amon Albarn was born to a hippy family in Leytonstone, East London. His mother, Hazel Albarn worked as a stage designer for Joan Littlewood's theatre company at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in London and was working on Mrs Wilson's Diary just before Damon was born. Damon's father, an artist Keith Albarn was mainly involved in TV arts programming and was interested in designing and making modern furniture. He eventually became the manager of art jazz-rock group Soft Machine. Hazel Albarn came from Lincolnshire and Keith Albarn from Nottinghamshire. When they had met each other, they decided to move to London to experience its wide cultural-scene. When Damon was growing up, his parents listened mostly to old blues, Indian ragas and African music. Damon didn't apparently like much of them. His sister, Jessica (an artist, too) was born in 1971.

Damon was a relatively normal child. He was keen on football and his room was filled with the fossils. Since the age of six he has been wearing the glass beads, which he got from his mother. "They give me luck" he has later said. He was attending the George Tomlinson Primary School and at the later age moved to the Stanway Comprehensive School.

At the age of 12 Damon met a year younger Graham Coxon. "Your brogues are crap, mate. Look, mine are the proper sort" were Damon's exact first words to Graham. They both liked The Jam, Human Leagune, XTC and Madness and soon became the best friends.

In the mid-eighties Damon lost his interest to music temporary, concentrated wholly in drama, and moved to Debden to study at the East 15 Drama School. After a year he thought he was "the worst actor in the world" and decided to go back home. At the time he was very depressed and having a bad time. He took a part-time music course at the Goldsmiths College in South London, where he met Graham again and worked as a barman in London's Portobello Hotel. Later, he worked at the Le Croissaint at Euston Station in London and soon after as a tea boy at the Beat Factory studio, owned by Graeme Holdaway. At nights, he worked on his music at the studio.

Until around 1998 Damon had a relationship with Elastica's Justine Frischmann. He is now involved with an artist Suzi Winstanley. On October 2, 1999, they got a baby, named Missy.

Source: 3862 Days by Stuart Maconie


Besides Blur
 

Film Soundtracks

Damon collaborated with classical composer Michael Nyman and recorded a soundtrack for Ravenous in 1998. A year later, he worked with ex-Sugarcube Einar Örn Benediktsson on the soundtrack for 101 Reykjavik. He also wrote and recorded five tracks for Ordinary Decent Criminal and penned "Closet Romantic" for Trainspotting.


Gorillaz (2000-)

Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett are the creators of the cartoon band Gorillaz. Damon writes the songs and provides vocals on the majority of them while Jamie directs the videos and draws the band. The band has been a success around the world selling over 16 million copies of their first three studio albums.


Mali Music (2002)

Mali Music, the album based on recordings Damon made whilst visiting Mali on a trip for Oxfam, was released through his co-founded world music label Honest Jon's. A couple of years later, Damon visited Nigeria to make music with Tony Allen and his band members (the project evolved into The Good, The Bad & The Queen).


Democrazy (2003)

Damon put out a low-profile solo album called Democrazy through Honest Jon's in 2003. The album was compiled of raw demos he recorded on a four-track in hotel rooms during Blur's US tour in the same year.


Africa Express (2006-)

Africa Express is a unique collaboration project between African and Western musicians. Organised by Damon, the project intends to show Western musicians how rich the African music scene is. So far, there have been around ten Africa Express shows in Europe and Africa. Western artists who have been involved in the project include Norman Cook, Magic Numbers, Franz Ferdinand and Hard-Fi.


The Good, The Bad & The Queen (2007)

Damon is the frontman behind The Good, The Bad & The Queen, the London-themed album project with drummer Tony Allen, bassist Paul Simonon and guitarist Simon Tong.


Monkey: Journey To The West (2007-2008)

A Chinese modern opera featuring an eclectic score by Damon and visuals by Jamie Hewlett. The opera was premiered in Manchester in the summer of 2007, followed by performances in France and USA. An album based on the score was released in August 2008.


Dr Dee (2011-2012)

Officially described as "An English Opera", Dr Dee is a stage show about the life of John Dee. It premiered at Manchester International Festival in July 2011 and will be transferred to the London 2012 Festival. Dr Dee is composed and performed by Damon Albarn and directed by Rufus Norris. The soundtrack for the opera has been recorded and will be out in the summer 2012.


Rocket Juice & The Moon (2011-)

A supergroup consisting of Damon, Flea and Tony Allen. Although officially announced in 2011, the group has been together since 2008. Rocket Juice & The Moon's self-titled studio album is scheduled to be out in the spring 2012.


Miscellaneous

• In the 1990s, he worked with Matt Sharp on a Gary Numan tribute album and The Rentals' Seven More Minutes.
   
• Acted in the movie Face (1997) and lend his voice to a character in the Icelandic animation Anna & The Moods (2007).
   
• Fatboy Slim's album Palookaville features Damon's vocals on "Put It Back Together". Also, the last two Massive Attack albums (100th Window and Heligoland) include his contributions.
   
• In 2008, Damon produced a few tracks for Amadou & Mariam's Welcome To Mali. As of December 2011, he is co-producing the new album by Bobby Womack.
   

For the full list and details of Damon's musical appearances outside Blur, see Damon Albarn Discography. Song List also lists appearances outside Blur.


Printer-friendly version