Damon Albarn let himself down today, by coming over all touchy-feely as he went on the (mildly) offensive against Jarvis Cocker.
Albarn branded the actions of his Britpop contemporary 'disturbing', in reference to the infamous Michael Jackson, bum-waving incident at the 1996 BRIT Awards over TEN years ago.
"I've always had a problem with Jarvis' stance on that, I found it really disturbing when he pulled his pants down in front of Michael Jackson, that just seemed totally wrong," ventured Albarn.
"If someone is sick, he's not open to ridicule."
It's just ignorance, you're being ignorant, it's just ignorant. Albarn wasn't done there.
"He's got some very odd ideas about reality. I think it's a collective responsibility to say 'No you can't go and do what you're doing', not just to ridicule him.
On the subject of Cocker's debut solo single, 'Cunts Are Still Running The World', Damon told Uncut that he thought the Pulp frontman was WRONG.
"The world is not full of cunts," Albarn protested. "We have a collective responsibility not to slag people off and instead try to understand them." Words: Kev Kharas
"The world is not full of cunts," Albarn protested. "We have a collective responsibility not to slag people off and instead try to understand them." Words: Kev Kharas
Albarn is repulsive, sorry for that, but is my honest opinion... I agree with Gallagher...
Damon, "honey", you are not half as wise as you think you are... Jarvis did not say the world is full of cunts but RUN by them... and, oh, god, he's perfectly right... Bush, Castro, Hu, Saddam, Pinochet... and as are many others...
Jarvis knows what he is talking about... you don't...
I like Blur and all but I've always thought Damon was an arrogant wanker! Let's face it he's nothing without Graham Coxon. He hasn't released a decent record for 10 years!
Jarvis on the other hand is a genuine genious!
I was quite suprised to hear Damon about Albarn bad mouthing him (although I do remember him having a little pop at This Is Hardcore) I thought they were quite matey with one another.
I read the interview in Uncut from where these comments were taken. I don't know why Albarn brought up the Jacko incident as the inteviewer (same guy that did the excellent review on the re-issues and accompanying interview with Jarvis I think) merely commented on the differences in political lyrics offered by Jarvis compared to him (Albarn). For no reason, Damon started talking about the Jackson incident. Judging from his comments, the meaning of 'Running The World' was totally lost on him aswell.
Something I've always wanted to know is what sort of relationship did Jarvis have with Noel/Liam?
Noel had great respect for Jarvis after the Brits '96. Chris Evans asked him on TFI Friday I think. If I remember it was the edition when they did TFI in Chris Evans' house if you want to attempt to look it on youtube or something!
Although recently Noel went on one of his rants (timed to coincide with the Best Of release, of course) and took shots at Jarvis, Damon and Albarn for being too ironic. He had a point, in that current bands - in the wake of The Strokes/Franz Ferdinand etc? - seem to be desparately trying to effect cool with "ironical" poses and so forth, but he pretty much slagged his own contemporaries off for being simply cleverer than him, and almost made it a class issue, which of course doesn't stand up for a second as regards Jarvis.