Blur

United Kingdom, 1988–now

English band led by Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon, formed in London in 1988. After a stylistic turn toward English guitar pop, Modern Life Is Rubbish, Parklife and The Great Escape made them figureheads of Britpop and rivals to Oasis, before Blur (1997) and 13 pushed into lo-fi and art rock.

MusicRoots documents 5 artists who influenced Blur and 1 artist Blur influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Blur?

• The Kinks — The Kinks are Blur's touchstone — Damon Albarn's wry commentary on Englishness consciously echoes Ray Davies, placing Blur in a Kinks-to-Jam lineage of English guitar pop.
• The Beatles — The Beatles' melodic English pop is a foundation of Blur's Britpop songcraft.
• Small Faces — The Small Faces' mod pop and English character run through Blur's Parklife-era sound.
• The Who — The Who's mod power-pop energy is part of Blur's very English guitar attack.
• David Bowie — David Bowie's art-pop reinvention shaped Blur's later, more experimental records.

Which artists did Blur influence?

• Kaiser Chiefs — Blur's witty, hook-laden Britpop is a core template for Kaiser Chiefs' melodic, character-driven indie rock.