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At precisely noon, James Blunt energetically enters Gymkhana in Mayfair. “People always ask me about my legacy and what it will be,” he says as he settles into our comfortable booth. “And I truly hope that my legacy will be being the most punctual man in the world of rock and roll.” When I inquire about his well-being, Blunt responds enthusiastically. “Fantastic!” exclaims the singer-songwriter, who will turn 50 this week. “I received an invitation to have lunch at Gymkhana. Let’s take a break from talking about music and instead enjoy some beer, curry, and see where the day takes us!”
Gymkhana is that rare dining spot: a place of impeccable service and food – it recently won a second Michelin star – that also manages to feel relaxed and discreet. It’s little surprise that it has been a hit with celebrities, and everyone else, since it opened in 2013. Blunt looks around the wood-panelled, clubby interior: you suspect he’s more often here in the late evenings rather than lunch. “Yeah, I’ve been photographed rolling out of here before, falling out of here,” he confirms.
What is Blunt’s suggestion for food? “Just to mention, I usually come here with Sheeran, who is very familiar with it. He’s the one making the choices.”
Ed Sheeran is known to be a good friend and godfather to James Blunt’s oldest son. During a stay at Prince Andrew’s house in 2016, Sheeran and Blunt playfully fought each other with ceremonial swords while wearing armor, resulting in Sheeran getting a two-inch scar under his right eye. Sheeran has expressed how much Blunt’s music has influenced him, even playing Blunt’s 2004 album “Back to Bedlam” (which features popular songs like “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover”) while his wife was in labor with their first child in 2020. In the documentary “One Brit Wonder” released last year, Sheeran referred to Blunt as a “national treasure.”
Blunt states, “We compensated him generously for that.” He mentions that it was $250,000 for such positive sentiment.
However, there has been a pleasant shift in treatment for Blunt, who has not always been treated kindly by other musicians and the media. When he first entered the music industry, his background as a member of the aristocracy – attending Harrow, Sandhurst, and serving as an officer in the Life Guards – made him an easy target. Leading up to the 2006 Brit Awards, where Blunt was nominated for five awards and won two (best British pop act and British male solo artist), Paul Weller famously expressed that he would rather eat his own excrement than work with Blunt. At the ceremony, Blunt was ignored by Mick Jagger when he tried to shake the Rolling Stone’s hand. In 2007, during an appearance on Later… With Jools Holland, Blunt claims that Damon Albarn refused to be photographed with him. The NME even went as far as to award Back to Bedlam with the “worst album” of 2006, a statue that Blunt only received last year and now sits alongside his Brit and Ivor Novello awards.
The hate and criticism were extreme and, looking back after almost twenty years, seem almost irrational. After releasing seven albums and still performing at large venues in Europe and America, including upcoming shows at the Royal Albert Hall, does Blunt believe his music has been evaluated more fairly?
According to Blunt, Paul Simon is extremely talented. While Blunt does not consider himself a genius, he is confident in his ability to sing in tune. Despite receiving criticism for his singing, he is able to hit the correct notes when using a tuner. He admits that he is capable of capturing emotions in his songs, such as with his popular song “You’re Beautiful,” but he does not always succeed in doing so.
“I absolutely agree with Blunt about ‘Back to Bedlam,’ the best-selling album in the UK during the 2000s. It’s a solid album, and I would even go as far as to listen to it with Damon Albarn in the room. Even people who are important to me, including some from the Beatles, have praised it.”
That individual was Paul McCartney, just in case you were wondering. Our meal has arrived: Blunt opted for the chicken butter masala and requested the waiter to select a few appetizers and side dishes. The Cobra lager, presented in goblets, is alarmingly easy to drink. Blunt tends to downplay himself: he likes to make fun of himself before anyone else can. This style is well-known to his 2.2 million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, where his clever retorts are renowned. (Example: In 2016, one user wrote, “Who invited James Blunt to the Invictus Games?” Blunt’s reply: “Prince Harry did. Via text. BOOM!”)
Blunt’s approach to dealing with X is to draft a social media post, share it with either his spouse or supervisor, and if they react negatively, he clicks the send button. He explains, “Twitter allowed me the opportunity to speak out and clarify that I am not the person they are portraying me to be.”
However, occasionally, especially when he draws a parallel to Paul Simon, Blunt appears to be more sincere. The negative reception he received when he first gained success clearly affected him and has left a lasting impact. “I had a simple ambition and dream to be a successful touring musician,” he recalls as he tears into a basket of naans. “And that dream became a reality. But then there was a strong backlash and it caught me off guard with its intensity. If I have any regrets, it would be that the backlash came too soon. I would have liked to savor the experience for a little while longer before it hit. It all happened very quickly.”
If you choose to stand out and be successful, then you should also make the most of your achievements. “The gardener did a great job,” says Blunt. Did he receive any counseling? “No, I don’t require it. I have you!”
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After releasing his album Back to Bedlam, Blunt relocated to Ibiza and frequented various clubs. He even constructed his own club in his backyard, labeled as “Blunty’s Nightclub: Where Everybody’s Beautiful.” He describes it as an amazing place that is conveniently close to his bed. Many DJs have visited, but some have decided not to stay after realizing how youthful and immature the atmosphere is. However, Pete Tong has performed there, and P Diddy even sent 400 bottles of Cîroc vodka upon hearing about the club. In the first year, Blunt and his friend Billy consumed 50 bottles of the gifted alcohol.
Blunt’s first 50 years have been remarkable and he has many stories to share. During his time at university in Bristol, he formed a busking duo with adventurer Bear Grylls under the name Limp Willy and the Disappointments. In a funny incident at Jamie Foxx’s hotel suite, Blunt turned to Grylls for advice when he found himself staring at a clogged toilet after being invited by his then-girlfriend Lindsay Lohan. Grylls suggested eating the “angry floater,” a story that Blunt shared at the end of our meal. Blunt considers Grylls a close confidant who has helped him through various tough situations.
This book by Blunt, called Loosely Based on a Made-Up Story and published at the end of last year, is highly entertaining and contains a tale that is similar to the Sheeran story. However, the author states in the preface that many of the stories have been exaggerated and that only some parts are based on truth. In fact, the author’s lawyer has requested that it be clarified that none of the events actually occurred. The author admits to being only partially truthful and possibly stretching the truth at times. However, when asked about the authenticity of the stories, the author claims that they are all true except for one significant event. This event, however, raises doubts about the overall truthfulness of the book.
Blunt tied the knot with lawyer Sofia Wellesley in 2014 and they now have two kids. Has life become less hectic since then? Blunt responds, “I suppose your inquiry is whether I’ve matured and evolved?” He adds, “Well, not really.”
We are finally overwhelmed by the large amount of food and request the bill. Before he departs, I propose to Blunt that he attracts ridiculous and comical misfortunes. He appears to have never considered this before. “No, I don’t think so,” he responds with enthusiasm. “I like to say, ‘I’m willing to try anything once!’ Life is meant to be lived and it’s a lesson I’ve instilled in my children. The saddest word in the world is ‘No’. And the most thrilling word in the world is ‘Yes’. In the military, we would say, ‘Yes, we can do this.’ Can you assist me? ‘Yes, I can.’ Are you up for this? Even though it may be challenging? ‘Yeah, I am’.”
James Blunt will be performing in various cities across the UK from March 30th to April 14th.
Source: theguardian.com
