Blur Reveal Hyde Park Inspiration

Reformed Britpop icons Blur have revealed that Hyde Park helped inspire 'Parklife' - one of their biggest hits.

Blur first emerged from Colchester as a shambling baggy act. Trying to blend psychedelia with dance, it was clear that their heart belonged more with decidedly English mavericks such as Syd Barrett than it did with Chicago house.

Stung by criticism of their debut album 'Leisure' the band returned to the drawing board. Inspired by The Kinks, and their use of everyday circumstances for inspiration, Blur began working on a British form of songwriting.

Returning with 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' the band created the template for Britpop. On their follow up album 'Parklife' the band hit paydirt, almost overnight becoming one of the biggest groups in the nation.

Blur's success was propelled by their track 'Parklife'. Always a high point of their set, at the band's recent Glastonbury show they invited original narrator Phil Daniels onto the stage to reprise his role.

Playing the song at the opening night of their Hyde Park gigs, Damon Albarn said "I had the idea for this song in this park, I used to live near Kensington Church Street and I used to watch pigeons and people and all that stuff."

The singer also recalled the massive anti-war demonstration that passed through the park. "Two million people marched into this park in 2003" he said "and tried to stop something and you know what happened, I just want to remind myself about it."

As with their recent Glastonbury show the band opened with debut single 'She's So High'. Playing a number of massive hits, the band also performed fan's favourites such as 'Death Of A Party'.

"We feel really privileged to be able to do nothing for years then come back to this," said a visibly moved Albarn before 'Popscene'. "It's incredible, really incredible."

Blur are set to play another show in Hyde Park tonight (July 3rd). However Damon Albarn doubted if the band could meet the standards of the opening night saying "I honestly don't know how we're going to repeat this tomorrow, thank you for coming."