Music
Alex James's book charting his time as the bassist for Blur has been released.
The musician, who has forged a career as an organic farmer and some-time writer since he left the band, gives an honest picture of his time riding the peaks and troughs of Britpop.
He recalled putting the memoir together: "Looking back, it made me realise how much fun it all was. It’s a light-hearted business really – pop music.
"The most precious thing you really take from the experience of being in a band – what makes the journey worthwhile - is the relationships within the band. That’s really what gives it meaning, colour."
However, In a Blur does not hold back on remembering the bad times: "I think in any rock and roll band there’s lots of rock and roll scenarios.
"I remember there was one tour when I had two black eyes – one from Dave and one from Graham. Damon wasn’t speaking to me either.
"Giving young men what they want doesn’t generally bring out the best in them. Success is almost guaranteed to mess you up more than failure."
The musician, who has forged a career as an organic farmer and some-time writer since he left the band, gives an honest picture of his time riding the peaks and troughs of Britpop.
He recalled putting the memoir together: "Looking back, it made me realise how much fun it all was. It’s a light-hearted business really – pop music.
"The most precious thing you really take from the experience of being in a band – what makes the journey worthwhile - is the relationships within the band. That’s really what gives it meaning, colour."
However, In a Blur does not hold back on remembering the bad times: "I think in any rock and roll band there’s lots of rock and roll scenarios.
"I remember there was one tour when I had two black eyes – one from Dave and one from Graham. Damon wasn’t speaking to me either.
"Giving young men what they want doesn’t generally bring out the best in them. Success is almost guaranteed to mess you up more than failure."
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