Damon Albarn Says Oasis “Won” the Britpop Battle Against Blur

Damon Albarn of Blur recently had some kind words to say about his former rivals Oasis, though he won’t be attending the band’s reunion tour anytime soon. And, surprisingly, Albarn also admitted defeat in the once years-long battle for the top of Britpop stardom back in the genre’s heyday in the 90s.

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Anyone who was around back then and enjoyed rock and pop music knew all about this famous beef. Some of it was likely manufactured or just conjecture; both Oasis and Blur were the top bands in Britpop for the better part of a decade, and they were the two bands to constantly duke it out on the charts. However, members of both groups slung mud at the other via the press on occasion. It was a “healthy” rivalry, so to speak.

Now, those years have long passed, and Britpop’s heyday is more or less history now. But for a moment in the 90s, it seemed like everyone was debating whether or not Blur was better than Oasis. Now, according to a recent interview with Albarn, it seems as though the frontman of Blur has admitted defeat.

“Well, it was obvious, wasn’t it?” said Damon Albarn in a recent interview with The Sun. “I think we can officially say that Oasis won the battle, the war, the campaign, everything. They are the winners. They take first place. In the face of such overwhelming evidence, I am happy to accept and concede defeat.”

Damon Albarn Praised His Former Rivals: “It’s Their Summer and God Bless Them”

Damon Albarn went on to praise Oasis, who recently embarked on their highly anticipated global reunion tour.

“It’s their summer and God bless them,” Albarn told the publication. “I hope everyone has a wonderful time, but I’m going to be in a very, very different place.”

Albarn went on to give Oasis a bit of a warning, namely by saying that their reunion might make them a bit more emotional than expected. For reference, the band, made up of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, imploded toward the end of the early aughts, following constant infighting between the siblings that resulted, allegedly, in violence. They have apparently made up and agreed to tour together for the first time in nearly two decades.

“I couldn’t do as many gigs as they’re doing,” said Albarn. “That’s a lot of the same emotion. They’re very brave, and I hope it’s worth it. You know, money isn’t everything.”

Photo by Rune Hellestad – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images