate that kind of pressure. When you start off a band, you’re not forcing anything. To some extent the more you do and the more popular you become, the more you have to force it. We don’t want to be dangerous. We are dangerous. It’s just by some fluke we’re doing what we’re doing and being supported for it.” - NGAIRE

Melody Maker Sidelines 7th July, 1990 by Ngaire Ruth.