Blur’s infamous party boy bassist Alex James has been awarded an honorary doctorate from his hometown’s higher education institute, the University of Bournemouth. Alas they went with the safe option of awarding him a Doctor of the Philosophy of Arts, rather than the obvious research area of cocaine, booze and glamorous models which he detailed in depth in his autobiography Bit of A Blur.
“I’m absolutely chuffed to bits but not as chuffed as my mum who’s doing somersaults in the corner somewhere,” Blur’s former hedonist turned country cheesemaker said. “It feels hugely flattering. It’s a great honour and what’s really nice is coming back to Bournemouth, which holds a very dear place in my heart.”He continued: “Blur formed in an art college, [we were] very much the product of an arts education system,” he explained. “I really don’t think it matters what you do. You just have to follow your heart and do the thing you love the most. I think arts education is absolutely vital. It’s one of the things we’re absolutely brilliant at.”
