08 July 2023 , 15:58
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They're Britpop icons but Blur frontman Damon Albarn wants to ditch the title in favour of ‘Europop’.... because he hates Brexit.
Damon, 55, says he finds the resurgence of Britpop “irritating” and considers himself “more Europop than Britpop”.
Speaking as the band make their comeback at a sold-out Wembley this weekend, the Parklife hitmaker says: “Maybe everyone can kind of sense in Europe that we’re not Brexiteers, you know? Maybe there’s a change happening in the country.
“Maybe finally, we’re going to have a bit of a shift back to a more Eurocentric, a more reasonable, a more - dare I say - cultured approach to governments. Fingers crossed.”
The Gorillaz star says the band, also made up of Graham Coxon, Dave Rowntree and Alex James, never procured their Cool Britannia image, adding: “That was something that was used by darker forces in the country…”
Newcastle United's Wembley appearance to be marked by a souvenir special
This weekend Blur are playing Wembley stadium (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)In addition to their Wembley shows, the band are playing a string of dates across Europe with their first album since 2015, The Ballad of Darren.
Now all in their fifties, Damon jokes “let’s face it, none of us are getting younger” but that “everyone’s wiser, more tolerant of each other”.
He says: “Hopefully it’s not excessive age – yet. I’ve still got a few things to learn.”
But their lifestyles have changed since their nineties heyday.
The frontman wants Britpop label ditched (Getty Images)He adds: “Obviously, we don’t drink as much as we used to when we were younger. We don’t do anything as much as we used to when we were younger, except maybe moan about life. We do that more.”
Despite their success, Damon says the band - who haven’t toured together since their run in support of their comeback LP The Magic Whip seven years ago - are not “really rock stars”, although he admits “playing Wembley is a rock star play”.
“It’s been fun so far,” he adds. “I’ve enjoyed it enormously.”