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Photo: Harry Herd/Getty Images
In addition to his work with Blur and The WAEVE, Graham Coxon has released eight solo albums and composed music for four films. Now he is reissuing his solo catalog, as well as the album Castle Park , the release of which was delayed due to Blur's reunion in 2009.
«"I'm in a completely different situation now, but I love that unreleased album," Coxon says. "There are some really good songs on it, so I said, 'Put it out!' I just wanted to put music out—there was almost no quality control. I just thought, 'Hey, I have to put something out every year.'".
Now 57, with Blur on hiatus again, he's exploring a different side of his musical talent. "The older I get, the more I'm drawn to more mature music," he muses. "But I still love My Bloody Valentine, Talk Talk, The Jam, and Gong. I like any experimental, wild approach to music that has a twisted edge to it. It's not always pure, refined stuff like Larry Carlton!"«
He's also working on The WAEVE's third album and is still searching for new and interesting sounds. "I was a late bloomer," he laughs. "All these guitarists that other guitarists admire were just off my radar. I just wasn't old enough to appreciate them.".
What is the story behind the album? Castle Park , which was delayed around the time of Blur's 2009 reunion?
I didn't know what to do with it. I recorded a funny album called A+E of 20 songs, which were divided into two parts. A+E , seemed to be based on bass riffs; and the rest of the songs were somewhat inspired by 60s music and old indie music.
At the time, I thought, «I’ll hold onto them until this music comes back into fashion.» Then I thought, «It’s never going to come back into fashion, so I might as well just release it!» Fans pestered me, asking, «Where is this album?” Castle Park ?" But I think a couple of the songs on it are among my best.
Can you recall what level of skill you had as a musician and songwriter at that time?
As a guitarist and songwriter, I was still learning, like the rest of us. I wouldn't call myself a great guitarist—I listen to great guitarists, and I'm far from that. When they call me a great guitarist, it's just a courtesy!
Noel Gallagher called you one of the greatest players of your generation, so many of us would disagree!
That's very sweet of Noel. But no truly great guitarist ever said that! As I get older, I listen to more mature music, like Steely Dan and Larry Carlton. I think, "What, he has a 335 plugged into a little Tweed Deluxe? That sounds great!"«
You are re-releasing your solo catalog, starting with album The Sky Is Too High , which came out when Blur were still active for the first time.
Because I have accumulated a lot of rejected songs, enough for a whole album!
Is that why you started your solo career?
During the Blur years, I had this terrible pedalboard; when we turned it on, it was brighter than the stage lights.
No, not really. My neighbor was writing a screenplay for a film about an old Victorian amateur boxer. He said, "You're into music. Sing us a few songs!" I said, "What?"«
I tried writing a couple of songs, and I got so into it that I wrote more. I didn't even intend to release them under my own name. I said to Damon Albarn, "Come and listen to them, maybe we can use some of these in Blur." I played the songs for him, and he said, "No, I don't think we can use any of these." I said, "Okay. Thanks!"«
Then our manager said, "Graham, don't worry. Just write your name down." So I have to thank my old neighbor—or apologize to the world—for inspiring me to write music!
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What inspired you to create The Golden D, your second solo album?
I watched a lot of skate videos and heard soundtracks that ranged from Santana to Iron Maiden, from A Tribe Called Quest to Sleep. It was a really interesting mix of doom metal, hip-hop, and classic hard rock or heavy metal. The Golden D I mixed it all up and did something ridiculous: I recorded two cover versions of songs by the same band, Mission of Burma. They made a huge impression on me.
Since Blur's reunion and the release of your solo albums, have you found that it has made you a more well-rounded member of the band?
I think so. I can't pretend Damon isn't a damn good songwriter. He was writing songs when we first met. That's why we became friends. When you feel the urge to write, like with my first album, it's addictive. It's like, "Wow, I feel so good when I get a chord progression or a melody!"«
And if you manage to say something, you kind of release the accumulated resentment in a wonderful way - instead of just writing in your diary: «I fucking hate you!»
«"The more you do it, the better you get at it. And Damon got really good, so it was quite difficult writing songs when he was around—especially when he was rejecting your songs! It really takes time.".
Has your attitude towards equipment changed since you started performing solo?
No, that was much later. I had this terrible pedalboard back in the Blur days; this huge thing that, when we turned it on, shone brighter than the stage lights. I tried my best to turn on the Rat pedal, but you couldn't see it!
Lately, I've been obsessed with effects pedals—or at least, I didn't know it. Back then, I had everything I needed. Everything was fine. But now I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't have been playing Marshall amps for 35 years!
Those were fun times when I made those poor boys perform my songs the way they were told!
It seems that many musicians reach a point where Marshall amps, although excellent, become irritating to the ear.
I mean, mine sounded pretty damn good, but he was Loud—it's a hundred-watt dude, right? So lately I've been thinking, "What about other Fender amps? What's the power headroom?" I've been thinking about that a lot.
Are you into boutique pedals?
Pedal manufacturers are so confusing these days. When I was a kid, I had a Rat pedal, and it was great. It was the only pedal I had when Blur first started. I'd just turn it on for the chorus and turn it off for the verse. It was that simple!
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But then it all just went crazy. Now there are phasers, flangers, compressors; damn, everything does something. And now JAM Pedals—who I'm so excited to be collaborating with—has all this cool stuff. And then there's the Third Man pedal, the Plasma [Coil]. I can't live without it!
There are rumors that you are forming a band this year to celebrate the start of your solo career.
It's the same old story: I drag my old friends out. I see Owen Thomas all the time. He runs a recording studio in Brixton. I think Toby McFarlane's been cutting down trees near Brighton, so there aren't many trees left!
But they're really excited. It's going to be great, because those were some fun times getting these poor young guys—who aren't young anymore—to perform my songs the way they were told! I'm a good boss. We don't take it too seriously, and we perform songs that work with two guitars, bass, and drums.
I'm not entirely sure if I should dig out the old Plexi. Some of these old rooms need filling, and the Plexi I bought in the early 90s is fine. I used it all the time with Blur. It's absolutely indestructible, man.
If not Marshall, then what?
Now I'm more concerned with headroom—when I turn my fuzz pedal on and off, I want it to blow people's minds. So the question is, which amp should I use: a Marshall, a Fender, or the 20-watt Hamstead I use with The WAEVE?.
Speaking of The WAEVE, what's new?
We're finishing up an album that feels quite optimistic and carefree. Much of the work was actually done on one of the new Yamaha Pacifica T-style guitars, which I helped develop, with Rupert Neve pickups. I also used one of Greg Koch's S-type Reverend guitars, but I also have a T-style guitar.
Last time, Blur couldn't get on stage without crutches. We're getting to that age, and in this band, you have to jump and skip a lot.
And then there's the old Mason, which I really can't live without. I used it on the last Blur album. It's like a souped-up Telecaster, with a Sustainiac and a switch you have to flip up to select the right harmonica and turn on the sustain at the same time. That's enough to get me excited!
What about the almighty Blur?
All that's left is to wait and see, but I'm too lazy. It's a bit like asking, "Are we all just going to sit back and wait for someone to come up with an idea? Or should we just move on?" So we do both.
It would be great if that happened, but I'm not old enough yet. And even last time we couldn't go on stage without crutches, you know? We're almost there, and in a band you have to jump around a lot. It hurts!
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Castle Park game will be released on June 19th and is available for pre-order now.