The Main Event: Blur vs Mogwai

Feature by Ewen Millar | 08 Jul 2009

Seconds Away… Round 1

In 1999, heavyweight cheeky champs Blur were basking in the success of their album 13. Having successfully defined their singles title against Oasis, Albarn’s likely lads were looking forward to an unchallenged headlining slot at T in the Park. Enter Mogwai, fronted by mouthy Glaswegian contender Stuart Braithwaite, fresh from their successful sophomore album Come On Die Young and headlining the opposing Radio 1 tent. Braithwaite took umbrage at Albarn’s apparent use of his break-up with Justin Frischmann for many of the songs on 13, stating flatly: "Using the break-up with your girlfriend as a marketing tool is one of the most disgusting things I've heard in my life. Blur are fucking pish." Braithwaite duly printed up T-Shirts stating “Blur: Are Shite”. Blur, and the rest of the world outside of Scotland, went “Mog-who?

Seconds Away… Round 2

Mogwai, undisputed post-rock champions, have had ten years to move from genuine innovation (2002’s Rock Action), to treading water (2008’s The Hawk is Howling). Blur, originally deposed of their title by inter-band feuds, have now reformed and retrained with the original line-up: they're hungry like Balboa before he won that belt. Braithwaite has duly responded by offering a stunningly original wordplay on his previous T-Shirt, asking “Anyone fancy a ‘Blur: Are Shite Once Again’ T-Shirt?” Blur have yet to respond with their own Mogwai-themed merchandise range, but the two go head to head all over again as Sunday T in the Park headliners on the main stage and King Tut's Wah Wah Tent respectively .

Blur and Mogwai headline the Main Stage and King Tut's Wah Wah Tent respectively on 12 July.

http://www.tinthepark.co.uk