Damon Albarn says collaboration with Lily Allen was a disaster

Blur rocker Damon Albarn's attempted collaboration with Lily Allen was a disaster.

The musician - who is also the main man behind the music of Gorillaz, was forced to work with the pint-sized star by his record label, but insists it was a "bad idea".

He said: "The record label thought it would be a good idea. Lily came down to my studio and said normally she would just sit around and listen to a musician and come up with some ideas.

"I jumped on the piano and played mad stuff and she just looked at me - it didn't exactly go well. She's a really talented kid, but it was just a bad idea."

Damon, 39, also revealed he has no plans to reunite with Blur bandmates Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

He told British newspaper The Sun: "I had dinner with the guys recently and it was a laugh but there's no way they want to work with me again - they all hate me. A reunion is not going to happen. The only reason people would do it is for the money, but I don't need the money.

"Alex is writing books and making cheese and Dave's moving into politics. I've always said if you want to be a musician you have to dedicate yourself to it and do it every day."

By Owen Williams, Feb 01 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy