A new memoir Verse, Chorus, Monster! from Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has emerged and it documents his fascinating life story. It also sheds light on his departure from Blur in 2002, before their eventual reconciliation for a triumphant comeback tour in 2009.
Graham Coxon talks about the Blur Reunion
The book contains plenty of funny moments thanks to Coxon’s absurdist sense of humour, as with any life story, there are some tumultuous periods too, which the 53-year-old bravely dives into. His split from Blur in ’02 was preceded by a period of heavy drinking that ended with a stint in rehab. Eventually going teetotal, Coxon – prone to anxiety throughout his life. He reveals in the book that he secretively began drinking again during the band’s ’09’s reunion tour, once more forcing him to confront the problem.
Speaking to Hot Press, he opened up on the matter as he said:
“I fell for the oldest trick in the book with alcoholism – it was people, places and things. And also being kind of anxious and scared. It was such a massive trigger when I went back to rehearse with Blur again in 2009. I was not in control, almost. I went home after one of the first rehearsals, and walked straight past my road to the pub.
It was almost like I didn’t have any way of controlling it. It was a beautiful day, the rehearsal was great, everyone was cool. And I thought, ‘Well, that calls for a glass of wine and a cigarette.’ That was it, I didn’t really think much about it. But I didn’t really go over the top. I might sneak a bottle of Becks from the dressing room (laughs).
When everyone was going to the bathroom before the show, I’d go in the portaloo and have a beer, then go onstage. It was like it always was, it just knocked the edges off my anxiety. Because they were kind of scary shows.”
During the interview, he was then asked if there is going to be another Blur album. He said:
“Oh, probably. I don’t know when, though. I imagine there will be – it might be in five years’ time or something!”
