Former Blur bassist Alex James has claimed that the band were on the verge of reforming last month to headline the Glastonbury Festival.

He said that the band “very nearly” played the festival but a deal with organisers was never completed.

Blur last headlined Glastonbury in 2008 and talk of a reunion has been rife since James told Gigwise last year that the group were meeting to discuss their future over lunch.

In his regular column in the Independent, the bassist wrote: "Blur very nearly played Glastonbury this year. There was a pang of regret when I heard Damon [Albarn]'s mum had nixed it at the 11th hour.

"I was looking forward to showing off to [his wife] Claire and the kids, but I suppose the important thing was to have been asked, and listening to all that screaming I felt pleased about how things had turned out.”

James did, however, go on to suggest that the band might still appear at the event in the future.

"I'm sure it'll happen one day, but for the meantime I put Rossini back in the machine and ate the high road."

(by Jason Gregory)