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BLUR legend Alex James is changing tempo to give Britpop a classical twist \u2013 with the help of a symphony orchestra.<\/p>\n
The musician, 56, will lead a unique Scots gig featuring Nineties anthems from some of the genre\u2019s biggest names.<\/p>\n
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Alex James from Blue will be leading a unique gig in Glasgow\u2019s Royal Concert HallCredit: Peter Powell \u2013 The Sun<\/p>\n
But in a departure from their normal style, the hits \u2014 by the likes of Oasis<\/a>, Pulp and Blur \u2014 will be accompanied by the ensemble and a live band.<\/p>\n Alex, from Bournemouth<\/a>, said of next March\u2019s Britpop Classical gig at Glasgow\u2019s Royal Concert Hall: \u201cThe basic idea is it\u2019s a symphony orchestra with a kick-ass top band, with a whole bunch of vocalists plus guest artists, just bringing those hits to life again.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of those bands have split, some are sadly no longer with us, but they\u2019ve stood the test of time.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s such riches there. I happened to hear the Top 40 countdown on Friday and I hadn\u2019t listened to it for a while. I was astonished multiple artists have got multiple records in the charts \u2014 and half of it is Taylor Swift<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t SAD OL OVER<\/p>\n Singer Olivia Rodrigo SPLITS from Louis Partridge after two years of dating<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ACTOR PAIN<\/p>\n Two Doors Down star ‘triggered’ after they sold Amy Winehouse infamous death pad<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Music brings joy\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cYou look back at the Nineties and everyone was in a band, but now it\u2019s a small handful of massive brands that dominate the marketplace, the same as the high street.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s so much music from our period that actually means more to people now than it did when it was released.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex \u2014 who now makes his own line of cheese \u2014 recalled how, when Blur reunited in 2023 after their latest haitus, he was unsure how his kids would react.<\/p>\n But he admitted: \u201cIt was incredible. All their friends wanted to come. The Oasis tour has just been amazing as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe music just brings so much joy and, if you can find an authentic way of bringing these songs to life and just sort of gassing them up, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n As well as a symphony orchestra, the Glasgow<\/a> Britpop gig will feature an all-star line-up including Phil Daniels \u2014 who provided vocals on Blur\u2019s 1994 Top Ten hit Parklife \u2014 Saffron from Republica and Gary Stringer of Reef.<\/p>\n More names will be announced soon.<\/p>\n Alex says it wasn\u2019t easy picking which hits they would cover as there were too many bangers to choose from. He added: \u201cThere were so many brilliant gigs and brilliant bands.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember being in the West Village in New York<\/a>, walking down the street, and just hearing a band playing in a bar. I went in and it was Stereolab. I think that was the best gig I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the first time Blur played in Glasgow at King Tut\u2019s and it was the furthest we\u2019d been from home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always such a brilliant night in Glasgow or Edinburgh<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n In a nod to his own band\u2019s legacy, Alex added: \u201cPeople who were teenagers when Blur were in their glory aren\u2019t kids anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cThese Britpop bands actually had an influence on the following generations of music makers. Even contemporary artists kind of cite Blur as an influence. Music in that period has influenced a lot of people since, in the same way that The Beatles<\/a> and The Rolling Stones<\/a>, David Bowie<\/a> and T.Rex kind of influenced the bands of that time.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex revealed that reuniting with Blur \u2014 a move which led to 2023 album The Ballad of Darren and a tour \u2014 made him nostalgic.<\/p>\n Britpop band Blur reunited for a legendary tour and new album in 2023Credit: PA<\/p>\n And he joked that in a recent meeting with frontman Damon Albarn, who also founded the band Gorillaz, he teased him that Blur\u2019s comeback had made him a megstar, adding: \u201cI went to see a Gorillaz gig a couple of weeks ago and I told Damon Albarn I don\u2019t need him any more.\u201d<\/p>\n On a more serious note, Alex continued: \u201cIt was great to see him \u2014 and that last tour was the best we\u2019ve ever done.<\/p>\n \u2018Latter-day monk\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the first time we\u2019ve got to the end of a tour or album cycle without at least one of them saying, \u2018F* you, f* this, never again\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex said turning the clock back 30 years to revisit Britpop\u2019s 1995 glory days reminds him of movie Back To The Future, when Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled back three decades from 1985 to 1955. \u201cBlur goes as far back into the past as they go in Back To The Future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lifetime ago now, but there\u2019s something magical about a bunch of drunk idiots, often with guitars, making a racket and enjoying themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Blur finished their latest, sell-out tour, Alex has been putting all his energy into other projects.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already gearing up for good food and top tunes at the Big Feastival, which takes place on his farm in the Cotswolds in August. And with decades of touring under his belt, plus the lasting success of Blur, Alex recognises that he has lots to be thankful for.<\/p>\n Unlike other musicians, he didn\u2019t pick up too many bad habits on the road.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JW_21_12_GLAM_COMP_COMP_4d73c5.jpg\"\/)
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