Alex James (musician) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Alex James FRSA
James performing with Blur in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Steven Alexander James
Born	(1968-11-21) 21 November 1968 (age 56) Boscombe, Bournemouth, England
Genres	Rock Britpop
Occupations	Musician cheesemaker author
Instruments	Bass
Years active	1988–present

Steven Alexander James (born 21 November 1968) is an English musician. He is best known as the bassist for the famous rock band Blur. Alex James has also played with other bands like Fat Les and WigWam.

Alex James: Musician, Writer, and Cheesemaker
Personal Life
Images for kids
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Alex James: Musician, Writer, and Cheesemaker

Alex James has had a varied career. He started as a rock star and later became known for making cheese. He also writes and appears on television and radio.

His Music Journey with Blur

Alex James playing bass with Blur in 2013

Alex James was born in Boscombe, Bournemouth, England. He went to Bournemouth School and began playing in bands there. He says the Beatles inspired him to become a musician. When he was young, he watched their film Help! and then bought a Beatles songbook. He learned to play guitar and sing, and from then on, he knew music was for him.

In 1988, James met Graham Coxon at Goldsmiths College, where James was studying French. Soon, he met Coxon's friends Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree. Albarn and Rowntree were in a band called Circus.

In 1989, James joined Coxon, Albarn, and Rowntree in their new band, Seymour. This band later changed its name to Blur. Alex James has been a member of Blur ever since.

Blur has played at many big music events. In 2009, they performed at Glastonbury Festival and Hyde Park. They also played at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in Hyde Park. In 2013, Blur performed at festivals like Rock Werchter in Belgium and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the United States.

Other Music Projects

Alex James in 2009

While Alex James hasn't released solo music, he has worked with other artists. In 1998, he formed a band called Fat Les with actor Keith Allen and artist Damien Hirst. They released the song "Vindaloo" for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. This song became very popular and reached number 2 on the UK music charts.

James also worked with singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor on her first album, Read My Lips. He helped write and produce some songs and played bass on them. He also played bass and co-wrote a song on her 2003 album, Shoot from the Hip. In 2005, he joined his friend Betty Boo in a band called WigWam. In 2009, James played bass on the first album by Bad Lieutenant. This band includes New Order singer Bernard Sumner.

Alex James: Writer and TV Star

Beyond music, Alex James is also a successful writer. He writes about food for The Sun newspaper. He also has a column about farm and family life in The Sunday Telegraph. He writes about cheese for Esquire Magazine too.

James has written for other British newspapers like The Independent and The Times. He also writes for magazines such as Q and The Spectator.

In 2007, James published his autobiography called Bit of a Blur. This book shares his experiences with the band Blur. In 2011, he released another book, All Cheeses Great and Small: A Life Less Blurry. This book tells the story of how he changed from a rock star to a cheesemaker.

Television and Radio

Alex James has appeared on many TV shows. In 2005, he was on BBC Two's University Challenge: The Professionals. In 2007, he was a judge on the Channel 4 show Orange unsignedAct. He also appeared on the news quiz Have I Got News for You.

In 2008, James was part of the reality TV series Maestro on BBC Two. He learned to conduct an orchestra on the show. He has also been a guest on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Top Gear. In 2014, he was on Through the Keyhole and in 2015, he won the Channel 4 show [Celebrity Fifteen to One].

In 2016, Alex James presented a documentary called Alex James: Slowing Down Fast Fashion. This show looked at how the fashion industry affects the environment.

On the radio, James presents Alex James's Date Night on Classic FM every Saturday. He also presented The A-Z of Classic FM Music, which won an award in 2009.

Becoming a Cheesemaker

After his time with Blur, Alex James started making cheese. He bought a farmhouse in the Cotswolds and turned it into a cheese farm. His 200-acre farm in Kingham, Oxfordshire, now makes several types of cheese. Some of his cheeses include Good Queen Maude, Blue Monday, and Goddess. Blue Monday is named after his favorite New Order song.

In 2009, one of his cheeses, Farleigh Wallop, won the Best Goat's Cheese award at the British Cheese Awards. In 2011, James launched a line of everyday cheeses with unusual flavors like 'cheddar and tomato ketchup'.

Music and Food Festivals

Alex James decided to open his Oxfordshire farm to host a yearly food and music festival. The first festival, called Alex James Presents Harvest, took place in September 2011. There were some problems with the first festival, but Alex James helped make sure that local groups, like the primary school, were paid what they were owed.

Since 2012, James has teamed up with famous chef Jamie Oliver to host The Big Feastival. This is an annual food and music festival held on his farm. Jamie Oliver said he was excited to bring the festival to a more rural place at Alex's farm.

The Big Feastival features live music from popular bands and artists. It also has cooking demonstrations, masterclasses, and book signings with well-known chefs. There is also family entertainment for all ages. The festival attracts many visitors each year and continues to be held annually in August.

In 2019, Alex James visited Bledington Primary School. He invited the children to design a festival-themed backdrop for the stage at The Big Feastival. The winning design was displayed at the event.

The Big Feastival continues to be a popular event. The 2024 festival included music from Snow Patrol and Becky Hill, and chefs like Raymond Blanc.

Personal Life

Alex James is married to Claire Neate, a music video producer. They got married in April 2003 and have five children. The family lives on their cheese farm near Kingham in Oxfordshire.

Alex James has received honorary doctorates from Bournemouth University in 2010 and the University of Gloucestershire in 2013. These awards recognize his achievements in music and other areas.