Brit pop legends host secret all night bash to celebrate new film as they open up about drugs and fame
BLUR went back to their Britpop heyday after the premiere of their new film – and hired out the Groucho Club for a big bash.
Insiders told me Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, and Dave Rowntree – who has just lost his bid to become an MP – invited close pals for a booze-up at the club in Soho, with a free bar to celebrate the release of Blur: To The End.
A source said: “The Groucho was a go-to Britpop pit stop, so the lads hired it out for old times’ sake.
“The drinks were flowing until the early hours and the band were thrilled with how well the film was received.”
Producer Josh Connolly believes the documentary will go down a storm, telling me the rights have been sold to more than 40 territories.
If you’re a fan of Blur, it’s well worth buying a ticket and going to watch.
As well as showing the band, below, at some of their highest – and lowest – moments, there are some corking anecdotes along the way.
Damon is seen taking an ice bath ahead of their Wembley gigs.
He tells the cameras: “When I submerge in freezing water I immediately ejaculate. They have got the cryogenic baths and it is super cold. It is like cocaine. Honestly it is the same buzz.”
It’s certainly a reminder to never get into a bath after Damon.
Cheese farmer Alex also lets slip about his wild past, which led to him blowing a reported £1million on drink and drugs.
He says: “There is always a really good reason not to go to bed.
“When a show goes really well it is nice to have a big night out afterwards.
“I woke up once in Denmark with absolutely no idea how I got there.
“The last thing I knew I was in Holland.”
JADE Thirlwall is the last member of Little Mix to release a solo tune – but she could be the first one to drop an album.
The Sweet Melody singer, whose track Angel of My Dreams is out today, said on US radio: “I needed time to evolve as my own artist and now just felt right.
“The songs were ready. I’m literally finishing the album as we speak. I wanted a lot of the music to be ready, rather than doing one song at a time.”
Her single is one of many releases today, including ArrDee’s song Different. It samples Lola’s Theme, which gave The Shapeshifters a No1 20 years ago this month. The Vamps frontman Bradley Simpson has dropped his single Daisies ahead of a UK tour this autumn.
Mabel has put out her single Female Intuition, while German singer-songwriter Samira has embraced drum ’n’ bass with her track See Through You.
Elsewhere, Sports Team’s I’m in Love (Subaru) is out now. It is from their upcoming third album Boys These Days.
Meanwhile, 2020 winner of The Voice, Zimbabwe-born Annatoria, has released her debut EP, Full Circle.
Daisy’s Posh in New York
DAISY Edgar-Jones looked every bit the Hollywood celeb wearing this wacky Victoria Beckham dress in New York.
The Normal People actress was mobbed by fans while heading out in the sunshine in the double-arched outfit yesterday to promote her new film Twisters with Glen Powell.
If she is feeling jet-lagged, Daisy certainly didn’t show it.
In the past few days, she’s gone from London to Oklahoma City before flying to Los Angeles and then the Big Apple to promote the action movie. It’s making me want to sit down just thinking about it.
KATY Perry has hit back at claims that the video for her comeback single Woman’s World is too sexual.
The female empowerment clip features Katy stripping down to a number of skimpy outfits, including tiny hotpants and a Stars and Stripes bra.
She said on radio in the States: “I’m owning my sexuality. I feel really powerful. I don’t feel ashamed.
“I’m like ‘tts out!’ and happy about it. My tts gave life.
“I brought a child into this world and she is alive thanks to those t*ts, so let’s celebrate it.”
Turning point for Charli?
CHARLI XCX gets into the spirit of the beautiful game a few days too late, posing in a pointy footie top and shorts for Billboard magazine.
She appeared on the cover with conical breasts to promote album Brat, which has spawned three Top 40 hits and is expected to score a fourth with song Apple today.
Despite being in the prime of her career, Charli is considering packing in music.
She said: “I saw this tweet the other day, ‘Does anyone think that this is Charli’s last album?’
“Then I was like, ‘Actually, that could be cool if I didn’t really make music anymore after this’.
“I’m definitely thinking about it because I really want to act. I don’t know. I’m just so deep in this, I can’t see outside of Brat, but it’s funny.
“I kind of want to make a Lou Reed record, to be honest. That would definitely be a pretty big swing.”
BETWEEN Espresso and Please Please Please, Sabrina Carpenter has already been at No1 for nine weeks this year – and now she will treat fans to an arena tour.
The US singer will bring her Short n’ Sweet gigs to the UK and Ireland next March, with support from Rachel Chinouriri.
She is due to kick things off in Dublin on March 3 before shows in Birmingham, London, Glasgow, and Manchester.
That will raise hopes Sabrina will also perform, or at least attend, the Brit Awards, because they are expected to be held the week before.
Fans who pre-order her album Short n’ Sweet, out on August 23, will get first access to tickets before they go on general sale at 10 am next Friday.
BRITNEY Spears has hit back at Ozzy Osbourne after he branded clips of the singer dancing on social media “sad.”
Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy had said on his family’s podcast: “I’m fed up of seeing poor old Britney Spears on YouTube. Every f**ing day. It’s sad. Very, very sad.”
Lashing out on Instagram, she wrote: “Number 1) I hardly ever dance . . . and number 2) I’m not poor at all! I have more ligature in my left toe than any grown man or woman on Earth.
“I’m gonna do a photoshoot and tell the Osbourne family, who is the most boring family known to mankind, to kindly f*** off!”