Back to Graham ArticlesBoy About Town: Blur's Graham Coxon goes for a solo jog while our Ken Micallef holds the leash.
Brit pop raconteurs Blur have always fit a neatly defined niche within the showbiz firmament. More sophisticated and savvy than Oasis, but without the balls of sexual liaisons Elastica, Blur nonetheless made Britons proud to live under the Union Jack ruled by a jowly, useless Queen. Who needs those damn Yanks?! We got Blur to take us to the races, to toast a pint, or spend a day at the country house. Charming boys with high cheekbones and immaculate pop music, that's Blur, Right?
On The Sky Is Too High, Blur guitarist Graham Coxon blows a hot smelly wind all over that preened, planned image. Propelled by the punk-scare tactics of the mega-selling Blur and "Song 2" [read: "whoo hoo"], Coxon gives free reign to his off-key vocals and suicidal guitar tidal waves. Said to be influenced by Nick Drake and Sonic Youth, some songs are sparse and eerie, while others storm the citadel of pop and beat it to a bloody, noisy pulp. Written and recorded while Graham had halted his usually mammoth intakes of lager ["tea-totalism"], The Sky Is Too High is one messy, engrossing listen.
Ray Gun connected with Coxon while he was running [literally] from the publicity machine, giving real meaning to the phrase "mobile phone."
Ray Gun: This album sounds like an American indie album.
Graham: That couldn't be, I am British. Wait, I'm in a photo shoot, that's all the clicking you hear. Gotta go...
RG: Some of the album is pretty scary. How did it come about?
Graham: I decided to exorcize my demons in the studio. And then some friends of mine told me that I should make an album out of it, it was 11 songs, almost an album's worth. I don't want it to be a big deal. Ah, what? [people talking to him] That way?! I've walked into someone's band rehearsal. It's Simply Red. At least, that short fellow is Simply Red. Ha! What'd you say?
RG: Are you being driven somewhere, Graham?
Graham: What? Oh yeah. [laughing] I'm sorry. What?!! I'm in the back of a cab. Hey, what's your name? [to driver] Les is driving, he wants to be in the magazine. Write that down. Les is in a hurry. Carry on and go round.
RG: So how's the weather Graham?
Graham: Really hot, like L.A., only without the stupid people [mad laughter]. That was a joke. Some of my best friends live in California. Bye, Les! We're leaving the cab now.
RG: Why the period of enforced "tea-totalism" now? You're "on the wagon," as we say.
Graham: We say "on the wagon" too, of course we fucking do! Wait. I'll be alright, I'm just going to go to the loo. Why have I gone on the wagon? [voice echoes as he enters a bathroom] I was drinking too much.
RG: When did you realize you were drinking too much?
Graham: I started getting kicked up the ass by people telling me to quit drinking. [squeaky toilet roll unwinding]
RG: Were you feeling bad?
Graham: I was waking up crying. Do you do that Ken? [toilet flushes]
RG: No, I go to sleep crying. Say some prayers, then start crying.
Graham: That is exactly what happens, but when I wake up.
RG: Have you ever tried praying?
Graham: Do I pray? Yeah, I pray. But I don't pray to God. I think he is old fashioned. I pray for the better nature of myself. Let's get that cab [to someone].
RG: What do you ask the better nature of yourself?
Graham: Just to be better. [laughs] What is this, a Christian magazine? [door slams, street sounds] I'm joking. I pray that fucking everyone will be alright and that I can live to be 90. I don't pray to God for that, I just hope.
RG: How did your "tea-totaling" affect the music?
Graham: I was able to think clearly. Probably too clearly. I got crazy, it's like a reverse-acid trip. You don't want to be in the state of mind forever. Cab driver! Stop! It's a reverse acid trip, not drinking, you feel too much. [sound of boots slogging through a field] I wasn't smoking either, for a while, as well. Over there? What?!
RG: Sounds like going suddenly, full-blown vegetarian.
Graham: I was a vegetarian, but I quit, I smoke, drink and eat chicken now. Whatever, man. I don't eat anything else apart from what is not good for me.
RG: You contributed "You're So Great" to the last Blur album. Would any of these songs ever make it to a Blur album?
Graham: No, I did this in private. The other boys didn't know what was going on. I didn't want to freak them out. Sorry, we're just trying to get - fucking wanker!! Now we're trying to go back to the studio. This is fun. [sarcastically] I'm so fucking happy.
RG: Ever heard the Magnetic Fields?
Graham: No. Does Thurston Moore like them?
RG: You're a big Thurston fan?
Graham: Yeah, I like Thurston Moore, but I don't like it being said that I'm a Thurston Moore fan. Being told that is kind of unfair because Kim Gordon is also incredible, physically, mentally and spiritually. So always being know as a Thurston Moore fan is strange.
RG: You're influenced by his noise guitar?
Graham: Noise guitar? I want to erase that from the dictionary, noise. What are you talking about, noise? That's music, man.
RG: I hate Sonic Youth.
Graham: You hate Sonic Youth?! What do you like? Crosby, Stills, fucking Nash? Simply Red? Ha Ha.
RG: New Yorkers love Sonic Youth.
Graham: That is like their fucking home team. [starts talking in New York accent] You go down to the village, you go down to Soho, man. I saw Thurston at Other Music, man. He was so cool. Sure they love Sonic Youth, for the same reason that everyone in Chicago hates Steve Albini. That was a joke. Are you in Chicago by chance?
RG: New York.
Graham: Sometimes I hate Sonic Youth. Sometimes I want to hear Nick Drake. Sonic Youth hurts my ears and does my brain in.
RG: What is "A Day is Far Too Long" about?
Graham: It's about a dead man looking back over his life and feeling very, very, very disappointed.
RG: "I Wish"?
Graham: I wrote that in a hotel room in Memphis. I was in a hotel that really freaked me out and I didn't want to leave.
RG: "Who the Fuck"?
Graham: That is directed to the fat bald white men who run the earth. You and me don't run it. It's directed to any arrogant smug fucker who chooses to push his gaze toward me in my paranoia. Sometimes I want to know why people are looking at me. Other times I don't mind. What?!! [street noises, laughter, girls screaming] Hey! Quiet! I'm having a conversation! Someone in a forklift truck was yelling at me. I can't understand these people.
RG: Wouldn't it be weird if this album sold a million?
Graham: I couldn't give a shit. I'd go buy myself a place in the fucking middle of nowhere. I don't think it will. It'll sell 20,000 at the most I'm told.
RG: Don't you already have a place out in the middle of nowhere?
Graham: No, I don't. Damon does. You want to talk to him? Okay. [very impatient] Thank you, is that all? [laughs] God, you take things so personally. [laughs] I've never done an interview like this, this has been an adventure. [line goes dead]
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