Once upon a time, there were four lads from Sothern England who got together at art school, formed a band and eventually became pop stars of huge proportions in Britain and (to a lesser degree), the rest of the world. It was, however a rather long and daunting journey finding that fame.......

In '91 their debut lp "Leisure", saw them unfairly clumped in with the "Manchester" scene (Stone Roses, Happy Mondays etc.), which was as preposterous as the media-created genre itself for one reason; Manchester was so far from their hombase, unlike the other groups they were so often compared to.

Another album ensued, (the terribly under-rated "Modern Life is Rubbish"), as did the single "Popscene", both of which accomplished less than their first effort.

On the surface, it seemed as though the end of what should have been a promising career had arrived. It was not until the release of their third lp, "Parklife", a cheeky and clever A to Z guide detailing their personal vision of Englishness that they finally took their rightful place in the music world.

Hoping to repeat the chart success of Parklife, it is now '95 and Blur have themselves a very real, very modern and very smart follow-up. "The great escape", whose first single "Country House", has already beaten (serious contenders), Oasis for the number one position in the UK charts is a more global look at life in the '90's and had the band leaving behind the quirky Britishness of it's predecessor and focusing on experiences of Mr. and Mrs. Joe X from Anyhowtown. In other words, it's appeal is strictly universal.

This latest effort which took several months in the making, is perhaps the most maturely diverse of the four lp's and stretches their musical exploration to the limit. Where Parklife wandered lyrically covering a variety of topics, characters and scenarios, The great escape serves as more a musical smorgasboard, incorporating wonky keyboards, poppy glam-inspired vocals and an array of uncharacteristic time signatures and influences. It is also, surprisingly, their most accessable work to date.

The fans who have patiently awaited some sort of justice are of course still around, as are the "Chart watchers" who have joined the game late in the second half. Full of adoration and questions for their pop messiahs, we asked guitarist Graham Coxon and drummer Dave Rowntree to address the huge issues of the day as put to them by the fans, guys and girls of all ages, shapes, sizes and backrounds. Damon Albarn (pin-up/charismatic singer), and bassist Alex James could not attend..........Here's what happened:

What are your middle names?

Coxon: Mine is Leslie. Alex is actually Steven Alex James, and Damon hasn't got one.

What would you call your first boy and girl?

Rowntree: Deborah if it's a boy, and Mark if it's a girl.

Coxon: (laughing), I think names are important. I have one of those name books that tell you where they derive from and what they mean.....(pause), What about Mandy Moon?

Favourite TV programs?

Rowntree: Star Trek.

Coxon: I like the old Star Trek's. Roseanne and Cheers are good. I like Columbo, I like a good detective story, you always know at the beginning who the murderer is, which is kind of a cool twist on the usual formula.

Favourite films of all time?

Coxon: I saw "Fresh" this week and it was excellent. It's about this really smart kid from Manhattan and he runs herion for a dealer. But when he wants to get out of it, he turns it all around and makes the drug dealers turn on each other...."Withnail and I" is a classic. We used to watch it all the time on the tour bus. "Nightmare before Christmas" is amazing.

Rowntree: I'm a really big Peter Greenway fan.

Would you ever want to write a soundtrack?

Coxon: We did actually write a soundtrack for a Stephen Berkhoff film called "Decadence", but it didn't make it in the end. We don't know why.

Favourite article of clothing you own?

Coxon: My new Burberry jacket, and these jeans I'm wearing, although they're getting a hole in the knee which is heartbreaking. My Beastie Boys T-shirt and my Abyss T-shirt....That was another great film

Rowntree: These new Doctor Martens.

Who would you play in the story of your life?

Rowntree: Graham.

Coxon: Richard E. Grant.

If men could be pregnant, would you want to go through it?

Coxon: Yes, but that would mean men would get periods and we'd be down the pub boasting about our flow. There would also be no tax on Tampons..

Rowntree: I think I would like the experience.

Graham, what was your first guitar?

Coxon: Accoustic wise, it was my sister's. I think I lent it to someone and they broke it. My first electric was a cheap Las Paul.

If you could play any role in any film, what would it be?

Coxon: Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver". Maybe even a gun toting character.

Rowntree: A swashbuckling pirate, like Blackbeard in one of those 1950's epic pictures.

What do you miss most about home when you're on tour?

Rowntree: Mashed potatoes.

Coxon: No one makes them like his wife does. For me it's poached eggs. I like truck stops. Besides the food you can get great basketball caps and T-shirts. I've started up a collection.

If you were writing the story of you life, what would you leave out?

Coxon: 1992.

Rowntree: There's not much point in writing a life story if you're going to leave something out, is there?

What would you lie about?

Coxon: I'd say I've met more people than I have. I'd say I got drunk with Patti Smith.

Any pets?

Rowntree: Four cats. Scooter, Chevy, Mouse and Muppet.

Coxon: I used to have a cat called Bastard. He ran away.

Would you ever go vegetarian?

Rowntree: I am already.

Coxon: We are all except me. I'm a bit naughty sometimes. I eat chicken and fish once in a while.

Who does your laundry?

Coxon: and..

Rowntree: Me!!

Would you ever dye your hair?

Coxon: I'm thinking of bleaching it.

Rowntree: No.

Do you enjoy being famous?

Coxon: All I'm going to say is, be careful what you wish, it may come true.