That Pedal Show - Graham Coxon On Life, Music, Gear & Inspiration
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
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Life too short for long UA-cam videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
In this episode we welcome the wonderful, enigmatic and popular-music-changing Graham Coxon to the show. Graham is a founding member of legendary British band, Blur who reigned alongside Oasis at the top of the 1990s Britpop scene. They’ve sold millions of records and go down as one of the most famous and successful British bands ever. Graham also has a successful solo career and he does soundtracks too.
Coxon’s unorthodox, visceral approach to guitar and music is influenced by - and continues to influence - a long line of alternative players who eschew a traditional scales-and-‘correct’-technique approach in favour simply whatever works best in the context of the music. Quite a bit of this video centres around that whole discussion as it unfolds into a fascinating and inspiring insight into what's going on inside his head. Recollections of a few classic Blur guitar moments are the icing on the cake.
Please note that there’s not a huge amount of playing in this video. That Pedal Shed is entirely out of context with Graham’s usual worlds of all-encompassing live performance, immersive songwriting and in-the-moment recording.
He is a true artist and we thank him warmly for his insight and candour in this video… and of course his colossal contribution to British music.
We asked Graham if he’d like to plug any current activity in this video. He’s way too modest for all of that, so please check out www.grahamcoxon.co.uk and sign up to his newsletter to find out what’s going on in his world.
Meantime, enjoy the video…
Pedals in this episode…
• Boss TU-3S Chromatic Tuner
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2oRwPSY
USA: bit.ly/3rcyZO7
Australia: bit.ly/2Fl5ejn
• Xotic EP Booster
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2ed1cvg
USA: bit.ly/3F71mBe
• Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2cbsLUm
Australia: bit.ly/2rPSRWo
USA: bit.ly/323rheM
• Hudson Broadcast
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2fkpnOX
Australia: bit.ly/2oUbqrw
• Suhr Koko Boost
www.suhr.com
• Thorpy Gunshot
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2ecWCgK
Australia: bit.ly/2Fn89br
USA: bit.ly/38vjJof
• BAE Hot Fuzz Pedal
USA: bit.ly/35Ew6aG
www.baeaudio.com/hot-fuzz
• Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2D6pRhk
USA: imp.i114863.net/KbxWz
• TC Electronic Alter Ego
Australia: bit.ly/2FzwPkb
• Strymon Flint
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2G3EVQ3
USA: imp.i114863.net/7PbQO
Australia: bit.ly/2FkLm49
• TheGigRig G2
www.thegigrig.com/g2
Why do we have preferred retailer links? Find out here: www.thatpedalshow.com/partners
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
- Intro and welcome: 00:00
- Graham’s 2017 board: 1:30
- What about RATs then? 3:18
- And Marshalls, and Boogies? 6:45
- Bug Man, Coffee & TV: 12:48
- “But, what was great about Oasis”… 13:20
- Graham and the Telecaster: 16:00
- How did your style and approach evolve? 19:48
- The solo at the end of Coffee & TV? 20:55
- Beetlebum… 25:14
- Visual inspiration… and lyrics: 30:35
- Guitar sound on Battle: 35:14
- “No point in learning scales” 38:23
- Soundtracks? 43:30
- “Not interested in being me any more”: 44:45
- A few sounds from Graham’s board: 48:30
- And the fuzz on Song 2? 56:18
Guitars in this episode
• Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster
Amps in this episode
• Victory Sheriff 22 and V212VH cabinet (1 x Celestion G12H Anniversary, 1 x Celestion Vintage 30)
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2hhOUbV
• Marshall 1987x with Marshall 2061x 2x12 cabinet (Celestion G12H Anniversary speakers)
USA That Pedal Shop: bit.ly/3v3Xazc
Both amps are running all the time
We hope you enjoy this video. Please subscribe to our channel.
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/ thatpedalshow
Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop www.thatpedalshop.com/
"I played guitar like i played fotball. No technical abillity really, but yet somehow scored a lot of goals"
He came out with great riffs...you can be the greatest soloist in the world but not much use in a pop band
@@thesuncollective1475 He was pretty amazing at solos too though, although in a more abstract way.
Dude has mad technique if you ask me. Precise fingers
And then plays 15:11
He isn’t a really technical guitarist but his technical ability is pretty solid not a virtuoso but up there in the heights of Jonny Greenwood or Jerry Cantrell
TPS is insane. I watch an hour of a show where the guitar player effectively says "it doesn't matter what gear you use", and my reaction is "fuck it. I'm buying a blue Telecaster with a rosewood fingerboard tomorrow"
right on the nail.
What an interesting conversation - awesome video as always Mick and Dan!
Fender I
Free Jaguar plzz I bet you people have tons of these in stock
Telecaster!, Telecaster!, Telecaster!
InstaBlaster.
graham coxon: i don't know anything
me: i don't know anything
watch out world.
Graham's great. He's either correcting his glasses or fixing his hair. What a character 😂
Or sniffing hahahaha
He’s very fidgety, I think it’s just anxiety a lot of the time!
He must be most adorable man in his 50s in the world
@@mz-hv2vh Apart from me :)
Anxiety
Graham is just so precious. He’s just so humble and shy even though he is so talented. I wish there were more people like him. One of the best guitarists of this time.
Well if there were many people like him he wouldnt be so unique anymore would he 🤔
Mike's face expression at 22:37, when he's told that there were no months of intricate work behind Coffee & TV guitar solo, is the same for each one of us who tried to imitate that with months of work
53:23
He makes ‘wrong’ sound so ‘right’! Literally grabs a sound by the throat and drags it into an awesome tune.
Daniel Hoskins nice! Wish I had the opportunity to see Blur live, but never got the chance. Did manage to catch Graham playing his own stuff in Brighton about 8 years ago, he was great!
27:14 “That sounded- that sounded- that sounded better than it has done in a long time- Yeah, that was- that sounded really good on that.” I love that
when he played that guitar solo section in coffee and tv... i died
This is brilliant. So, one day its josh smith teaching us how yeaaaars of practice does this and that, and the Mr. Coxon saying "F**k it, bend it till it sounds right, hit some pedals maybe" and sounding amazing. The world of music, gear and philosophy is amazing :) Thank you for the show again, hope you had a blast doing it!! :) And a nice weekend to ya fellas.
So glad you see it that way Thomas. Absolutely right!
I think this episode will keep on giving for quite a while. And I've only watched 8 minutes so far!
In fairness to Josh, different approaches yield different results. Josh sounds pretty amazing himself.
Thanks graham for doin this.
I always practice a little of guitar bending every time I can, by playing blues. So, you can get 4 or more types of bending (quarter tone, half tone, three quarter, whole tone and so on) during a practice, everyone useful in specific moments during the playing. Very useful, bending is very analogue to be on tune.
Coxon and Frusciante the most interesting guitar players on last 30 years. And they are in some way similar, very non-standard thinking. Real musicians, real talents.
I would add Johnny Greenwood on that list as well.
@@mchamberlain7408 I agree
I agree, Fruisciante gets all of the credit that he deserves, which is brilliant! But I think Graham deserves more appreciation. People don’t realise how much he carried a lot of blur songs with his guitar playing, and his playing style is just fabulous.
@@caranook he's so underrated especially outside of the UK
@@mchamberlain7408 I would add Jonny Greenwood but subtract the h 😎
Coxon. The very definition of a humble genius.
seems gay to me
Totally agree.
@@Mortalfarmer he’s very attractive, yes. 👍🏻
I'm just here fangirling from the beginning until the end of the video
+Tanyahachi 07 we all are :)
I see you every where
15:11 is Villa Rosie riff, just want to make it easy to find so i can stare at it on repeat for 4 hours trying to figure out how to play it
Just look on VIMEO for "Inside The Album with Graham Coxon from Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish" (youtube has blocked his video because of copywriting), you can see it better, 1h:12:00 to be exact.
@@rafaelsantosx Thank you for the tip! I did try and acess that video a while ago - produce like a pro is great
Graham Coxon is my new hero.. Chaotic genius is a phrase that spring to mind!! 0 musical knowledge, but creates the most amazing noise! His awkwardness and angst absolutely shapes his sound, and I love that, it wouldn’t work any other way!
Totally underrated as guitar wizard!
I think zero musical knowledge isn’t entirely fair or true. He clearly knows a lot more than he claims to.
There's No Other Way.
@@itsMrNoble Absolutely... I think he is just very humble, but clearly he has an education in music along with the natural talent.
He has immense ‘musical’ knowledge I think, just not the type of musical knowledge that only exists on paper. You can hear influences from hundreds of different things in his playing - that only comes from a head full of music.
Guys I discovered you this weekend via the algorithm dropping Noel into my YT stream. So happy.
46 year old who was brought up on good music coz my dad played bass in a rock band for years. Britpop was my moment. Played a bit of guitar but rubbish and have zero idea on pedals. But who cares. I am LOVING these vids.
And Graham is exactly as I expected. At the time we never even thought that these guys were remotely interested in their tools. Not to the point of nerdery. And he admits it, which somehow makes me feel contented 🤣 we were all just having the most fun. Band and punters.
I’ve watched tons of vids with the Van Halen, Young, Knoppfler, Hammett, Vai et al… but these vids with Noel, Marr, Graham mean so much more to me.
Thank you guys! 🙏🏽
P.s. Coxon’s style is so madly unique. Doesn’t even make sense at times, particularly when you hear them in isolation. Genius.
Cheers Adam! And welcome to the TPS family - glad you find it useful and hopefully motivating to get you playing. Best from us!
It is so fascinating how distinctive Graham's playing is even though the music is not super technical. It really is an extension of himself.
Fascinating isn’t it. So much art in a lot of pop music and it totally goes over the heads of most ‘guitarists’. Me included - Mick here.
I like the compliments but have to disagree - some of Blur's music is actually "super technical", it's just so well-arranged and executed that it doesn't sound like it. Some very complex clever chordal harmony and modulations and more besides.
I think getting the chord books to several of their albums as a kid taught me what an augmented chord was, as well as the alternate voicing of the E7#9 "Hendrix chord" which opens their song _Stereotypes_ - the book referred to as a B7b10 and is an E-shaped B "double barre" chord on the 7ᵀᴴ fret with your little finger barring 10ᵀᴴ fret on both B and E strings, see tab below. I think the chord book arrangers called it a 7b10 chord as a joke actually, to distinguish it from the Hendrix chord.
e-----10-----
B-----10-----
G-----8-------
D-----x-------
A-----9-------
E-----7-------
What I find inspiring about Graham, beyond just his playing on Blur and his often excellent solo records, is that he's very much himself and comfy with it as a person. This comes out in his playing too - he's consciously not trying to sound like anyone, quite the opposite, looking to just do interesting things, be creative as himself, see what he's capable of.
It amazed me in a good way how little he knows or cares about gear - he doesn't deify vintage guitars, amps, pedals or anything else, he just wants whatever works to get the sound in his head (Abbey Road and beyond) and everything he's used or still uses is about that. The rig is an extension of his playing, not the thing he's thinking his tone comes from. He's clearly never sat online and spent 9 hours researching different boutique drive pedals or whatever, so I see what he means about not being a guitar nerd. Although from looks and demeanour he could pass for one.
Great interview, still one of my favourite players (Jonny Greenwood has said some nice things about him over the years too) and responsible for some of the more interesting songs and albums to come from the Britpop era. "Blur (1999)" is still my favourite and features some of his best playing, both in terms of cool licks, riffs and noise.
Thank you to the TPS boys for being such great hosts and making this interview happen - obviously made Graham feel right at home. This might be years ago but seeing it today for the first time with fresh eyes, it's a trip. A pleasant one.
At last!!! I have been a massive Graham fan since Modern Life Is Rubbish...totally steered me away from the whole rock/shred thing...he is massively underrated in guitar circles. Great to see him here. Thanks chaps!
15:21
Well, Graham, I personally think Villa Rosie is a bloody top-notch song, thanks in large part to your guitar riff. Don't be so hard on yourself.
(please get Blur to play it live one day!)
Just watched them do it in their Wembley warm up show at Newcastle city hall. Was immense ❤
This man is proof that imagination beats technique.
There’s such a purity, innocence and immediacy to his approach and that’s the energy that grabs me and I assume it’s the same for everyone else. It’s that moment when we all pick up the guitar and immediately say enthusiastic swear words. It warms the heart. Love it!
Thank you so much guys for making this happen. Fantastic show!
What a thoroughly incredible episode, graham is such an inspirational player and a top bloke too. Proud to have him using our pedals.
This format of casual interview + gear is solid gold. More like this, boys!
such a refreshing episode... really great !
Loved this episode! Always loved Grahams playing.. Sounded really cool, Thanks guys!
This is great! Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable, good work!
Thanks so much for doing this show! I'm so glad to see a guest who's all about dirt and gritty angry sounds. Fantastic stories too!
This was just fantastic. He is such an incredible artist. Thanks you so much.
Thank you for this. Kudos for the wide breadth of guests. Love this friggin' channel!
OH MY WORD this is nearly TWO years ago! Still one of my favourite episodes of TPS :) You nailed this episode and Graham is one funny guy, as well as talented....
I've watched this twice today. Having come of age in the mid 1970s, by the time bands like Blur came around, i was no longer paying attention to rock music. Thank you for bringing this musician and his music to my belated attention. Just ordered the Live in Hyde Park record. Cheers!
Graham is GREAT. I could hear it all day...
Ah been waiting in anticipation for this episode. 👌🏻
Fantastic! My favourite episode so far. Thank you for letting him talk and for letting the conversation flow where it needed to go. I really enjoyed it.
Dan & Mick excellent job trying to ask as many fan questions as possible! I love that Graham immediately shares the message that it’s songwriting first, then gear. This is my kind of guitar player. Thank you Graham!
made my day, loved it. Nice to hear someone so candid and splendid.
Thanks for such a candid & relaxed interview. Creative genius!
Loved his openness and how he approaches music/life. Really cool
Graham Coxon is a legend - always loved his playing and attitude and seems like such a nice bloke!
Fantastic! Such an amazing guitarist, Friday is even better.
That was really enjoyable and informative ~ Thank You!
UA-cam needs a bigger thumbs up. That was bloody marvellous. Thanks chaps!
Tremendous! The power of contrariness, anger and a telecaster. Inspiring stuff, thank you Mr C and TPS
ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE GUITARRIST! THANK YOU SO MUTCH THAT PEDAL SHOW
One thing I love about this show is that I’m not only being introduced to awesome pedals I haven’t heard of, but amazing players as well!
Holy Crap! Thats awesome! Graham Coxon is the man! A huge inspiration to me & the main reason I fell in love with Telecasters!
This guy had awesome parents. Guaranteed. Another great episode gentlemen :) Blur was here too!
Love from Canada :)
Possibly my favourite show yet. Humble genius...
Proper legend,my youth,my memories,priceless.
Yus! It's 6pm here in Bangladesh, and it's TPS time! Woo-hoo!
The guy's approach to music is an inspirational as his playing. Smash things together until you get something new.
Great video chaps. Just bought a mug in celebration! Keep up the great, funny, inspiring, informative work.
I watched this like 5 times and it gets better every time. Love GC!
How cool to get insights from someone at the pure artist end of the musician-artist continuum.
Thank you so much for this interview! Graham is the best guitarist ever!
One of my biggest influences (and we share a birthday on top of that). I'm inspired all over again. Thanks!
Love this! Totally share the delight in the presenter’s face when Graham does his magic. 😃
Great work, fellas. Graham's unorthodox techniques speak volumes about the importance of artistry over technical prowess. Also, watching you two fan out like tweens was great.
One of my teenage guitar heroes and even now he's inspiring me to play! Im desperate to go make some noise now!!
Amazing episode guys, as ever Graham has blown my little guitarist mind!
Great episode, the time went so fast. The Coffee & TV solo......genius.
"There is combat in the noise". A genuinely inspiring and unique guitarist. Thank you Dan & Mick for a brilliant show.
One of my favourite people in the music world. Incredible guitarist and his personality comes through in the music and that's why nobody else sounds like him.
Holy crap! Dream episode!
Kudos to Mr Coxon for being so candid. I'd like to see more interviews like this.
That was a great one! Graham's really interesting to listen to and his ethos about making music is perfect - just go with the song and don't over-think it.
If more of my rock heroes would just get out and talk about their music, like Graham, that would be awesome. Thanks guys!
i could listen him talking nonstop for ages - what an amazing artist
I think that was the best Pedal Show to date guys, really fascinating, funny and enlightening. It’s great to hear background stories to the sounds and the development of the player, it puts everything in context and shows that there’s so much more to being a compositional musician than just playing the ‘right’ notes and chords.
Absolutely loved this, great work chaps.
Oh god, thank you so much. I'm not like an insanely huge Coxon solo or Blur fan, but I've always admired his work; such a tasty AND economical player with real character. And a top, personable guy. ACE!
This is absolutely great. Graham is such a nice guy and watching this reminded me to listen to my Blur albums again. I forgot how amazing some of their songs are from a guitar perspective. Graham never really got the credit for his innovative chords and voicing. Can’t stop humming Coffee and TV now ... takes me back to a great time. Thanks guys, I really enjoyed this interview.
A kindred soul in the ways of guitar playing, brilliant.
One of my fav guitarists and artist!
I'm only 8 minutes in and I can no longer watch this (disguised) at work. I keep blurting out laughing. 'Great bloke, motorhead tshirt, all black.....' LMAO. AND he mentioned Harlow Square which, ironically, was pulled down only last week. Ahhh the memories....laters chaps :-)
wow, didn't know Harlow Square had been pulled down. Played there once and met my girlfriend there haha. Good times. Shame it's been pulled, it had some good history.
Amaizing stuff. He seems very humble. Watching him play live (only on video I'm afraid), He has a lot to be proud about. Very
nice of him to demonstrate some classics
Fantastic interview. Thanks for making such a brilliant video - you allowed him plenty of room to be himself and asked lots of great questions. Awesome!
What a great show! What a cool character he is and such a unique style and approach to guitar which is so cool to see!
This is wonderful, hands down the best interview that I've ever seen with Graham Coxon. Cheers for this
Hooray!
I think I've watched this legitimately 20 times, I think everyone can learn from graham. I'm sure the birds love a bit of him!
Brilliant. Amazing. Charming. Down to earth
Top bloke. I could watch this over and over, and probably will.
This combines two of my favorite things. Very exciting!! Great insight into one of my favorite guitarists.
Mick & Dan, this is fantastic. He is such a splendid human, and gives hope to all of us bum noters..
Cheers David! I felt exactly the same. Mick here. After the Kirk/Josh episodes recently I was having a massive crisis of playing confidence. And then Mr C reminds us all that what matters is that you’re inspired and focused on music in your own way. A wonderful reminder/shot in the arm. It really is all good!
Wow wow wow, not always recognised for his contribution, but much respected guitarist. Superbly creative and inspirational. Made my Friday.
Amazing! Best hour of guitar discussion ever!
Love listening to Graham. That Beetlebum sequence is fantastic!
What an eye opening TPS!! Amazing!! Didn’t realise how inspiring a player he actually is!!
This is fabulous. Graham is such an amazing guitarist and artist and you managed to get him in and just let him talk and play. So great to watch and listen to. Thanks TPS and Graham.
+Matthew Monks yeah, special day for us :)
Easily the best episode yet
Such a creative and original guitarist. One of the very best. 😊
I grew up with Blur and Radiohead music. And my fav was always Graham Coxon's guitar sound. Thank you for this video. Love it.
Graham Coxon is brilliant, and he really inspired me when I started writing music. His sounds are just so unique, so good. And even better, he seems to be such a genuine, humble guy. I loved this interview!
Fabulous work all round guys. Love Graham's sound and playing, this is a real treat.
+Tom Lewis cheers Tom :)
Thank you for this!! I love Graham's guitar work on blur, on his solo records..One of my favourites guitar hero!
So,so,soooooooo refreshing and I love pedals but he's a guy who puts music first. Brilliant!!!
Hooray!
I have always known what a wonderful talent Graham is..always so creative with his playing...but at the time Blur were rocking it I was into different stuff...but they were my guilty pleasure mainly because of GC...I was worried about watching this in case he turned out to be...well not what I hoped...but actually he is everything and more... wouldnt you love to have a few beers with him and jam.....awesome.... thanks for the vid.
I've never clicked on a video so fast! Really looking forward to this one!
"Yeah so.... it's me." Brilliant video today guys. Very inspiring!