 An early 1996 Q magazine interview revealed that relations between Blur members had become very strained ; journalist Adrian Deevoy wrote that he found them " on the verge of a nervous breakup " . Guitarist Graham Coxon , in particular , began to resent his bandmates ; James for his playboy lifestyle and Albarn for his control over Blur 's musical direction and public image . In February 1996 , when Coxon and James were absent for a lip @-@ synced Blur performance broadcast on Italian television , they were replaced by a cardboard cutout and a roadie , respectively . Blur biographer Stuart Maconie later wrote that , at the time , " Blur were sewn together very awkwardly . " 
