Blur’s Alex James admits being in a band is ‘supposed to f***’ you up as he compares reunion to ‘rehab’

Alex James admitted that being in a band is what you’re meant to do as he likened Blur’s reunion to “rehab” on Monday.

The bassist, 56, recalled how he ‘cracked up’ when he met bandmates Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree to record their latest album, The Ballad of Darren, and shared his doubts about their success.

The band went on hiatus in 2015 and then announced their reunion news in November 2022 before performing a series of performances at Wembley for the first time ever.

Speaking in an interview with LoadedAlex explained, “If you’re in a band, you should be busting your ass. It’s what sends most people to the muppet department. The Blur reunion was the opposite. It was like rehab.”

The musician was forced to get fit for their Wembley shows and took up boxing in a bid to shed some pounds.

Recalling his misgivings, he added: “I was shitting on the M40 on the first day on the way to the studio. I mean, what band likes each other after thirty-five years, let alone makes a decent record again?’

The bassist, 56, recalled ‘cacking it’ when he met bandmates Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree to record and shared his doubts about their success (LR Graham, Dave, Damon and Alex pictured in 1997)

Alex continued, “It seemed like the audience was much younger this time. There were a lot of 18-32 year olds who bought the tickets. A whole new audience. There was so much to be surprised, happy and even scared about. ‘

Blur has released a new feature film documenting their recent reunion in July.

‘Blur: To The End’ was dDirected by Toby L, the film goes behind the scenes as the iconic English rock band reunited after almost a decade for their 2023 album The Ballad of Darren.

Alex said in the film, “We barely communicated for the last ten years… I mean, even when we really broke up, it didn’t take that long to make a record.”

“But the great thing is that as soon as the four of us get in a room, it’s exactly the same as when we were all 19.”

Graham, the band’s lead guitarist and secondary vocalist, said: ‘The ’90s were a very intense time. On the same kind of level as a relationship, or marriages and things like that.

Frontman Damon added, “I think it’s okay to say that the time we were apart was spent on other friendships and just recovering or doing other things.”

“I don’t think any of us thought we’d make another record, especially a record like this. I think that’s why I wanted to try to make it as good as possible.’

In an interview with Loaded, Alex explained: ‘Being in a band would ruin you. It’s what sends most people to the muppet department. The Blur reunion was the opposite’

He continued, “We all have incredibly involved and complicated lives and we are so lucky to be able to spend this time together, just the four of us. And that’s the beauty of it.’

Toby L, who directed the highly anticipated film, spoke Rolling stone: ‘To The End is an intimate look at relationships, motivation and mortality, the sights and sounds of long-lasting friendship revealing a fresh new conquest to conquer together.

‘In terms of capturing a band that is so well documented, we sat down at the start of the project and agreed that the film had to tell a new story, be shot entirely on location and, crucially , had to be honest.

‘That’s what I hope people can see and, above all, feel in To The End.’