Damon Albarn: 'Blur are reforming for rehearsals'

Damon Albarn has confirmed that Blur will be reuniting next year.

The singer revealed his old band, including guitarist Graham Coxon, will be working together. Albarn made the comments just before a special one-off performance of his opera 'Monkey: Journey To The West' at the BBC Radio Theatre in London this afternoon (November 25).

Before playing a composition that had been specially re-arranged for the stripped-down performance, Albarn was asked by the host Janice Long whether Blur will be playing next year.

"Blur are certainly going to rehearse and see if we're into it," he said.

The band's last album was 2003's 'Think Tank', though guitarist Coxon only appeared on one track, having left the group a year earlier.

After the Blur news was confirmed, the live reworking of 'Monkey' then took place, with the hour-long show featuring a huge string section, plus five male and female singers at the front of the stage.

Albarn sat among the performers for the show, though apart from briefly directing the lighting took a back seat for most of the gig.

However, towards the end he joined in on a hand-held organ and guitar for a couple of tracks.

They played:

'Monkey’s World'
'Into The Eastern Sea'
'Living Sea'
'Dragon King'
'Iron Rod'
'Heavenly Peaches Banquet'
'Battle in Heaven'
'Omi Tuo Fo'
'Whisper'
'Tripitaka’s Curse'
'Confessions Of A Pig'
'Sandy The River Demon'
'March Of The Volunteers'
'White Skeleton Demon'
'Monk’s Song'
'I Love Buddha'
'March Of The Iron Army'
'Pigsy In Space'
'Monkey Bee'
'Disappearing Volcano'
'15 Point Star'

The gig will be going out live on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday (November 29) evening at 7pm (BST).

See bbc.co.uk/radio2 for more information.

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