Colchester, England Rock quartet Blur were one of the most popular britpop bands of the mid-'90s and have successfully adapted to changing trends since. Initially called Seymour, the band was formed by singer/keyboardist Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer Dave Rountree in 1989.
They released their debut in 1991, beginning a streak of seven UK Top 20 albums, with their last five full-lengths all hitting #1 in England. In the US, Blur are cult favorites, only entering the Billboard Top 200 on their last four CDs and never reaching the Top 40. Coxon and the band parted ways in 2002, but James announced that Coxon would return for new recordings in late 2007.
Goldsmith College classmates Albarn, Coxon, and Rountree formed Seymour in spring of 1989, adding James that summer. Their demo attracted Food Records A&R man Andy Ross to one of their shows. In early 1990, Ross signed the band on the condition they change their name. Blur was chosen from a list.
After their October 1990 debut single hit #48 on the UK charts, former Smiths producer Stephen Street asked to produce Blur's debut LP. Leisure, released August 1991, peaked at #7 in England. Its second single, "There's No Other Way", reached the UK Top 10 and was a US hit on the Dance and Modern Rock charts. Although successful, Blur had not yet found their style, sounding too close to Stone Roses and their "Madchester" contemporaries.
In 1992, Blur released the single "Popscene." It peaked at only #32, but, as one of the first britpop songs, it helped establish Blur's musical identity. Their sophomore LP followed in May 1993. Landing at #15 in the UK, it's their weakest charter, but it received strong reviews and is a key release of the mid-'90s britpop era. In April 1994, Blur issued their third LP, Parklife.
Their first of five straight UK #1's and a critical favorite, the record spawned the single "Girls & Boys," a US Modern Rock hit and MTV staple. Their next full-length, September 1995's The Great Escape, cracked the US Billboard 200. The single "Country Life" was their first #1. During this time, Blur's UK popularity was second only to that of britpop rivals Oasis.
The pressures of being a high profile band nearly broke up Blur in early 1996. After a brief hiatus, the band returned to recording, issuing their fifth album, Blur, in February 1997. The LP and its first single, "Beetlebum," both debuted at #1 in the UK. The album was the first to crack the US Top 100, peaking at 61. It also featured a new, Americanized sound, leaning toward US alternative and indie rock.
Their sixth album, March 1999's 13, was their first not produced by Stephen Street. Using William Orbit, instead, the record was heavily influenced by Electronica. It hit #1 in the UK and 80 in the US. Its first single, "Tender", was #2 in Britain.
Blur went on hiatus again in 2000. Coxon began releasing solo recordings, while Albarn formed the Hip-Hop-influenced band Gorillaz. In 2002, recording on album seven began in Marrakesh, Morocco, with Fatboy Slim handling production. At this point, Coxon and the band parted ways. Albarn handled guitar duties, and local musicians were also utilized, all resulting in a mostly atmospheric record with African, Middle Eastern, and Electronica sounds throughout. The LP received mixed reviews, but still hit #1 in the UK and 56 on Billboard, Blur's highest ever US chart position.
Albarn started another, unnamed group in 2006, while Coxon recorded two strong punk-pop records in the mid-'00s. It's rumored the band will reunite in late 2007.