Blur’s huge Wembley shows at risk as band cancel massive festival just days before comeback

BLUR’s upcoming shows at Wembley stadium are at risk after the band pulled out of festival this week.

The Britpop group are due to headline there on Saturday and Sunday, but are unable to play France’s Festival Beauregard on Thursday after drummer Dave Rowntree suffered a knee injury.

Blur (L-R) Alex James, Dave Rowntree, Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon - Dave has injured his knee — Blur (L-R) Alex James, Dave Rowntree, Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon – Dave has injured his kneeCredit: Getty

The band are due to play at Wembley this weekendCredit: Rex

In a translation from French, a post on the Festival Beauregard Twitter account read: “The bad news has just fallen: Blur will not be able to perform their concert in Beauregard. Dave Rowntree, the drummer, was injured this weekend and must rest for future shows”

Royal Blood will take Blur’s place at the French festival.

At the time of writing, the Girls and Boys group – also made up of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Alex James – are yet to comment on the injury or the festival date.

However, a source close to the tour said: “The Wembley dates will go ahead.

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“The French festival pull out was an isolated issue and Blur will be on stage at Wembley this weekend.”

This weekend’s upcoming show would be the first time the band have performed at the iconic venue.

Alex recently told how he cried when Blur – whose last headline shows came in 2015 – sold out Wembley Stadium in two minutes.

He told Red magazine: “You never really know until you put a show on sale if anyone is interested. It’s really emotional.

“I’m absolutely delighted that it’s all back on and I love them all dearly like brothers.”

When he’s not with the band, Alex is kept busy on the farm he lives on with wife Claire and their five children, but he admitted the adjustment between the two very different lifestyles can be tricky.

He laughed: “The last time I went away, I dropped the kids at school and flew to Mexico City, where there were thousands of people waiting for us at the airport and hotel.

“When we got to the venue –a stadium – it was huge.

“But afterwards, you get home and you have to wash up and the kids are like, ‘Dad, stop being a w*****.’ “

It is unclear if Dave will be OK for the weekendCredit: Alamy

The group recently started playing together againCredit: Getty

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