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
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.
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
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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-------
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
This is STILL one of my all time favorite videos. Graham is a natural like Johnny Marr. Seems like fun to hang out with but a touch fragile. Genius level player.
Also like Johnny Marr, just a thoroughly nice bloke too. Johnny changed a lot of people's opinions on the Jaguar to positive, so, another reason to like him.
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!
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.
Awesome guys! I went to Colchester VI form college where Blur (Colchester natives and taught by the college music teacher) played a gig at the height of Brit Pop (End Of A Century had just come out). Only 100 of us in the haf-empty college gym (H&S restricted numbers!), bouncing around like nutters, as Blur played along with our school orchestra. There were limits on the volume, and I remember Graham using a Marshall PowerBrake. At the end Damon asked the sound guys to crank it up. They did and it was incredible. The best gig I have ever been to. Full stop. I was so lucky to be there. This Is A Low is my number one Desert Island Disc, the solo with duelling guitars which hit those notes in unison is as thrilling as anything I have ever heard. It moves me to tears. A huge influence on me. Incredible player and so inventive.
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!
He's probably the only britpop telecaster player whose tone I really love (even though the tele really shines in other styles). Many other players of that same generation stuck with the tele and ended up sounding really thin for the type of music they were trying to create, but Coxon's tone is just out of this world
@@bennyshambles Yep, you're very right. My favourite guitarists from that era (alongside Coxon) are Nick McCabe and Bernard Butler, who were mainly Les Paul players.
@@he_was_a_skater_dog not familiar with Nick McCabe, but Bernard Butler’s playing on Suede’s debut is excellent; a very cool mix of Mick Ronson and Johnny Marr influences. I also like how he plays a semitone flat/tunes down a half step; it makes things sound slightly sludgy. “The Drowners” is an all time favorite.
@@bennyshambles I haven't followed his career outside Suede as well, but I really love the 2 albums he's in! Yeah, you're very right, there's a glam rock element to his style that he articulates really well with all his other influences.
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!)
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....
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.
I'm not a guitar player, but I found myself completely enamoured by this discussion! It opened my eyes (and ears) to guitar in an entirely new and exciting way. Can someone tell me how Graham gets that little melody creeping in during Beetlebum around 26:46 ? What IS that!
it’s a guitar pedal to make it sound really nasty, like lots of rock records and another pedal called a delay. the delay will play back what you’ve played a little after, but sometimes those past notes will clash with the notes you’re currently playing in a very cool way. that’s the best way i can describe the sound of it, the melody itself is beautiful but i couldn’t tell you how he wrote it
This is so crazy! A few days ago my sister recommended me the end of the fucking world, finished it today, decided to check out the soundtrack. THEN FOUND OUT GRAHAN COXON WROTE ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR IT THE WHOLE TIME. Listened to his soundtrack album. AND ON THE SAME DAY FOUND THIS VIDEO. This is amazing!!!
That Pedal Show Right! It’s one of the reason his playing always stood out, both at the time compared to peers and in retrospect as a body of work. Oddly, Blur aren’t huge in my list of faves, but his playing definitely is. Thanks so much for this episode, it’s good to have you back 😄
Hello Vince, I remember you saying you’d love to leave HR & try being a professional guitar. I’d have loved to have been a motorcycle mechanic instead of a scientist. We share a love of music. Cheers! Mike Yead*n
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!
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.
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!
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!
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
Gotta love Graham "I was cursing my younger self" - Im cursing his younger self too for creating such amazing sounds, when they came out I loved listening to them, now Im old I try to play them and realise theres so much more going on than I thought! Tender sounds sooooo nice, yet all the flourishes make it a tricky one to learn properly, my poor wife is now sick of hearing it, although its rarely the same twice as Im learning it.
New to the show. Just watched Noel, now this. Love seeing musicians so at home , in a studio talking gear and music. Tis a beautiful thing. (I can’t even play guitar 😆) BUT music is my favourite thing of all! Thanks for your work ✌🏼
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.
Listen, Josh Smith - Amazing guitarist. Via and Satch, amazing guitarists. However, this really takes me back to my roots. Coxon is an amazing Artist. Forget chords and scales and theory - feel the beat and play what sounds good.
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.
I have been a huge fan of Graham for years and years now and it's just wonderful too see how a true brilliant mind works out. And the years just did him better, not worrying so much about exposure and enjoying the process of being the wonderful artist that he is. Thank you so much for this show!
I have loved Graham since I was made to cut my hair and listen to Parklife at 16 by the rest of my non metal band. He probably also ruined my guitar development because he made me realise no guitarist is bigger than the song and that Blur/Roses/OCS was my thing and not to become the next Nuno Bettencourt or Vai. I've met Graham twice in passing and he is just perfect anti famous and humble. The one time was in a Club in Brum and he was more impressed with the new wrist brace he had bought to help with his fatigue than the gig or his gear. Thanks guys!!
Im 48 years old here in NJ, USA when i was 20 years old i seen blur live IN NYC at Irving Plaza i think it was 1993 or 94 modern life rubish tour. not only was it the first time i ever heard of blur i got to see it live... In changed my life. from that point on i became the biggest blur fan boy. I spent decades trying to learn Graham guitar techniques.. being from the Usa i never seen AMerican guitarists sound like.. him.. I can go on and on.. but seeing these videos is the like the best Closure i can ever have in understanding how to play. I had dreams of hanging out with blur and just jamming with them and graham coxon.. anyways just big shout out.. i cant say enough.. id love to hang out with you guys as a fly on the wall. get you cofee. i totally understand the exciment of the guys interviewing Graham. any ways.. CHEERS Brent and yest i probaly spent over $30,000 in gear trying to figuring out how he got his tones.. on a scale to 1-10 im probally at level 3 to scracting the surface of being able toplay like him or how he played all my favorite blur songs and Grahams solo carear songs.. As a whole. be great to fly to england and on your next show or inteview have a Pint with you guys and just be apart of the chit chat of how he played or be a support system to the cause.. at my old age 48 im happing just chatting and chilling.. i dont need to play .
Always love the show but today’s was really great. When I started playing guitar I wanted to play like Hendrix, Page, Gilmour etc (I still do!) but Graham made me relearn guitar. His parts were just as hard and technical but in a different way. What’s great is that the guitar can be used and inspire us in so many brilliant ways. Thanks for all your shows but especially for today.
What a superb example of musically being yourself. Music is not a competition, there is no right or wrong. It is what feels and sounds pleasing to each individual. This is what makes it the greatest form of self expression. Evolving as we evolve timeless and fluid.
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.
“One of the green kind” a helpful reminder that these things are just tools for our creativity and passion. Nothing more, nothing less! Thanks heaps, guys ❤️
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.
Guitar sound on “Battle”!!! Fantastic! Coxon subverts Marr and you have one of the greatest and recognisable guitarists from the UK. Graham’s playing is both melodic and lyrical and aggressive and dirty!
This was really, really, really good. Thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks. As a fellow teenager around the time of the Blur/Oasis 90s explosion, I have a new found appreciation for Graham's guitar chops.
I don’t imagine Graham Coxon will ever read this, but if you do I would like to say thank you Back when I was 16 Parklife came out and I bought it and Modern Life Is Rubbish, and you included all the chords as well as the lyrics so I could learn to play them in my bedroom That was a really beautiful gesture, I’ve never bought any album that told you the guitar chords other than Blur albums, what a nice thing to do My guess is that was Graham’s idea
Yep. There’s a lot to be said for that approach! Trouble is, then we all just want to know how they do it... and the craziness ensues. Thanks for watching!
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.
Best part 53:40-54: 17 the look on Dan's face. This kind of stuff is how Spirit in the Sky was done, I remember an old interview with Norman Greenbaum and he told of how it was done, something about flapping strings on a Crap guitar.
Graham is the only thing that could reoccur and improve this show. Please have him back on to get his opinion about how new gear just sounds and what he could do with those sounds! Awesome human being
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.
Quite the opposite, I'd say. Its such a visceral, unpredictable style, you gotta have "it", that which can't be taught in music school- in order to pull it off succesfully. Using noise, ridiculous amount of distortion, disonance, feedback, odd progressions, off-key bends, etc. and making them sound so musical is definitely something not a lot musicians can do without messing it up and making people grimace and cover their ears
![Rick Beato At That Pedal Show! [Recording Guitar Tips, Producing & More]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9vefw_c2BRA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Rick Beato At That Pedal Show! [Recording Guitar Tips, Producing & More]](/img/tr.png)
![Graham Coxon At TPS! [All New Pedalboard, The Waeve & Blur Reunion Chat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gCYsfrAP-tc/mqdefault.jpg)
"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
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 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
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
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!
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
Coxon. The very definition of a humble genius.
seems gay to me
Totally agree.
@@Mortalfarmer he’s very attractive, yes. 👍🏻
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!
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.
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!
I'm just here fangirling from the beginning until the end of the video
+Tanyahachi 07 we all are :)
I see you every where
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-------
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!
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.
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
@@haroldushawkinsi5804 which video please
The guy's approach to music is an inspirational as his playing. Smash things together until you get something new.
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 😎
when he played that guitar solo section in coffee and tv... i died
"There is combat in the noise". A genuinely inspiring and unique guitarist. Thank you Dan & Mick for a brilliant show.
This is STILL one of my all time favorite videos. Graham is a natural like Johnny Marr. Seems like fun to hang out with but a touch fragile. Genius level player.
Also like Johnny Marr, just a thoroughly nice bloke too. Johnny changed a lot of people's opinions on the Jaguar to positive, so, another reason to like him.
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!
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.
Awesome guys!
I went to Colchester VI form college where Blur (Colchester natives and taught by the college music teacher) played a gig at the height of Brit Pop (End Of A Century had just come out). Only 100 of us in the haf-empty college gym (H&S restricted numbers!), bouncing around like nutters, as Blur played along with our school orchestra. There were limits on the volume, and I remember Graham using a Marshall PowerBrake. At the end Damon asked the sound guys to crank it up. They did and it was incredible.
The best gig I have ever been to. Full stop. I was so lucky to be there.
This Is A Low is my number one Desert Island Disc, the solo with duelling guitars which hit those notes in unison is as thrilling as anything I have ever heard. It moves me to tears.
A huge influence on me. Incredible player and so inventive.
Amazing story. Absolutely fucking brilliant.
Amazing! What a story! This is a Low is my all time favourite Blur song too
It was pretty special. At the age of 17 it was inspirational - and to have our music students play with them. Incredible.
It's very special isn't it. A stunning piece of music - uplifting and melancholy almost simultaneously. It is perfect.
One of the great guitar solos
This is wonderful, hands down the best interview that I've ever seen with Graham Coxon. Cheers for this
Hooray!
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!
He's probably the only britpop telecaster player whose tone I really love (even though the tele really shines in other styles). Many other players of that same generation stuck with the tele and ended up sounding really thin for the type of music they were trying to create, but Coxon's tone is just out of this world
Well, he also used a Les Paul extensively, so there’s that. It’s not all Telecaster because they tend to sound thin, as you said.
@@bennyshambles Yep, you're very right. My favourite guitarists from that era (alongside Coxon) are Nick McCabe and Bernard Butler, who were mainly Les Paul players.
@@he_was_a_skater_dog not familiar with Nick McCabe, but Bernard Butler’s playing on Suede’s debut is excellent; a very cool mix of Mick Ronson and Johnny Marr influences. I also like how he plays a semitone flat/tunes down a half step; it makes things sound slightly sludgy. “The Drowners” is an all time favorite.
@@bennyshambles I haven't followed his career outside Suede as well, but I really love the 2 albums he's in! Yeah, you're very right, there's a glam rock element to his style that he articulates really well with all his other influences.
Nick McCabe is fantastic! So elegant and powerful. He delivery layers and creates a whole tripping atmosphere
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 ❤
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....
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.
I'm not a guitar player, but I found myself completely enamoured by this discussion! It opened my eyes (and ears) to guitar in an entirely new and exciting way. Can someone tell me how Graham gets that little melody creeping in during Beetlebum around 26:46 ? What IS that!
it’s a guitar pedal to make it sound really nasty, like lots of rock records and another pedal called a delay. the delay will play back what you’ve played a little after, but sometimes those past notes will clash with the notes you’re currently playing in a very cool way. that’s the best way i can describe the sound of it, the melody itself is beautiful but i couldn’t tell you how he wrote it
This is so crazy! A few days ago my sister recommended me the end of the fucking world, finished it today, decided to check out the soundtrack. THEN FOUND OUT GRAHAN COXON WROTE ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR IT THE WHOLE TIME. Listened to his soundtrack album. AND ON THE SAME DAY FOUND THIS VIDEO. This is amazing!!!
“I didn’t know anything about what I was doing...” and that was how he found his way to genius! Fantastic stuff.
+Vince Tuckwood it’s often the way, and there’s no argument when you listen to the output. Genius stuff
That Pedal Show Right! It’s one of the reason his playing always stood out, both at the time compared to peers and in retrospect as a body of work. Oddly, Blur aren’t huge in my list of faves, but his playing definitely is. Thanks so much for this episode, it’s good to have you back 😄
Hello Vince, I remember you saying you’d love to leave HR & try being a professional guitar. I’d have loved to have been a motorcycle mechanic instead of a scientist.
We share a love of music.
Cheers!
Mike Yead*n
Wow wow wow, not always recognised for his contribution, but much respected guitarist. Superbly creative and inspirational. Made my Friday.
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!
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.
Graham Coxon is a legend - always loved his playing and attitude and seems like such a nice bloke!
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!
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!
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
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!
Gotta love Graham "I was cursing my younger self" - Im cursing his younger self too for creating such amazing sounds, when they came out I loved listening to them, now Im old I try to play them and realise theres so much more going on than I thought! Tender sounds sooooo nice, yet all the flourishes make it a tricky one to learn properly, my poor wife is now sick of hearing it, although its rarely the same twice as Im learning it.
New to the show. Just watched Noel, now this. Love seeing musicians so at home , in a studio talking gear and music. Tis a beautiful thing. (I can’t even play guitar 😆)
BUT music is my favourite thing of all!
Thanks for your work ✌🏼
Welcome aboard!
What! Never clicked on a video so fast! Graham is one of my favorite guitar players of all time! He's the reason I got into pedals in the first place
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.
Listen, Josh Smith - Amazing guitarist. Via and Satch, amazing guitarists. However, this really takes me back to my roots. Coxon is an amazing Artist. Forget chords and scales and theory - feel the beat and play what sounds good.
True dat Zach! Do what makes you happy and nothing else. That is what tone is. :0)
I don't think you have to dismiss one approach for the sake of the other.
OH MY GOD GRAHAM ANSWER MY QUESTION ABOUT THE SOUND ON BATTLE LIVE!!!!! LOVE IT
+Muserhead there you go :)
So,so,soooooooo refreshing and I love pedals but he's a guy who puts music first. Brilliant!!!
Hooray!
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.
One of my teenage guitar heroes and even now he's inspiring me to play! Im desperate to go make some noise now!!
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!
What a refreshing view on how to play.....made me feel not quite so crap!
Me too! Mick here. :0)
I have been a huge fan of Graham for years and years now and it's just wonderful too see how a true brilliant mind works out. And the years just did him better, not worrying so much about exposure and enjoying the process of being the wonderful artist that he is. Thank you so much for this show!
How cool to get insights from someone at the pure artist end of the musician-artist continuum.
UA-cam needs a bigger thumbs up. That was bloody marvellous. Thanks chaps!
Thank you so much for this interview! Graham is the best guitarist ever!
I have loved Graham since I was made to cut my hair and listen to Parklife at 16 by the rest of my non metal band. He probably also ruined my guitar development because he made me realise no guitarist is bigger than the song and that Blur/Roses/OCS was my thing and not to become the next Nuno Bettencourt or Vai.
I've met Graham twice in passing and he is just perfect anti famous and humble. The one time was in a Club in Brum and he was more impressed with the new wrist brace he had bought to help with his fatigue than the gig or his gear.
Thanks guys!!
Yus! It's 6pm here in Bangladesh, and it's TPS time! Woo-hoo!
Im 48 years old here in NJ, USA when i was 20 years old i seen blur live IN NYC at Irving Plaza i think it was 1993 or 94 modern life rubish tour. not only was it the first time i ever heard of blur i got to see it live... In changed my life. from that point on i became the biggest blur fan boy. I spent decades trying to learn Graham guitar techniques.. being from the Usa i never seen AMerican guitarists sound like.. him.. I can go on and on.. but seeing these videos is the like the best Closure i can ever have in understanding how to play. I had dreams of hanging out with blur and just jamming with them and graham coxon.. anyways just big shout out.. i cant say enough.. id love to hang out with you guys as a fly on the wall. get you cofee. i totally understand the exciment of the guys interviewing Graham. any ways.. CHEERS Brent and yest i probaly spent over $30,000 in gear trying to figuring out how he got his tones.. on a scale to 1-10 im probally at level 3 to scracting the surface of being able toplay like him or how he played all my favorite blur songs and Grahams solo carear songs.. As a whole. be great to fly to england and on your next show or inteview have a Pint with you guys and just be apart of the chit chat of how he played or be a support system to the cause.. at my old age 48 im happing just chatting and chilling.. i dont need to play .
This man is proof that imagination beats technique.
30:42 in thus far and its already been the most interesting and funniest interview you've done. Pure class so it is.
Nice one, thank you!
Graham Coxon is the coolest cartoon character I've ever saw in real life. It's amazing to live in the same time as TPS.
Coxon is such a lovable eccentric !
Always love the show but today’s was really great. When I started playing guitar I wanted to play like Hendrix, Page, Gilmour etc (I still do!) but Graham made me relearn guitar. His parts were just as hard and technical but in a different way. What’s great is that the guitar can be used and inspire us in so many brilliant ways. Thanks for all your shows but especially for today.
Thank you Dunstan. You’re echoing a common sentiment today - we’re so pleased it’s had this effect on people. Cheers’
What a superb example of musically being yourself. Music is not a competition, there is no right or wrong. It is what feels and sounds pleasing to each individual. This is what makes it the greatest form of self expression. Evolving as we evolve timeless and fluid.
Love this interview. Especially the two presenters faces as Coxon does his amazing thing. For me an artist using a guitar to expressing his soul.
Totally agree with you!
NO WAY!!! Graham flipping Coxon!!! :O Taking a break from everything to watch thisl! :D You guys rock!
This was a really big deal for us. Graham is not super public - we’re lucky boys!
Well done! He deserves more recognition and so do you! Keep it up! :D If you can get John Frusciante to the show I'll love you forever and ever
I would love that. Mick here. But I might just melt.
+That Pedal Show - and thanks for sharing. we're all very lucky!
If more of my rock heroes would just get out and talk about their music, like Graham, that would be awesome. Thanks guys!
This format of casual interview + gear is solid gold. More like this, boys!
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 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 :)
What an eye opening TPS!! Amazing!! Didn’t realise how inspiring a player he actually is!!
“One of the green kind” a helpful reminder that these things are just tools for our creativity and passion. Nothing more, nothing less! Thanks heaps, guys ❤️
+Josh DV yep, they’re tools in a toolbox
What a thoroughly incredible episode, graham is such an inspirational player and a top bloke too. Proud to have him using our pedals.
Graham Coxon playing a weezer song? one of my favourite guitarist taking about other guitarist I admire.... love it!
I don't even smoke pot but I want to with this guy. He is hilarious and I don't even think he is trying to be
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.
Love this! Totally share the delight in the presenter’s face when Graham does his magic. 😃
I'M LITERALLY CRYING
This is the funniest show i've ever seen thanks
Longest video I have ever watched… hooked from beginning to end can’t wait to watch the added bonus video… Steve from Connecticut
Tremendous! The power of contrariness, anger and a telecaster. Inspiring stuff, thank you Mr C and TPS
Guitar sound on “Battle”!!!
Fantastic!
Coxon subverts Marr and you have one of the greatest and recognisable guitarists from the UK. Graham’s playing is both melodic and lyrical and aggressive and dirty!
This was really, really, really good. Thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks. As a fellow teenager around the time of the Blur/Oasis 90s explosion, I have a new found appreciation for Graham's guitar chops.
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it Jonathan. :0)
ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE GUITARRIST! THANK YOU SO MUTCH THAT PEDAL SHOW
I don’t imagine Graham Coxon will ever read this, but if you do I would like to say thank you
Back when I was 16 Parklife came out and I bought it and Modern Life Is Rubbish, and you included all the chords as well as the lyrics so I could learn to play them in my bedroom
That was a really beautiful gesture, I’ve never bought any album that told you the guitar chords other than Blur albums, what a nice thing to do
My guess is that was Graham’s idea
I totally forgot about that detail in the CD booklet/lyric sheet of MLIR. I also appreciated as a teenage guitarist.
@@bennyshambles yeah, it was very kind of them, a gift to the fans. And I tried learning MLIR as well from it as a teenager in the 90’s
@@bennyshambles I should dig it out and have another go at it. I do still listen to it
This is the first time I sad the TPS is only one hour long. This is incredible guys, thank you
For some reason I love it that these guys aren’t precious about gear. They are just tools to do a job.
Yep. There’s a lot to be said for that approach! Trouble is, then we all just want to know how they do it... and the craziness ensues. Thanks for watching!
The man, the myth, the legend. This made my day.
Great conversation. First time ever seeing this channel. Just discovering Blur as well. I can certainly appreciate Graham's perspective on things.
Welcome Joseph!
After watching this, I can't help feeling so much better about my own guitar playing. No rules...love it.
Totally! Be inspired, feel it, do what’s in your heart. If we could all do that... :0)
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.
Fave show so far!!!!!!!***
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.
Best part 53:40-54: 17 the look on Dan's face. This kind of stuff is how Spirit in the Sky was done, I remember an old interview with Norman Greenbaum and he told of how it was done, something about flapping strings on a Crap guitar.
Holy Crap! Thats awesome! Graham Coxon is the man! A huge inspiration to me & the main reason I fell in love with Telecasters!
Graham is the only thing that could reoccur and improve this show. Please have him back on to get his opinion about how new gear just sounds and what he could do with those sounds! Awesome human being
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.
Grahan Coxon - one of the most inspiring guitar players ever, gives you a sense that anyone could do it.
Quite the opposite, I'd say. Its such a visceral, unpredictable style, you gotta have "it", that which can't be taught in music school- in order to pull it off succesfully. Using noise, ridiculous amount of distortion, disonance, feedback, odd progressions, off-key bends, etc. and making them sound so musical is definitely something not a lot musicians can do without messing it up and making people grimace and cover their ears