Blur bassist Alex James has suggested fans may need to wait a little longer for another Blur reunion, revealing the band has no intention of stepping on Oasis’ toes while the Gallagher brothers dominate the live music landscape.
Speaking to Chris Moyles on Radio X, James joked that Blur will allow Oasis to “get their stuff out of the way” before seriously considering a return to the stage.
Alex James addresses future Blur reunion plans
Speculation about another Blur reunion has continued since the band’s acclaimed 2023 comeback, which included a Wembley Stadium show and the release of their album The Ballad of Darren.
However, James indicated that any future plans are likely to remain on hold while Oasis continue their hugely successful reunion era.
“I think we need to let Oasis get their stuff out of the way before we even sort of countenance.”
The comment comes amid growing rumours that Oasis could extend their comeback beyond the current Oasis Live ’25 tour, with additional dates potentially planned for 2027.
Blur don’t want to revive the Britpop rivalry
When Moyles suggested Blur should have marked the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ legendary Knebworth concerts by staging their own headline event, James quickly dismissed the idea.
“No, no. Honestly, honestly, I don’t want to poke that hornet’s nest again, trust me!”
The remarks reference one of British music’s most famous rivalries, which dominated headlines throughout the mid-1990s as Blur and Oasis battled for chart supremacy during the height of the Britpop era.
While relations between the bands have softened over the years, the comparisons remain unavoidable whenever either group returns.
Alex James compares Gorillaz to an old relationship
Elsewhere in the interview, James reflected on seeing Blur frontman Damon Albarn perform with Gorillaz at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The bassist used an unexpected film reference to describe the experience.
“[Gorillaz] Absolutely smashed it.”
“Going to see Gorillaz, it’s like – have you seen La La Land? You know, the bit at the end of La La Land where the girl goes to see Ryan Gosling. Emma Stone goes to see Ryan Gosling, and they’re both kind of living their dream, but they’re not together anymore.”
The comparison highlighted the unique dynamic between the Blur bandmates, who continue to pursue successful projects outside of the group.
Britpop Classical continues to grow
Away from Blur, James has been focusing on his Britpop Classical project, which transforms iconic Britpop songs into orchestral performances.
The concept debuted at his Big Feastival event in Oxfordshire in 2025 before expanding into a full touring production.
Speaking to In-Common, James revealed he was initially nervous about how audiences would respond.
“We did it at Feastival and oh my goodness! It was incredible.”
“Thank goodness because I’d bet the farm on it, but it really, really landed and it was great fun so I thought why not trot it out on tour?”
The show has since been performed in concert halls and symphony venues across the UK.
Britpop’s popularity spans generations
James believes the enduring appeal of Britpop music has become even more apparent in recent years.
“There are not as many new bands breaking through now as they were, but music still seems to be as central in everyone’s life as it always has.”
He was particularly surprised by the younger audiences attending Blur’s reunion concerts.
“When Blur got back together in 2023 I was staggered by how much my kids’ mates were into it and how many of them bought tickets to come and see us.”
The same trend, he noted, has been visible at Oasis shows.
“It was the same with the Oasis show, it was a different generation but there were people coming with their parents and these songs just become part of the national consciousness.”
Will Blur reunite again?
While James stopped short of ruling out another Blur reunion, his comments suggest fans should not expect any immediate plans while Oasis remain active.
