For Alex James, music had always been a door to a more exciting life: a way to travel, meet new people and, hopefully, pick up girls. But as bass player of Blur - one of the most successful British bands of all time - his journey was more exciting and extreme than he could ever have predicted. Success catapulted him from a slug-infested squat in Camberwell to a world of private jets and world-class restaurants. As 'the second drunkest member of the world's drunkest band' life was always chaotic, but Alex James retained a boundless enthusiasm and curiosity at odds with his hedonistic lifestyle. From nights in the Groucho with Damien Hirst, to dancing to Sister Sledge with Bjork, to being bitten on the nose by the lead singer of Iron Maiden, he offers a fascinating and hilarious insight into the world of celebrity. At its heart, however is the picaresque tale of one man's search to find meaning in an increasingly surreal world. Pleasingly unrepentant but nonetheless a reformed man, Alex James is the perfect chronicler of his generation - witty, observant, frank and brimming with joie de vivre. BIT OF A BLUR is as charming, funny and deliciously disreputable as its author.
Bit of a Blur
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Review
Alex James is a witty, engaging guide to the mad goings-on behind the scenes of Britpop. Blur's bassist famously estimates that he blew around £1m on champagne and cocaine during the Nineties. Here's how. (INDEPENDENT )
Bright, passionate . . . James writes with wit and flair (TIME OUT )
*'The definitive guide to Britpop . . . this effervescent memoir emerges as the most fascinating, as well as hilarious, document to date of those times (OBSERVER )
Guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye - in a good way (ELLE )
Bright, passionate . . . James writes with wit and flair (TIME OUT )
*'The definitive guide to Britpop . . . this effervescent memoir emerges as the most fascinating, as well as hilarious, document to date of those times (OBSERVER )
Guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye - in a good way (ELLE )
Book Description
* The charming, witty and slightly disreputable memoirs of Alex James - artist, musician, bass player with Blur, and the perfect chronicler of the Britpop generation
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Maire Mannik
Format:Hardcover
I'm going to skip the five-in-a-bed coke-fuelled romps and the whirl of Britpop excess and mention the writing instead.
Alex James is a fine writer of spare, elegant prose with a striking vocabulary. A rare things in these times.
OK, the book is also a hoot to read for its tabulation of London life in the 90s and all the fun of being a pop star, but there's lots more than that - particularly the engaging enthusiasm for astronomy, mathematics and planetary exploration. The curious mind is a very attractive thing.
Alex James is a fine writer of spare, elegant prose with a striking vocabulary. A rare things in these times.
OK, the book is also a hoot to read for its tabulation of London life in the 90s and all the fun of being a pop star, but there's lots more than that - particularly the engaging enthusiasm for astronomy, mathematics and planetary exploration. The curious mind is a very attractive thing.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Brucky
Format:Hardcover
I thought this book was very entertaining and a nice insight, not into Britpop, but into Alex himself and what it was like to grow into and then out of Blur. Obviously, been written by Alex himself, there may have been many stories in the drinking years which he either cannot remember or chooses not to tell ( or only tells you bits of). As you would expect from a self penned book, he paints himself as a lovable rogue rather than the arse he may well have been during his excesses, but at the end of it I was left thinking what a nice bloke, interesting life, good book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By theone&only
Format:Paperback
If you would believe the hyperbolic reviews from the 'proper' newspapers, they would have you believe that is the TRUE story of britpop, romanticised and unflinching, as told by one of its key players.
How disappointed I was with those reviewers who should really know better!
This does none of the above, it's a trawl through the more glamorous parts of Alex James' charmed life but I have to say, it's still a good read. Mr James' way of looking at things is as humorous as it is shallow and his use of purposefully short, clipped sentences is appealing although maddening in their lack of detail. Damon Albarn himself has said he found the book a 'wasted opportunity' and I would have to agree. There is hardly any mention of the Britpop protagonists, hell, even his bandmates get nary a look in as Alex says things like (not a quote!), "When I first met Graham he was eating a banana. I liked Graham".
And that's it, it's back to him! Amusing but annoying.
Overall though, that's what his personality is like so at least the guy is being self-admittedly shallow in his honesty, which saves this book from shoegazing tedium and actually makes it an enjoyable read. If you want to know what it's like being in a famous band, get this!
How disappointed I was with those reviewers who should really know better!
This does none of the above, it's a trawl through the more glamorous parts of Alex James' charmed life but I have to say, it's still a good read. Mr James' way of looking at things is as humorous as it is shallow and his use of purposefully short, clipped sentences is appealing although maddening in their lack of detail. Damon Albarn himself has said he found the book a 'wasted opportunity' and I would have to agree. There is hardly any mention of the Britpop protagonists, hell, even his bandmates get nary a look in as Alex says things like (not a quote!), "When I first met Graham he was eating a banana. I liked Graham".
And that's it, it's back to him! Amusing but annoying.
Overall though, that's what his personality is like so at least the guy is being self-admittedly shallow in his honesty, which saves this book from shoegazing tedium and actually makes it an enjoyable read. If you want to know what it's like being in a famous band, get this!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Too good to put down
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, perhaps it's because it was written by someone from my time, rather than a much older pop star who's times of triumph were before I was born. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Mairi Goodison
5.0 out of 5 stars
Has to be said
Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed this book all the way through. Looking forward to g e trying into the next episode. A must read.
Published 1 month ago by Cillalan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, a must for any Blur fan
Having grown up with a love of Blur (from their first chart outing, when I was 11), to seeing them play Glastonbury out (was that really nearly 4 years ago?! Read more
Published 1 month ago by natapet
3.0 out of 5 stars
Alex James is a moron, don't read, even if you lover Blur.
This book made me really dislike Alex. As a Blur fan I thought I'd read lots about Blur and his experiences in the band. Read more
Published 2 months ago by 83Photography
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
Loved it. Well written and fascinating insight into Britpop era. A bit more on the other members of Blur would have been great, hence four stars.
Published 3 months ago by Kaytee
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
A must read for any blur fan - an interesting insight to the lifestyle of Alex and the other lads.
Published 3 months ago by l johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Bought as a gift for a friend who read it super-fast and lent it to me straight afterwards - I enjoyed it (was a Blur fan in their heyday)
Published 4 months ago by Gavin Dytham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great.
I love alex James so this book wouldn't fail with me. If your'e a fan, read it, if not well... it's still an informative book.
Published 5 months ago by Ann M. Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Champagne & Cheese
Slightly stilted writing style - but what a character. Story jumps from one event to another, then lingers on something else - and then on again. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kevin from Frimley
1.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing
Started well but ended up second rate. How can you trust anything a man says when on one hand he extolls the virtues of artisanal cheesemakers, only to sell out and make 'tomatoe... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Aftiti
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