“I played the songs for him, and he said, ‘No… I don’t think we can use any of that.’ I was like, ‘Right. Cheers’”: Damon Albarn rejected an entire album of Blur songs – and accidentally kickstarted guitarist Graham Coxon’s solo career

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur perform at Wembley Stadium on July 08, 2023 in London, England.

Graham Coxon first burst into public consciousness as part of Britpop pioneers Blur.

Now, with Blur on hiatus, eight solo records and four film scores under his belt, and a new solo album, Castle Park, out in June, Coxon is reflecting on how having his songs rejected by the band’s primary songwriter and frontman, Damon Albarn, actually helped kickstart his solo career.