Blur Biography

FORMED: 1989, Colchester, England The history of Blur can be traced back to 1980 when Damon Albarn (b.1968) and Graham Coxon (b.1969) met as schoolboys at Stanway Comprehensive School in Colchester, Essex, where they sang together in the choir. Both were drawn to music. Damon, a Londoner by birth, was the son of Keith Albarn, a former luminary of England's late-1960's psychedelic rock. Arriving in Colchester in the late '70's, young Damon began studying music. Coxon, who was born on an airbase in Germany, was also the son of a musician. He moved to Colchester in 1977 and was encouraged to learn the saxophone and guitar at Stanway. Alex James...

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The Smiths Biography

FORMED: 1982, Manchester, EnglandDISBANDED: August 1987Acclaimed by many as the most important UK band of the 80s, the Smiths were formed in Manchester, England during the spring of 1982. Morrissey (b. Steven Patrick Morrissey, 22 May 1959, Davyhulme, Manchester, England) and Johnny Marr (b. John Maher, 31 October 1963, Ardwick, Manchester, England) originally combined as a songwriting partnership, and only their names appeared on any contract bearing the title "Smiths". Morrissey had previously played for a couple of months in the Nosebleeds and also rehearsed and auditioned with a late version of Slaughter And The Dogs. After that he wrote...

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