Graham Coxon, on working with Damon Albarn: “We’ve often let each other down”

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has said that his band’s new ‘The Magic Whip’ album helped himself and Damon Albarn repair their working relationship.

Speaking to NME, Coxon said: “Damon and I have an increased respect for each other because of this record, and we’re not ashamed to let each other know about that increased respect. But what we also have a lot of history, and our friendship – like any friendship between two people in a band together – has had to go through a lot. It’s been put to the test, and we’ve often let each other down. This record was a way of saying, ‘Sorry for being such a pain in the arse for the last 20 years.”

When putting together 2003 LP ‘Think Tank’, Coxon left the band midway through recording. ‘The Magic Whip’ saw Coxon working with producer Stephen Street on sessions from the group’s stay in Hong Kong. Albarn then went back to the Far East to pen lyrics for the album.

‘The Magic Whip’ is released on 27th April - Blur play London’s Hyde Park for British Summer Time on 20th June. They also headline Benicassim 2015, although drummer Dave Rowntree recently ruled the group out of headlining Glastonbury.