NEWS: Blur reunite

Announcing a concert at Hyde Park for July (and a second date promptly added), a seemingly rejuvinated Blur appear to be back in business. But do we really need them?

Millions of years ago, back in the nineties, we had the phenomenon of Britpop (as I'm sure most of you remember). Countless bands both good (Pulp) and bad (Cast) populated the scene, all brought together by the holy duo of Oasis and Blur. And as you would remember too, these particular last two groups were at each other's necks in the papers twenty-four seven. Chart battle after chart battle, good review against equally good review; at the end of the day though, it was all media spin. Why on earth would Damon Albarn have anything in particular against Noel Gallagher? And Liam has a thing against everyone, so he doesn't count.
Back to the point: Graham Coxon, guitarist famous for those era-defining Parklife and Song 2 riffs, has finally been coaxed back to the band, but for what purpose? Blur were always the more socially commentative jewel of the Oasis-Blur crown, so maybe we've some new - yet essentially identical - thoughts on England today. Maybe hard-hitting truths about the credit crunch? Or maybe just summat about a Country House or woteva, innit.

But who's to say they'll be releasing any new material at all. At the moment it's a live reunion, so money's probably the first reason for getting back together. Even then, people will be seeing them just for nostalgia, or for people like you and me, it'll be the opportunity to hear many fantastic, fantastic songs in the flesh from a band who really had it going on ten years ago. Time will tell if they're still up to it.