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Alex James makes it through first round of Maesto

20-Aug-08

Check on Alex's progress through the TV program Maesto as he tries to make it as an orchestral conductor. See videos of his performances, work at baton camp and time spent with with mentor Brad Cohen.

From BBC :

Eight Celebrities, one top-class orchestra and the opportunity of a lifetime.

The final challenge? To conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra in front of a live audience of thousands at Proms in the Park...

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/maestro/...

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Damon Albarn Reveals Olympic His Passion of Table Tennis

1-Aug-08

The Blur man has spoken about his passion for playing table tennis - and has taken on members of the British Olympic squad.

Damon Albarn - who with Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett have adapted characters from their opera 'Monkey: A Journey To The West' for the BBC's Olympics coverage - told Radio Times he's obessesed with ping pong.

"Yeah, everywhere I go I have to have a table tennis table. I love it; it's a brilliant way to relax when you’re working," he explained.

"I'm playing at the Lyon Festival and they wanted a slightly longer set, so I said, 'If you give us a table tennis table then you'll get a longer set'."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.adatez.com/200807314726/the_buzz/news/damon_albarn.htm...

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Monkey? Magic!

31-Jul-08

Get Monkey on your desktop

Download the Desktop Monkey and he will magically whisk you the latest stories about your favourite events from the Beijing Olympics. If you haven't met Monkey, click to watch him in BBC Sport's Olympics movie.

"Once you download me to your desktop, I'll calmly and efficiently fetch you the latest Olympic stories for your favourite sports.

And when events you want to follow are about to start, I'll give you a handy reminder.

All you have to do is set me going, choose up to five Olympic sports, and tell me which events you'd like to be reminded about. I do the rest!

I even set my watch according to whichever time zone your system is currently using, so all the event times will adjust automatically, wherever you are in the world. "

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/monkey/7499725.stm...

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BBC Sport's Olympics Monkey

25-Jul-08

Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy head on a "Journey to the East" for BBC Sport this summer.

This animated sequence, based on the classical Chinese novel, "Journey to the West", has been produced by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the men behind virtual band Gorillaz.

It will feature on TV, radio, web and mobile, introducing coverage of the Games on BBC Sport - the Olympic broadcaster in the UK.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/monkey/7521287.stm...

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Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett Reveal New Project Collaboration

21-Jul-08

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett – the duo behind animated band Gorillaz and the opera 'Monkey: Journey To The West', have revealed details of their next collaborative project.

Hewlett explained that the project will be named 'Carousel', and will be a film and stage project that Albarn has written around 70 songs for so far.

The visual artist told the Observer: "'Carousel' is even bigger and more difficult than 'Monkey'.

I've done a lot of visuals and Damon's done a lot of music but we haven't figured out how they're going to fit together.

"It's sort of like a film but not with one narrative story. There's many stories, told around a bigger story, set to music, and done in live action, animation, all different styles.

"Originally it was a film but now we think it's a film and it's a stage thing as well. Damon's written around 70 songs for it, and I've got great plans for the visuals."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.adatez.com/200807204575/the_buzz/news/damon_albarn_jamie_hewlett.htm...

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Alex James in Africa : Farming for a future

15-Jul-08

Alex James made a programme called Alex James in Africa:

Farming for a future. It is showing again on the Community Channel on 13th August and is avaliable online.

They are also running a competition to win signed copies of "Bit of a Blur"

online.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.communitychannel.org...

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James wants to call daughter Boudica

10-Jul-08

Ex-Blur bass player Alex James has revealed that his wife Claire is pregnant with their fourth child.

James, who has three sons - Geronimo, four, and two-year-old twins Artemis and Galileo - told OK! that he is having a daughter.

Speaking to the magazine, the musician admitted that he wants to continue his tradition of giving his children odd names.

He said: "I think you've got to have a look at them before you decide what they will be called. We quite like Sophie, although I don't think we will get that past the board of censors - especially Geronimo!"

James added: "There's a shortlist now. I quite like Boudica."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a109166/james-wants-to-call-daughter-boudica.html...

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Blur: 'We nearly played Glastonbury'

7-Jul-08

Alex James says 'Damon's mum nixed' offered headline slot

Blur's Alex James has revealed that his band were offered a headline slot at this year's Glastonbury festival.

Writing in The Independent, James explained that the band were close to agreeing a deal to play on Worthy Farm, but the booking was eventually scuppered.

The bassist did, however, suggest that the band could headline the festival in the future, having last done so back in 1998.

"Blur very nearly played Glastonbury this year," he wrote. "There was a pang of regret when I heard Damon [Albarn]'s mum had nixed it at the 11th hour.

"I was looking forward to showing off to [his wife] Claire and the kids, but I suppose the important thing was to have been asked, and listening to all that screaming I felt pleased about how things had turned out.

"I'm sure it'll happen one day, but for the meantime I put Rossini back in the machine and ate the high road."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.nme.com/news/blur/37882...

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An Honest Jon's Chop Up!

24-Jun-08

Featuring Tony Allen, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Damon Albarn, Kokanko Sata Doumbia, Lobi Traore, Afel Bocoum, Candi Staton, Simone White, Victoria Williams, Toumani Diabate & more

5 July 2008 / 19:30

Barbican Hall

Tickets: £12.50 / 15 / 20

subject to availability

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=7388...

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Monkey: Journey To The West comes to London

13-Jun-08

The first date, showing at London's Royal Opera House, will take place between July 23 and 26. The show's premiere season sold out at the Manchester International Festival in 2007.

There are only a handful of tickets left for this mostly from £75 upwards!

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.roh.org.uk/monkey08/...

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Gorillaz create BBC's Olympics opening sequence.

3-Jun-08

Gorillaz collaborators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have created the opening sequence for the BBC's Olympics coverage. Based on the traditional Chinese tale Journey To The West, here the characters Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy stand by the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/entertainment_enl_1212053841/html/1.stm...

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Black Ghosts New Album Featured Damon Albarn

2-Jun-08

The self-titled record is due out on July 8 in the US via the Iamsound label. The album's first single 'Repetition' features guest vocals by Damon Albarn.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.adatez.com/200805233638/the_buzz/news/black_ghosts.htm...

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James hints at Blur reunion

24-May-08

Blur bassist Alex James has fuelled speculation the band will reunite, insisting he would be "surprised" if they never performed together again.

(Advertisement)

The Britpop pioneers have been on hiatus since 2003, with bandmembers working on side projects and solo projects.

Meanwhile, James has been developing his own range of cheese on his farm in the English countryside.

Frontman Damon Albarn recently dismissed the idea of a Blur reunion, because they don't need the money - but James disagrees.

He says, "We're all pretty busy, but I'd be surprised if it never happens, but I would be terrified if it was happening on Monday."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20080524/ten-james-hints-at-blur-reunion-c60bd6d.html...

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Blur's Alex James and Goldie for classical music reality TV show

23-May-08

Former Blur bassist Alex James and drum'n'bass star Goldie are among the competitors in a new reality TV show, the winner of which will get to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra.

As well as the aforementioned duo, actors David Soul and Jane Asher, plus newsreader Katie Derham and comedians Bradley Walsh and Sue Perkins, will star in 'Maestro', which will air on BBC2 in August.

The competitors will undergo training as conductors, then will be judged by a panel of judges and orchestra members on how they perform when conducting.

The winner will get to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Proms In The Park on September 13, reports BBC News.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.nme.com/news/blur/36850...

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BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN is taking his circus opera to the US.

5-May-08

MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST will make its stateside debut at the 2008 Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, beginning on May 23rd, reports NME magazine.

The show will be performed 18 times during the 17-day event and will then travel to London for a stint at the Royal Opera House, according to the publication.

It made its debut last year in a Manchester Theatre.

The opera features music by Albarn and set creations from his GORILLAZ collaborator JAMIE HEWITT.

Chen Shi-Zheng directs the show which is a mix of animations and live-action circus acts.

It follows the tale of an ancient Chinese legend, in which a monkey king gains immortality after leading a revolt against heaven.

Meanwhile, it was recently reported that Albarn is planning a 130-musician album.

Speaking to BBC 6 Music, he said that his latest endeavour will feature a Chinese choir and a full orchestra but refused to reveal any details about the title or whether it is linked to any of his previous projects.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/albarn%20takes%20his%20opera%20to%20the%20us_1067530...

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BLUR - DAMON ALBARN PLANS 130 MUSICIAN ALBUM

25-Apr-08

Former BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN has announced plans to release a rather unusual new album.

The singer told BBC 6 Music that his latest endeavour will involve more than 100 musicians, including a Chinese choir and a full orchestra.

"This one's got about 80, 90 musicians on it - something in that region. It's got a 100-piece Chinese choir on one of the tunes. That plus the orchestra probably goes to about 120-130 people," he added.

Damon, who has also had chart hits with the animated band GORILLAZ and more recently THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN, remained elusive about the details of his new project, refusing to reveal its name or state whether it was linked to any of his previous endeavors.

However, he did say that there will be a monkey connection, drawing parallels with both GORILLAZ and his recent opera MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST, by stating that the title has "something of monkeys in there".

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN, in which Damon sings and plays the keyboards, recently headlined the Love Music Hate Racism event in London's Victoria Park.

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/damon%20albarn%20plans%20130%20musician%20album_1067150...

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ALEX JAMES LAUNCHES 118 520 CELEBRITY STORYBOOK IN SUPPORT OF NSPCC

20-Feb-08

Farmer and musician Alex James, is the first of a number of celebrities to put pen to paper to launch a special children’s storybook in support of a new charity directory enquiries number,118 520, supporting the NSPCC.

If every one of the 378 million calls to directory enquiry services every year were made to 118 520 instead of other 118 numbers or free directory enquiry services, the public could help raise more than £34 million pounds for the NSPCC.

To help promote the new 118 520 number and raise as much money for the charity as possible, each celebrity will be tasked with writing 10 lines of the ‘Once Upon A Time’ enchanted tale before passing it on to the next in line.

Alex has taken inspiration from the classic Blur favourite, ‘Country House’, and his favourite childhood tale, ‘The Secret Garden’, to create the magical world where the story begins.

Alex tells the tale of a very big house in the country, inhabited by a wealthy Duke. The house has cellars full of wheels of the finest cheese; no doubt inspired by ‘Little Wallop’ the cheese Alex produces on his farm in the Cotswolds. Alex’s passion for space is also brought to life within the story; he has given the Duke a huge telescope positioned within the very highest turret in the house so he can enjoy the Andromeda galaxy.

Alex’s contribution ends with the arrival of four children at the very big house; an influence from one of his favourite childhood authors, Enid Blyton. It will be up to Radio One DJ Sara Cox to decide their fate, and develop the story further, as she completes the second contribution for what is set to be one of the most exciting stories ever written.

Other celebrities who have already committed to put pen to paper to support the 118 520 story include sports legend Linford Christie, musician KT Tunstall and fashion designer Henry Holland.

The priceless 118 520 tale is expected to be completed by October and will be unveiled at an exclusive story-telling event where it will be auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC after its first ever public reading.

Alex James said; “I am delighted to be the first author of the 118 520 story book. I try to read my sons a story every night so this is an opportunity I just couldn’t say no to! I hope this book encourages many people to call 118520 and raise funds for the NSPCC.”

Nine pence from every call made to 118 520 will be donated entirely to the NSPCC – the highest donation being made from any 118 number to a single charity.

So why not make a real difference every time you ring directory enquiries by making 118 520 your number of choice – use it, save it and pass it on!

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.118520.co.uk/...

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X-clusive: Coxon Concept Album On The Way

18-Feb-08

Speaking to Xfm, the former Blur guitarist confirmed that he's to re-enter studio to record the follow-up to 2006's 'Love Travels At Illegal Speeds'. And not only that - it'll be a concept album. So what's it all about Graham?

"It's about a man who is born in, um, possibly the fifties. Grows up, meets a girl, gets married, then has to go to war and gets really knackered up and then has a divorce and then goes mad and then...er...dies and goes to heaven."

Right...

He continued:

"I've written an awful lot and they've gone into two piles. I am concentrating on one element of what I do more than the other. I think I got to a point on the last record where I covered that really and I want to concentrate on some other preoccupations, it's about those."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=568596&spid=338...

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Damon Albarn: Working with Lily Allen was a bad idea

18-Feb-08

Former Blur star Damon Albarn has his attempted collaboration with Lily Allen was a disaster.

The musician was forced to work with the Smile star by his record label, but says it was a "bad idea".

He said: "The record label thought it would be a good idea. Lily came down to my studio and said normally she would just sit around and listen to a musician and come up with some ideas.

"I jumped on the piano and played mad stuff and she just looked at me - it didn't exactly go well. She's a really talented kid, but it was just a bad idea."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=10490589&ref=rss...

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Reunion proving difficult

30-Jan-08

Blur bassist Alex James has blamed Damon Albarn for delaying plans for a band reunion.

The Britpop legends have long planned to reform only for individual members to then publicly express distaste at the idea of getting back together.

And according to James - who recently travelled to Colombia to produce a documentary regarding the cocaine trade for BBC1's Panorama - it is lead singer Albarn who is the current hurdle in the path towards a Blur revival.

Talking to the BBC, he explained: "We all have to sort of take it in turns to not want to do it. I think it's Damon who doesn't want to do it at the moment, I think it's my turn next.

"March onwards I can't do it because I am in a bad mood," he joked.

The four-piece have not recorded together since the Marrakesh production sessions for their 2003 album Think Tank, during which guitarist Graham Coxon quit the band.

While Coxon has continued his respected solo career, Albarn formed the hugely successful virtual band Gorillaz as well as collaborating with former Clash bassist Paul Simonon in the Good, the Bad and the Queen.

James has since worked regularly as a writer, broadcaster and farmer, while drummer Dave Rowntree stood unsuccessfully as the Labour Party candidate in the candidate in the Marylebone High Street ward by-election for Westminster city council.

But according to James, a new album could now be on the cards for the Parklife stars.

"We are all talking," he explained. "You know, it's great, we have all gone on to do other things, it would be a disaster to think there would never be another Blur record."

Click the source link below for the full story.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/alex%20james%20blames%20damon%20albarn%20for%20delaying...

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