It was quite nice meeting up because we went through a lot together and we haven't really seen each much other to communicate one to one for quite a long time.

When Blur first started and we were playing Manchester the Hacienda was the place to go. That was where a lot of exciting stuff was happening and London was pretty dead.

I think of someone like Mariah Carey as a singer.

I liked Germany; I'm not into Berlin, it's too huge and empty and imposing, but Munich was good.

I think a lot of cynicism has dropped away from my shoulders since I stopped drinking.

I'm still amazed by the process of recording.

A singer for me is more like someone who is standing alone with a microphone like Scott Walker, rather than someone who is bashing a plank and is spitting all over a microphone.