Introductions with Coxon ’ s old school friend Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree soon took place ; at the time Albarn and Rowntree were part of a band called Circus.

In May 2002, Coxon left Blur during the recording of their seventh album Think Tank ( 2003 ).

Coxon later pointed to Parklife as the moment when " went from being regarded as an alternative, left field arty band to this amazing new pop sensation ".

Not long after the sessions began, Coxon left the group.

Coxon ( left ) and Albarn on stage at the Newcastle Academy in June 2009.

Coxon ( left ) and Albarn on stage at the Newcastle Academy in June 2009.

Coxon later pointed to Parklife as the moment when " went from being regarded as an alternative, left field arty band to this amazing new pop sensation ".

Not long after the sessions began, Coxon left the group.

After Graham Coxon left Blur, he and Street aligned and went to produce Coxon's most commercially successful album up to date — Happiness in Magazines ( May 2004 ).

After a 2003 tour without Coxon, Blur did no studio work or touring as a band, as members engaged in other projects.

Coxon, in particular, began to resent his band mates ; James for his playboy lifestyle, and Albarn for his control over Blur's musical direction and public image.

Coxon, recognising his own personal need to — as Rowntree put it —" work this band ", wrote a letter to Albarn, describing his desire for their music " to scare people again ".

Graham Coxon recorded a string of solo albums, while Damon Albarn dedicated his time to Gorillaz, the animated band he had created with Jamie Hewlett.

Coxon stated that " there were no rows " and " band just recognised the feeling that we needed some time apart ".

In 2005, XFM news reported that the band would be recording an EP, and denied the idea of hiring a new guitarist to replace Coxon.

After Coxon significantly thawed in regards to the subject of rejoining the band, in 2007 band members announced that Blur would reunite and that they intended to record together first in August, with the date later being pushed back to September, then October.

After studying Drama and playing in short lived synth pop outfit, Two's a Crowd, Albarn formed a band with Coxon which, after various incarnations, evolved into Blur with additional members, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

Coxon, in particular, began to resent his band mates and, in a rejection of the group's Britpop aesthetic, made a point of listening to noisy American alternative rock bands such as Pavement.

Coxon stated that " there were no rows " and " band just recognised the feeling that we needed some time apart ".

In 2005, XFM news reported that the band would be recording an EP, and denied the idea of hiring a new guitarist to replace Coxon.

After Coxon significantly thawed in regards to the subject of rejoining the band, in 2007 band members announced that Blur would reunite and that they intended to record together first in August, with the date later being pushed back to September, then October.

Damon Albarn frequently stated that the door was always open for Coxon to rejoin the band.

However, at the time Coxon seemed adamant and refused to rejoin the band.

After Damon Albarn's revealing that he and Coxon have rebuilt their relationship, on 9 December 2008, Blur announced that the whole band would reunite for a show at Hyde Park on 3 July 2009.

The song was a re-working of the Sham 69 hit " Hurry Up Harry ", and was released as " Sham 69 and The Special Assembly " ( as well as Coxon and Sham 69, Virgin Radio DJ Christian O ' Connell, who had run a competition on his show to find a band to record a song in support of the team, was involved in the recording of the song ).

The period also yielded Benatar's first and only single until her eventual 1979 debut on Chrysalis Records: " Day Gig " ( 1974 ), Trace Records, written and produced by Coxon's Army band leader Phil Coxon and locally released in Richmond.

This tour saw another substitution – drummer Stephen Gilchrist ( Graham Coxon, The Scaramanga Six, Stuffy / The Fuses ) stood in for Bob Leith, who had previous tour commitments with art-punk band Blurt.

Wales was formerly a composer of contemporary classical music and leader of the band Crazy About Love, while Coxon was a successful remixer and producer ( most notably for Betty Boo ) prior to their joining forces.

He was initially replaced by Kevin Cowen from fellow Rugby band The Darkside, Cowen only completed one gig ( Glastonbury 1994 ) before himself leaving to be replaced first by John Coxon ( Spring Heel Jack, Betty Boo ) and then later on by Julian Cope's former guitarist Michael Mooney ( Coxon returned to replace Mooney following his eventual departure ).

Blur's work, along with many more minor Britpop bands, have been cited as particularly reminiscent of 1970s Wire at various points, with Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn both speaking of the band's influence on Blur.

Formed in London in 1988 as Seymour, the group consists of singer / keyboardist Damon Albarn, guitarist / singer Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree.

In 2009 Blur reunited, with Coxon back in the fold, for a series of concerts and have continued to release several singles and retrospective releases.

Childhood friends Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon met Alex James when they began studying at London's Goldsmiths College in 1988.

Circus requested the services of Coxon after the departure of their guitarist.

In February 1996, when Coxon and James were absent for a lip-synced Blur performance broadcast on Italian television, they were replaced by a cardboard cutout and a roadie, respectively.

13 was creatively dominated by Coxon, who " was simply allowed to do whatever he chose, unedited ", by Orbit.

After " Coffee & TV ", the first Blur single to feature Coxon on lead vocals, managed to only reach number 11 in the UK, manager Chris Morrison demanded a chart re-run because of what he deemed was a sales miscalculation.

Think Tank, released in May 2003, was filled with atmospheric, brooding electronic sounds, featuring simpler guitar lines played by Albarn, and largely relying on other instruments to replace Coxon.

Their T in the Park headline slot was put in jeopardy after Graham Coxon was admitted to hospital with food poisoning.

He said, " I just can't do it anymore ", and explained that the main motivation for participating in the reunion was to repair his relationship with Coxon, which succeeded.

Coxon also stated that no further Blur activity was planned, telling NME. com that September, " We're in touch and we say ' Wotcha ' and all that but nothing has been mentioned about any more shows or anything else ".

Albarn attended Stanway Comprehensive School where he met with future alternative rock-star, Graham Coxon.

Albarn's first words directed at Coxon were " Your brogues are crap, mate.

Albarn along with Graham Coxon met Alex James when they began studying at London's Goldsmiths College in 1988.

Circus requested the services of Coxon after the departure of their guitarist.