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Famous Like Me > Composer > C > Graham Coxon

Profile of Graham Coxon on Famous Like Me

 
Name: Graham Coxon  
   
Also Know As:
   
Date of Birth: 12th March 1969
   
Place of Birth: Rinteln, Germany
   
Profession: Composer
 
 
From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia
Graham Coxon singing in the video to Blur's "Tender"

Graham Coxon (born Graham Leslie Coxon on 12 March 1969, in Rinteln, West Germany) is best known as the former guitarist in the British band Blur. He contributed to the band's first seven albums, from 1991's Leisure to the 2002 sessions for the following year's Think Tank, which had his involvement on only one of its tracks.

Coxon is gifted musician, capable of playing many instruments. He has released five solo records (some whilst still a member of Blur). He also appears to have earned the respect of his peers. Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, himself considered one of Britain's most innovative and accomplished musicians, praised Coxon's musicality and talent: "Anything that has more of Graham's guitar playing, I'm bound to like."

Biography

Work in Blur

Graham Coxon studied Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College, London, for two years, until he chose to quit due to the increasing success of his band at the time, Seymour, that later changed its name and became Blur. Coxon's highly individual style is best showcased on songs such as "Beetlebum" and "You're So Great" (both from Blur's 1997 album Blur), the latter being his first solo record while in Blur (it is said that Graham sang it under the studio table with the lights off), and "Coffee & TV" (from Blur's 13). He left the band in 2002 following a dispute with the other members. His last contribution to Blur was a song called "Battery in Your Leg", the closing song on Blur's 2003 album Think Tank, before leaving the line-up.

Blur reunion

Although Damon Albarn has frequently said that the door is always open for Coxon to rejoin the band it is unlikely that this will happen in the near future. In 2004 it was rumoured that he was rejoining Blur, but both sides have denied this. Coxon stated that although it was a good meeting (as they hadn't met for about two years), he would not be rejoining Blur and remains firm on his decision. It seems they may have patched-up some differences and continued their friendship, despite the turmoil surrounding Coxon's departure.

Damon said that he just can't understand, why there is such a tension, as they know each other for 20 years and when they are in the same room, everything's perfect. He explained that there is a horrible hole in the sound and aknowledged Graham as a vastly superior guitarist than himself, statied that he can't play anything life on which he had worked with Graham. Recently, Albarn has said that he feels quite sad about the situation and he really wants Graham to return, so they can start properly working again on Blur albums, but apparently Coxon is adamant about his refusal to rejoing his bandmates, so Blur as a three-piece are now recording a new album, defined bitterly by Albarn as a "basic stupid record".

Solo work

Coxon had already released three solo albums whilst a member of Blur. His first, released on his own Transcopic label was The Sky is Too High in 1998, a ramshackle mixture of English folk music and 1960s-style garage rock, under the influence of Billy Childish. This was followed by the more extreme The Golden D in 1999 and the thoughtful Dylan-Drakesque Crow Sit on Blood Tree (2001).

After going solo full time, he released The Kiss of Morning in 2002. The album proved to be his most accessible to date and was promoted with the single "Escape Song" which proved to be an interesting hybrid of Syd Barrett's "Octopus" and progressive rock trail-blazers The Nice. In 2004, Coxon released his fifth solo album Happiness in Magazines, produced by ex-Blur producer Stephen Street and his most successful album to date, after which he received the NME Award for 'Best Solo Artist' in 2005.

Graham said to Xfm.co.uk that his 7th album is ready again with Stephen Street is behind the knobs, along with the same studios and engineers that worked with him for Happiness in Magazines. "I finished it in May and then it was another ten weeks of grafting, and 20 songs later it’s all done. I’m just deciding on the running order and I’m doing my drawing, thinking about the visual." Speaking about the sound of the record, Coxon admitted that while he was still writing more acoustic-sounding material, this may be stored up for a folk album.

Solo discography

Studio Albums

  1. The Sky is Too High (1998)- UK #31
  2. The Golden D (2000)
  3. Crow Sit on Blood Tree (2001)
  4. The Kiss of Morning (2002)
  5. Happiness in Magazines (2004) - UK #19

Compilations

  • Live at the Zodiac download only EP

Singles

from Crow Sit on blood Tree

  • "Thank God For The Rain" / "You Will Never Be" single (2001) - #92

from The Kiss Of Morning

  • "Escape Song" / "Mountain Of Regret" single (2002) - #96

from Happiness in Magazines (See: Happiness in Magazines#Singles)

  • "Freakin' Out" (2004) - #37
  • "Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery" (2004) - #22
  • "Spectacular" (2004) - #32
  • "Freakin' Out" / "All Over Me" (2004) - #19

DVD

  • Live at the Zodiac (2005)

External Links

  • Official Label Website Transcopic Records
  • Official Website Graham Coxon Dot Co Dot Uk
  • Art Website www.grahamcoxonart.com
  • Live Photos of Graham Coxon
  • Andrew Kendall's photographs of Graham
  • Unofficial Website: grahamcoxon.com
  • Graham Coxon Lyrics


Blur
Band members: Damon Albarn | (Graham Coxon) | Alex James | Dave Rowntree

Albums: Leisure | Modern Life Is Rubbish | Parklife | The Great Escape | Blur | 13 | Think Tank

Compilations:The Special Collectors Edition | 10 Year Anniversary Box Set | Bustin' + Dronin' | Blur: The Best Of

See also: Britpop | Gorillaz | Fat Les | Stephen Street

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Graham Coxon