Blur Bassist Alex James: Reunion Almost Didn't Happen

Alex James, bassist for the iconic Britpop band Blur, has revealed his doubts about the band's 2023 reunion, even admitting he thought it "might never happen again." James made these remarks during a recent interview ahead of the release of the band's new documentary, *Blur: To The End*.

The documentary, which premiered in London last night, chronicles Blur's triumphant comeback, which included recording their 2023 album *The Ballad of Darren

and a series of sold-out shows culminating in two massive performances at Wembley Stadium.

"There were moments where I thought, 'Is this going to work?'" James confessed. However, he added, "As soon as we get together in a room, it’s always fine."

James, along with his bandmates Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Dave Rowntree, have known each other for decades. "We’ve been doing it for a very, very long time," he explained. "Damon and Graham met at school. I met Graham at my first day of college, so I was like 18 or 19. We’re all in our 50s now, so it’s vital that we all go off and do other things."

Despite the extended periods of time they spend apart, the band always seems to find their way back together. James admitted that the band had gone eight years without speaking before their reunion, leading him to believe a return might not be possible. "It had been eight years since we had last even spoke to each other actually, and I was starting to think it would maybe never happen again. But well, watch the film, you’ll see it’s a wonderful story."

*Blur: To The End

offers an intimate look at the band's journey back to the spotlight, highlighting their camaraderie and the emotional process of reconciling after years of separation.

The film, directed by Toby L, founder of Transgressive Records, will be released in cinemas on Friday, July 19. It will be followed by the concert film *Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium*, which will arrive in cinemas on September 6. A live album will also be released on July 26.

While the band's recent reunion has been met with enthusiasm from fans, the future of Blur remains somewhat uncertain. In April, Albarn stated that the band's performance at Coachella 2024 "probably [would be] our last gig." These comments followed a December statement from Albarn, where he claimed the band would be going on hiatus due to the demands of touring and recording.

"It is time to wrap up this campaign," he said at the time. "It’s too much for me. It was the right thing to do and an immense honour to play these songs again, spend time with these guys, make an album, blah-blah-blah. I’m not saying I won’t do it again, it was a beautiful success, but I’m not dwelling on the past."

Despite the uncertainty, the band's recent comeback has been a resounding success, proving that even after years of separation, the magic of Blur remains strong.