Blur

Blur are a British rock band formed in London in 1988. Initially an 'indie' band incorporating elements of the sounds of 'Madchester' and 'shoegaze' genres, Blur evolved into one of the spearhead bands of the mid-90s Britpop genre, heavily influenced by British popular bands of the 1960s. Blur became noted also for their presumed rivalry with contemporaries Oasis, which came to a head in the summer of 1995.

Albums of the second half of the nineties leaned more towards a lo-fi approach, mixing elements of American, rather than British, popular music including gospel, and electronic music. The group disbanded after touring their seventh studio album in 2003, although reformed in 2009, embarking on a European reunion tour.

Between 1994 and 2003 Blur have had five consecutive no.1 studio albums and twenty-six UK Top 40 singles, including two no.1s.

Personnel

 * Damon Albarn - lead vocals, guitar
 * Graham Coxon - guitar
 * Alex James - bass
 * Dave Rowntree - drums

Discography
condensed, UK only

Top of the Pops
studio appearances only, unless otherwise stated


 * 25 April 1991 - There’s No Other Way (20)
 * 08 August 1991 - Bang (26)
 * 17 March 1994 - Girls & Boys (5)
 * 09 June 1994 - To the End (22)
 * 25 August 1994 - Parklife (feat. Phil Daniels)
 * 01 September 1994 - Parklife (10)
 * 17 November 1994 - End Of A Century (19)
 * 23 February 1995 - Jubilee (featured album track)
 * 03 August 1995 - Country House (new)
 * 17 August 1995 - Country House (new - video only, Oasis appear in the studio with their new single Roll With It)
 * 24 August 1995 - Country House (01 - having famously beaten Oasis to the top)
 * 31 August 1995 - Country House (01)
 * 22 February 1996 - Stereotypes (7) - Albarn is mobbed by audience members at the end of the performance, which is immediately followed by Oasis with Don't Look Back in Anger in the same studio.
 * 09 May 1996 - Charmless Man (5)
 * 10 January 1997 - Beetlebum (NEW)
 * 31 January 1997 - Beetlebum (01)
 * 20 June 1997 - On Your Own (NEW, via satellite)
 * 26 September 1997 - M.O.R. (15)


 * 05 November 1998 - Blur TOTP Special


 * 19 February 1999 - Tender (NEW)
 * 05 March 1999 - Tender (02)
 * 12 March 1999 - Tender (06)
 * 09 July 1999 - Coffee & TV (11)
 * 26 November 1999 - No Distance Left To Run (14)

Other

 * 18 April 2003 - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - Out Of Time/We've Got A File On You