Cool Britannia

Take That did it first.

The Pixies did it. The Spice Girls did it. The Police did it.. New Kids on the Block did it. The Bluetones did it. Blur is in the process. However, Damon Albarn assures us it’s not for the money.

Such a bold statement to make. “It’s not for the money.” These days Albarn is definitely a respected musician with his hands in many projects such as the opera Monkey, the animated band The Gorillaz and The Good, the bad and the Queen. Music is clearly dear to his heart and he does not want to come across as a sellout.

Blur ended on rocky terms with one of the original members leaving the band a threesome during the recording of their last album, 2003’s “Think Tank.” Differences aside the band is reuniting with what seems to be few worries. But not for the money.

Take That is a classic case of the reunion. After years together on the boy band circuit, the British quintet became a quartet following the departure of Robbie Williams in 1995. The band dissembled the following year breaking the hearts of every teenage girl in the United Kingdom.

After a decade apart the four remaining members joined forces and released the hit album, “A Beautiful World.” Since the reunion the band continues to have success with it’s latest album, “Circus,” breaking sales records. Their tour of the United Kingdom is even sold out. The latest rumors indicate Williams has reconciled with the band and is contemplating joining them for at least a few appearances.

Even The Spice Girls reunited last summer for a quick “world tour.” The short tour was so popular they were forced to add extra dates. The world tour promoted the release of their greatest hits album. The biggest catch? All FIVE members. This is more impressive considering the ugly parting of Ginger during the group’s success.

It’s not just a trend in the United Kingdom. Look at classic bands like The Police who have caught the fever. My personal favorite though- New Kids on the Block. In near secrecy the five original members recorded “The Block” and released it with huge interest this year.

NKOTB sold out the first leg of their tour and also added extra dates. Their singles are number one of the radio … I’m still amazed they had no problem getting air time!

Now.. despite all this… remember they don’t do it for money. Of course it’s the music- or the fans.

I give them props. It’s great to do what you love because you love it. It’s also great to care about your fans who make careers possible. But really… if you cared about your fans would you break up to begin with?

I can’t help but realize it may very well not be the money, but the fame. They don’t necessarily go hand in hand.. but really they do.

Bands break-up for a variety of reasons. There’s the drug use, tensions in the band (probably from drug use), the inability to keep a record contract, or my personal favorite- creative differences.

If bands were in the industry for the love of music they would simply go out and make music regardless what anyone thinks. Even if there’s tension or “creative differences” there are ways to work around this. If they can’t keep a record contract with a big label, someone somewhere will add them.

Here’s where I’ll point out a band from New York, Straylight Run. I have never seen a band who really loves what they do like this one. The band is not mainstream even with one commercially successful single. When you watch them it’s in their eyes. It’s in the way that despite Capital Records dropping them for low sales and losing a member, John Nolan and gang are still rocking out. They don’t care if the music they make isn’t main stream. They still make it as they desire. They release quality albums that they are proud of and their true fans enjoy.

So being dropped is as good of excuse as tensions within the band. Everyone hates the people they work with.. at least secretly. In bands it’s probably worst because certain members get more attention than the others. Ultimately though if it’s not fame or money that is important, then this shouldn’t matter. Make music- that’s why you’re in the business.

A great cause of tension is “creative differences.” If you can’t see eye to eye there is a thing called side projects. If you look at the industry today the most popular acts are springing into these to exert their creative energy that may not go along with what everyone else in their band imagines. Look at Roses, Kings and Castles or The Last Shadow Puppets. These bands may have great success because they include well known artists, but they are artists… taking the risk for their music.

These reunions aren’t necessarily the best idea. They’re a big gamble for the band, but maybe they need to accept that phase of their lives are over. Yes, fans come and go, but there are the loyal ones that won’t care how famous you are or aren’t. These fans listen to you because they love your music.

Look at bands like Oasis that have been together for years. Even with the Gallaghers running their mouths they still sold out tours then and do today. In America they are clearly not as popular as they use to be, but they still keep going. Look at the Backstreet Boys. They are a boy band that everyone thinks broke up, but never have. They took time to pursue their projects while still making Backstreet Boys albums. Of course they are not selling out arenas across the country anymore, but they still have thousands of screaming girls after them. Maybe they aren’t as popular as New Kids on the Block right this minute, but at least they create music they love and don’t care if it’s the number one album.

I’ll say this much… at least the Backstreet Boys’ last two albums are records they can be proud of. They have grown up, their lyrics are deeper, the music is more complex and less over-produced. The New Kids on the Block have an album that may have sold a lot of copies and gets a lot of airplay, but they will easily be forgotten about in a year… along with “The Block.”

I can’t help but think these bands reunite to chase the dream that ended a long time ago. They expect glory. They expect sold out tours. It’s okay to break up as a band and leave it be, but do not pretend your soul intentions of reuniting is for the music.

The news is true as confirmed early, Blur is making a comeback. The entire four-piece band, who have not been a foursome since 2000, announced their big, official, reunion show is set for July 3, 2009.

Tickets went on sale this morning and sold out in two minutes. The band has since announced the addition of a show on July 2, 2009.

Lead singer, Damon Albarn recently told Absolute Radio the band is going to do a few “warm-up gigs” in preparation for the big shows. “I’d like to go and visit some places that were really important to us growing up,” Albarn said.

Potential locations include Wolverhampton and the band’s home county of Essex according to BBC News.

Albarn is excited for the reunion and told BBC Radio 1, “We’ve gone and done our own thing for awhile and hopefully we’re going to come back and be more focused.”