Blur don't want to be a band beyond their 'sell-by-date'
The Britpop legends reunited in 2023 for the new album 'The Ballad of Darren'
Blur
(Image: PA )
Blur don't want to still be a band beyond their "sell-by-date", says drummer Dave Rowntree.
The Britpop legends reunited in 2023 for the new album 'The Ballad of Darren' - their first in eight years - and a series of shows, including two sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium in the July, for what marked their first UK headline gigs since 2015.
And while discussing the future, Dave said he believes they are "quite a way before we're in our dotage", but they would never want to still be onstage when they are unable to remember their lyrics and "wheeled on in our bath chairs".
He told NME: "I've just turned 61. When I was 21, the idea of 61-year-olds making albums, touring and being in the charts would have been laughable. I wonder if that's how 21-year-olds feel about me now? There's going to come a time when we're too old to do it, but we'll have probably decided to throw the towel in before then anyway. Nobody wants to go on past our sell-by-date."
The 'Parklife' hitmakers are only drawn back to the band when there is a "an interesting idea" for new music and would never get back together just for the sake of it.
Article continues below
Asked if there is still a desire to keep going, he explained: "Yes, it takes an interesting idea now to tempt us back into the studio. The last one was Wembley Stadium [in 2023]. You can't say no to that. It was the party at the end of the Olympics in 2012 that got us out before, the Hyde Park shows in 2009 before that. As long as people are coming up with interesting ideas for us to do it again, then I'm sure we'll go for it.
"There will come a time when we'll go, 'Is there anything left to say? Is there another good Blur album to make?' I think that'll be quite a way before we're in our dotage and unable to remember the songs when we're wheeled on in our bath chairs. But then, look at The Stones – they're still touring aren't they?"
Bassist Alex James recently suggested their future could look like an ABBA-style avatar show - or "respectfully" dipping in and out of playing together.
Article continues below
Speaking to Ken Bruce on Greatest Hits Radio, he said: "We got back together in 2023, made a new record and I think did our best ever run of shows. It's incredible how the music has endured and it was the first time we'd ever got to the end of an album or tour without at least one of us saying 'that's it, never again.' We didn't do many shows and I think that was probably a good place to leave it.
There's two ways to go either the ABBA thing and stop at the top and just let it take its own course and make avatars of yourself when you were 27 and beautiful. Or treat it respectfully and dip in and out occasionally and it's a really wonderful thing to be able to step back into – that all those years of playing together is a gift actually. As long as you don't overcook it or annoy the guitar player or singer too much..."
Dave was speaking to promote his new photobook, 'No One You Know: Dave Rowntree's Early Blur Photos', set to be published on September 9.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
All Edinburgh bus diversions during Oasis gigs at Murrayfield
It is only a matter of days before legendary rock band Oasis take Edinburgh by storm when they play three sold-out shows at Murrayfield Stadium. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Britpop icons perform at Murrayfield on August 8, 9 and 12, with the three gigs brining in around 210,000 Oasis fans to the stadium. A series of road closures will be in place before, during and after the event, and extra trains, trams and buses will be running during the concerts. A total of 13 Lothian Bus services will be diverted during the Oasis shows, however the bus operator noted that customers should check for live updates as some diversions will only be in place depending of the size of crowds on the evening. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A total of 13 Lothian Bus services will be diverted during the Oasis shows in Edinburgh | AFP via Getty Images Lothian Bus diversions on August 8, 9 and 12 Between 5.30pm and 7.30pm Buses may be diverted due to large crowds in the Murrayfield/Roseburn area during these times – you should check the Lothian Buses website for the latest information. Service 12 (westbound) between Morrison Link and Corstorphine Road,will be diverted via Morrison Street, West Maitland Street, Palmerston Place, Douglas Gardens, Belford Terrace, Belford Road, Ravelston Dykes and Murrayfield Road. Service 12 (eastbound) between Corstorphine Road and Morrison Link, will be diverted via Murrayfield Road, Ravelston Dykes, Belford Road, Belford Terrace, Douglas Gardens, Palmerston Place and Torphichen Place. Services 26, 31, 100, X18 and X19 between Princes Street and Corstorphine Road, will be diverted via Queensferry Street, Queensferry Road, Queensferry Terrace, Ravelston Dykes and Murrayfield Road in both directions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Between 9.30pm and 12.30am Service 22 between Balgreen Road and West Approach Road and service 1 between Balgreen Road and Fountainpark, will be diverted via Balgreen Road, Gorgie Road and Henderson Terrace in both directions. Service 2 between Balgreen Road and Dalry Road, will be diverted via Balgreen Road and Gorgie Road in both directions. Services 30, X27, X28, N30 and N28 between Saughton Gardens and West Approach Road, will be diverted via Balgreen Road, Gorgie Road and Henderson Terrace in both directions.
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Barry McIlheney was joyously rock ‘n' roll, memorial service told
The service at St Mark's in Dundela, Belfast, allowed former friends and colleagues to gather and celebrate the life of the journalist, broadcaster and publisher, who also launched Heat magazine. Mr McIlheney, originally from Belfast, died in May at the age of 65. Among those paying tribute at the service on Monday was Mike Edgar, formerly a BBC producer, who said Mr McIlheney had been a 'very special man'. Mourners leave St Mark's Church in east Belfast after the memorial service for former Smash Hits and Empire magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA) He said: 'Barry had an unstoppable passion for music and everyone you could think of in the world of music had respect for him, and rightly so. 'Without Barry I would never have encountered the crazy worlds of Vince Power or The Pogues. 'They all loved him.' Mike Edgar (right) leaves St Mark's Church after reading a eulogy at the memorial service for former magazine editor Barry McIlheney (Liam McBurney/PA) He added: 'Barry was a true journalist, someone who exuded confidence at the right time and never missed a good opportunity if it presented itself. 'On one occasion he was live on the radio with me doing a report from a phone box on Carnaby Street in London and as ever feeding in the 10 pence pieces and entertaining us royally. 'Whilst chatting live on-air, Barry looks out the phone box window and spots Depeche Mode walking down Carnaby Street. 'As quick as anything Baz kicks the door of the phone box open and shouts: 'Hey lads, come and talk to the good people of Northern Ireland on the radio!' – which unbelievably, they dutifully did. 'There then followed a Guinness Book of Records-style moment with three members of Depeche Mode and Barry stuffed into a phone box for what turned into a great moment of showbiz madness 'Only Barry McIlheney would have the brass neck to carry off same!' Mr Edgar said McIlheney, despite his success, had always remained passionate about Belfast. He said: 'Like his contemporaries David Hepworth, Mark Ellen or Niall Stokes, Barry might have worn a suit on occasion but no one could ever call him 'a suit'! 'Barry was a leader, but he was also joyously rock 'n' roll and punk rock.' He added: 'He was well read, brave in his work, always curious, never boring, always kind and always impressive. 'Barry was larger than life, he always greeted us with a smile on his face, wearing his big coat with an upturned collar, a cheeky glint in his eye, a smart one-liner up his sleeve, and a well-earned loveable Belfast swagger.' Drummer Paul Burgess (centre) from the band Ruefrex, leaves St Mark's Church (Liam McBurney/PA) Delivering the homily at the service, Archbishop of Armagh Rev John McDowell said 'the good that Barry did will not be interred with his bones but will live on in your memories forever'. He said: 'Barry never forgot where he came from, but he didn't talk nonsense about it either. 'It wasn't everything and it wasn't nothing.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Radio pioneer who reinvented the wheel – James Whale's life blighted by cancer that almost drove him to Dignitas
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWENTY-five years ago he was given a 50 per cent chance of survival. British radio personality, television presenter, podcast host and 'shock jock' trailblazer, James Whale had tragically lost his wife of 48 years, Melinda from lung cancer two years earlier. 13 Radio personality James Whale in 1976 Credit: Getty 13 James died aged 74 following a battle with cancer Credit: PA 13 James Whale in his younger years Credit: Rex 13 The star had featured in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and had a long established career in radio Credit: TalkTV In February 2000, he himself was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He underwent an operation to remove his left kidney, after a large tumour was discovered, where the odds of survival were in the balance. 'As soon as the word cancer is mentioned, everyone thinks, 'Oh I am dying. That's it,'' he was later to say on the podcast series he made with his second wife, Nadine, called Tales of the Whales. 'It is not a death sentence. And the size of the tumour is irrelevant because the one I had taken out was the size of a football.' He returned to work and, in 2006, launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer to fund research and raise awareness of the disease, which later merged with Kidney Cancer UK. In 2016 he took part in Celebrity Big Brother despite having felt unwell for about a year. It wasn't until 2020, when he started to forget names on air while presenting his popular nightly show on TalkRadio that he decided to get medically checked out. It was bad news. "The woman looked worried and she said, 'I'm so sorry. I've got really, really bad news for you. I'm afraid 20 years ago you had kidney cancer. Well, it looks like it's come back. You've got a tumour on your kidney.' "And I thought, 'OK, well I'll have to do all over again.' And then she said, 'I'm sorry. Sadly it's spread. You've got small lesions in your brain and your lung, in your spine, in your pituitary gland.'" This time he knew it was terminal and such was the shock that his immediate reaction was to consider euthanasia. 'I came home, had a little think about things and I decided I'm just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with,' he told The Sun in an exclusive interview. 'I'd looked into it quite some time ago after Melinda died and it's been something in the back of my mind.' Bayern Munich star Sven Ulreich announces tragic death of his six-year-old son after 'long, serious illness' But his sons, James and Peter, encouraged him to seek help from the kidney cancer charity that he set up after his first battle with the disease. The double dose of medicine and a positive mental attitude saw him carrying on and returning to work. On 13 May 2021, his 70th birthday, he announced his engagement on Twitter but did not reveal his fiancée's identity. That October, he married Nadine Lamont-Brown. She had refused to listen to him when, aware of his condition, he offered her a way out. 'It was so unfair on her, so I said, 'I think we should cool it and not see each other', and she replied, 'Oh that's nice, so if I'd just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you wouldn't come and see me anymore?', so we carried on. 'Living with cancer, especially a terminal diagnosis, is a constant rollercoaster of emotions. But Its brought me closer to my darling wife Nadine. "We talk about my cancer – the good, bad and bloody annoying parts of it – every week on our podcast Tales of the Whales. We like to have a good laugh about it, too. It's wonderfully therapeutic and allows me to get out of my head.' In an emotional broadcast in July 2025, he told listeners on his podcast that he had been given twelve weeks to live and was now up to week seven. 'I'm not me anymore. I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't talk. I still can't hear very well, which is more frustrating than anything else. "I've become very slow in my speech and forgetful. I don't feel I can go on much more. "My energy levels have gone completely. So, I wish everybody well, and let us hope we go through these phases as quickly as we can." Towards the end he moved into a hospice close to his Kent home where he died aged 74. 13 James Whale and wife Nadine Talbot-Brown pictured at The British Curry Awards in 2022 Credit: Rex 13 James was a pioneer in the radio industry Credit: Rex 13 Whale back in 2022 Credit: PA Born Michael James Whale on 13 May 1951 in Ewell, Surrey, his English father David worked in the family business S&R Whale, which made dresses, aprons and overalls in a factory in Brixton, London. His Welsh mother Anne was a professional ballet dancer who retired after James and his younger brother Keith were born. Severely dyslexic, James failed his 11-plus exam and went to the local Church of England school. He took a keen interest in archery in his mid-teens, becoming Surrey junior archery champion. After leaving school he worked on a building site before becoming a trainee buyer at Harrods. Influenced by the likes of Radio DJs Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker and Kid Jensen, he decided to try his hand at broadcasting. His parents were now running a pub in the King's Cross area of London where the family were living and the brewery, Watney, had plans to open a chain of discos. James took their DJ training course and later had gigs in various Watney venues. In 1970 he became DJ for Radio Topshop in Oxford Street and in 1974 began hosting an evening talk show on Metro Radio, serving northeast England from studios in Swalwell, Gateshead, where he pioneered the late-night radio phone-in. He later moved to BBC Radio Derby to present a morning phone-in and in 1982 joined Radio Aire in Leeds to host another late night talk show, where his frank style and droll wit began to get him a lot of attention. Called The James Whale Radio Show it began to be simultaneously filmed and shown on Yorkshire Television in the late 80s and such was its popularity that it transferred to the entire ITV network. This late night mix of irreverent chat, music and comedy, laced throughout with James's bluntness and often caustic wit, made him a household name. 'I realised disagreeing with people on air, sometimes even cutting them off, was far more entertaining than playing records,' he explained. But the sharp ripostes were to be a double edged-sword with accusations of rudeness and bullying. At TalkRadio he was suspended in 2008 for urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the upcoming London mayoral election. In 2018 he was suspended again when it was reported that he appeared to laugh at a guest who was speaking about her rape on air. 13 James Whale with his first wife Melinda who died from cancer Credit: Oliver Dixon - The Sun 13 James received an MBE in 2024 for his services to broadcasting and charity Credit: PA 13 Whale has issued an emotional update amid his terminal cancer battle Credit: Instagram/@jameswhaleradio No one was more surprised than him when, in April 2024 he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity. He described receiving the award from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle as the 'pinnacle' of his career. 'It makes me feel very proud that somebody has recognised the fact that I've spent my entire life being rude to people for entertainment. If my parents were alive, they would be in tears. It's a great honour at the end of your life.' For, by now, he was not sure that he would make it through to the end of the year. The comfort, support and love he received from Nadine was evident in interviews they gave and in their touching but amusing podcasts. But she admitted that they were like chalk and cheese. 'He's not my cup of tea,' she once laughed. 'If I'd Googled him, I'd have thought, 'He doesn't seem like a very nice man' and we wouldn't have got together.' Luckily for him, she had never heard of him when they first met at a village pub in Kent, the county where they settled. 'When I finally watched him at work, he was so harsh on people. After a few minutes, I thought, 'This is just horrible'. 'But he's actually really nice and kind. When you watch him at work, it's a persona. "He can sometimes go into 'work mode' at home, and I'll have to say, 'You're not at work now. You can't cut me off.' No one's ever been nicer to me.' James retained his fondness for archery throughout his life and away from work liked to spend his time target shooting with his favourite custom made English Long Bow. Living with cancer for so long had given him time to come to terms with death. 'I'm not scared of dying,' he said, towards the end. 'I want to be buried in the churchyard at the top of the hill. It's a great view.' 13 James Whale enters the Big Brother House for the Celebrity Big Brother launch at Elstree Studios on July 28, 2016 13 He recently moved into a hospice Credit: x/TalkTV
