BLUR - ALEX JAMES 'TURNED DOWN COLDPLAY'

ALEX JAMES 'TURNED DOWN COLDPLAY'

Blur bassist Alex James has claimed he turned down the opportunity to sign Coldplay to his record label.

James alleges he went to watch to watch Chris Martin and co play with Damien Hirst and Joe Strummer, his fellow record company executives, but turned them down for being too "ordinary".

"We all thought they were ordinary and passed on them. I think everyone did, except Parlophone, just like happened with The Beatles – and Blur," he said.

The Blur man, however, appears to have no regrets in missing out on signing one of the biggest bands in the world by stating he's not much of a fan of their music.

"I still think Coldplay are a fairly ordinary band, although the singer is good," he added.

"It's quite hard to make a succinct three-and-a-half minute pop song."

Blur recently announced they were reforming and are rumoured to be one of the headline acts at this summer's Glastonbury festival.