Editing Blur (band) (section)

===Coxon's departure, ''Think Tank'' and hiatus, 2001–2007===
After ''13'' and the subsequent tours in 1999–2000, band members pursued other projects. Graham Coxon recorded a string of solo albums, while Damon Albarn dedicated his time to [[Gorillaz]], the animated band he had created with [[Jamie Hewlett]]. Alex James worked with [[Fat Les]] and co-wrote several songs with [[Sophie Ellis-Bextor]] and [[Marianne Faithfull]].<ref name="SR">{{cite web|first=Garry|last=Mulholland|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/sep/21/popandrock.blur|title=Special relationships|work=The Observer|date=21 September 2003|access-date=21 August 2012|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024011949/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/sep/21/popandrock.blur|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7773370.stm|title=What have Blur been up to?|work=BBC News|date=9 December 2008|access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref>

Recording for Blur's next album began in London in November 2001, but concerted work started in June 2002, with the sessions moving to [[Marrakech]], Morocco soon after, and then to [[Devon]] back in the UK. Not long after the sessions began, Coxon left the group.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Greeves|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/benhillier.asp|title=Recording Blur, Tom Rae & Elbow|work=Sound on Sound|date=July 2003|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307205637/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/benhillier.asp|archive-date=7 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Graham had developed a drinking problem once Blur had become more mainstream<ref>{{Cite web |last=Earls |first=John |date=2023-01-12 |title=Blur star Graham Coxon opens up on his anxiety and alcohol hell |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1720562/blur-Graham-Coxon-interview-anxiety-alcohol |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> being more involved in the business side of music then he would have liked to have, which ended up giving him huge anxiety and depression problems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-29 |title=Graham Coxon interview: 'I was drinking a lot because it knocked off the anxiety' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/graham-coxon-blur-drinking-anxiety-b1908749.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> This caused friendships and relationship problems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=2021-05-20 |title=Graham Coxon says he was destined to become an alcoholic: "It was ready and sitting there" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/graham-coxon-says-he-was-destined-to-become-an-alcoholic-it-was-ready-and-sitting-there-2945040 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> Coxon said "there were no rows" and "[the band] just recognized the feeling that we needed some time apart".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/4812/Graham-Coxon-Explains-Blur-Split/|title=Graham Coxon Explains Blur Split|work=[[The Fly (magazine)|The Fly]]|date=7 May 2009|access-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144707/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/4812/Graham-Coxon-Explains-Blur-Split/|archive-date=6 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before the album was released, Blur released a new single, "[[Don't Bomb When You Are the Bomb]]" as a very limited [[white label record|white label]] release. The song is largely electronic, and was part of the band's protest against war in the Middle East. Albarn, however, attempted to assuage fans' fears that the album would be electronic by providing reassurances that the band's new album would be "a rockin' record", and also said that it has "a lot of finely crafted pop songs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459464/blur-get-political-on-new-lp.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120209083821/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459464/blur-get-political-on-new-lp.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2012|title=Blur To Rock For World Peace On Next Record|work=MTV News|date=10 January 2003|access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> Early in 2002, Blur recorded a song that would be played by [[European Space Agency]]'s [[Beagle 2]] lander once it touched down;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1790918.stm|title=Blur song on Mars Rover|work=BBC News|date=30 January 2002|access-date=11 March 2007}}</ref> however, attempts to locate the probe after it landed on [[Mars]] were fruitless.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3351023.stm|title=Beagle hopes hang on mothership|work=BBC News|date=28 December 2003|access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>

''[[Think Tank (Blur album)|Think Tank]]'', released in May 2003,<ref>{{cite web|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/think-tank-mw0000026126|title=Think Tank – Blur|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=14 June 2022|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|archive-date=30 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730224316/http://www.allmusic.com/album/think-tank-mw0000026126|url-status=live}}</ref> was filled with atmospheric, brooding [[Electronic music|electronic]] sounds, featuring simpler guitar lines played by Albarn, and largely relying on other instruments to replace Coxon. The guitarist's absence also meant that ''Think Tank'' was almost entirely written by Albarn. Its sound was seen as a testament to Albarn's increasing interest in [[African music|African]] and [[Middle Eastern music]], and to his complete control over the group's creative direction.<ref>{{cite web|author=C. Bottomley|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1475339/20030804/blur.jhtml|title=Artist Profile: Blur|work=VH1|date=12 August 2003|access-date=11 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020200324/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1475339/20030804/blur.jhtml|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Think Tank'' was yet another UK number one and reached number 56 in the United States.<ref name="UKChart" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blur/chart-history/tlp/|title=Blur: Billboard 200 chart history|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> It was also nominated for best album at the [[2004 Brit Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3389755.stm|title=Brits 2004: The nominations|work=BBC|date=12 January 2004|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414094605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3389755.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The band did a successful tour in 2003, with former [[The Verve|Verve]] guitarist [[Simon Tong]] filling in for Coxon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2003/02/10/blur-name-ex-verve-guitarist-simon-tong-to-live-lineup/|title=Blur Name Ex-Verve Guitarist Simon Tong To Live Lineup|work=TheFader|date=9 February 2003|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708104945/http://www.thefader.com/2003/02/10/blur-name-ex-verve-guitarist-simon-tong-to-live-lineup/|archive-date=8 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2005, XFM News reported that Blur would record an EP, and denied that they would hire a replacement guitarist for Coxon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2005/x-clusive-damon-albarn-new-blur-ep-and-gigs|title=X-clusive: Damon Albarn – New Blur EP And Gigs|work=XFM News|date=19 October 2005|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401020327/http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2005/x-clusive-damon-albarn-new-blur-ep-and-gigs|archive-date=1 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> There were also some aborted recordings made in 2005. Overall the band kept a low profile and did no studio or touring work as a three-piece. After Coxon significantly thawed on the subject of rejoining Blur,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/blur/25150|title=Graham considers Blur reunion|work=NME|date=22 November 2006|access-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119034043/http://www.nme.com/news/blur/25150|archive-date=19 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 2007 band members announced that they would reunite, and that they intended to record together first in August, with the date later being pushed back to September, then October.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a45865/blur-to-return-to-the-studio-in-august.html|title=Blur to return to the studio in August|work=Digital Spy|date=28 April 2007|access-date=21 August 2012|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153054/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a45865/blur-to-return-to-the-studio-in-august.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/blur/31003|title=Blur WILL reunite next month says Alex James|work=NME|date=10 September 2007|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921134350/https://www.nme.com/news/blur/31003|archive-date=21 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though the band members finally met up in October, they posted on their website that they had only "met up for an enjoyable lunch" and that there were no "other music plans for Blur".<ref name="BBCHydePark">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7771000/7771915.stm|title=Blur confirm massive outdoor show|work=BBC|date=9 December 2008|access-date=10 December 2008|archive-date=12 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212085616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7771000/7771915.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>