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Graham Coxon

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Graham Coxon was born in 1969 in Rinteln, in West Germany, where his father served in the British Army as a clarinettist and bandleader. He grew up in Colchester, in England. There, at the age of eleven, he got to know Damon Albarn at school. At first Coxon played saxophone on Albarn's songs, later guitar in small bands in Colchester. He studied fine art at Goldsmiths College in London, where he met the bassist Alex James. His great musical example was Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd.

Music and breakthrough

His band Seymour changed its name to Blur at the insistence of the record company. Coxon played all the guitars, sang backing vocals and sometimes drummed. At the time of the Britpop battle with Oasis in 1995 he became increasingly distrustful of the music industry. His fondness for lo-fi and alternative music pulled Blur towards a less commercial sound in the late 1990s. He sang the lead vocal on Coffee & TV himself. In 2002 he left the band, after treatment for his alcohol addiction. In 2009 Blur got back together, and new albums such as The Magic Whip followed later.

Influence

Since 1998 Coxon has made solo records, on which he plays all the instruments himself. Happiness in Magazines (2004) became his greatest success. He also designs the sleeves of his records, and that of Blur's album 13. His guitar playing is restless, with sliding chords, short runs and broken chords, according to one critic more influenced by his saxophone lessons than by ordinary guitar lessons. Noel Gallagher of Oasis called him one of the most talented guitarists of his generation.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Coffee & TV by Blur, on which Graham Coxon sings himself. Notice his restrained way of singing, very different from Damon Albarn's, and his idiosyncratic guitar parts.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists