Formation of Blur

Blur were formed in December 1988 when bassist Alex James joined Damon Albarn’s band, Circus, and they changed the name to Seymour after J. D. Salinger ‘s Seymour: An Introduction . Already in the band were drummer Dave Rowntree, who had joined in October, and guitarist Graham Coxon, Albarn’s childhood friend from Essex , who was studying at the University of London ‘s Goldsmiths College along with Albarn and James. The group performed live for the first time in summer 1989 in the goods shed of the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel & Wakes Colne . In November, Food Records ‘ A&R representative Andy Ross attended a Seymour performance that convinced him to court the group for his label. After this he brought label founder David Balfe to a couple more, including a particularly packed gig at The Falcon, Camden . The only concern held by Ross and Food was that they disliked the band’s name. Food drew up a list of alternatives, from which the group decided on Blur. Food Records finally signed the rechristened band in March 1990.