Alex James

Born in Bournemouth in 1968, Alex James picked up the bass in his teens and later joined Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Dave Rowntree in Blur after meeting them at Goldsmiths College. As the band's bassist, he became part of one of the defining groups of the Britpop era.

Alongside music, he developed a writing career. His memoir Bit of a Blur looks back on the wild highs and lows of life in a hugely successful band, and All Cheeses Great and Small turns to his later years in the countryside, where farming and cheesemaking became central parts of his life.

That mix of rock-star experience and down-to-earth reinvention gives his work much of its appeal. Whether he is writing about fame, food, or family, his voice is candid, funny, and easy to follow.