Blur plan warm-up gigs for summer concert

Blur are planning a series of warm-up gigs, following their announcement that they will play a massive concert in London's Hyde Park next year.

Next summer’s concert in London will feature the full line-up of Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree and Damon Albarn.

They will be onstage together for the first time since their Royal Festival Hall performance in 2000.

Albarn told Absolute Radio: “We do need to play quite a lot to get ourselves back up to that, you can’t just walk on stage at Hyde Park without putting the hours in.”

He added: “We have to do a lot of warm-up gigs. Personally I’d like to go and visit some places that were really important to us when we were growing up.”

Meanwhile James was asked by Q Radio if Blur would have lasted if they were part of a talent show like 'The X Factor'.

James said: “Well that kind of music and that sort of show has been around for decades.

“When I was a kid there was a show called 'Opportunity Knocks' and 'New Faces' and they were just exactly what 'X Factor' is, just a talent show.

“It’s cabaret, it’s a different thing from bands and rock n’ roll.

“It’s actually a brilliant British export that kind of format.”

He added: “Blur probably definitely would have got dropped after the second album.

“We would’ve got dropped after 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' ’cause it didn’t sell many, but you know Brit Pop wouldn’t have happened, which is kinda why it’s scary.

“Record companies haven’t got much cash flying around at the moment so they are less likely to take a risk and the next big thing always comes from way left of centre, it is always an odd thing that is the next big thing.”