Albarn: I wanted to be a farmer (From Herald Series)

Albarn: I wanted to be a farmer

8:07am Friday 4th May 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Damon Albarn has revealed he grew up wanting to become a farmer.

The Country House singer - whose Blur bandmate Alex James now lives on an organic cheese farm in Oxfordshire - told Shortlist magazine his mother's family were farmers and as a child he believed he world follow in their footsteps.

Damon said: "On my mum's side, my family are all farmers and are very down-to-earth, regular, working people.

"When I was a little kid, I always thought I was going to be a farmer, believe it or not.

"I was convinced, and that was all I wanted to be. Until about the age of 11 or 12 - and then I became gripped by music."

The Gorillaz star also revealed that when he bumped into ex-Oasis star and former rival Noel Gallagher recently at a party they got on "just fine... as I suspected".

Damon added he would be happy to make music with his old sparring partner, and even suggested Noel could join his Africa Express collective later this year, which will perform concerts across Britain as part of the London 2012 celebrations.

He said: "Would I ever collaborate with Noel Gallagher? Well, why not? He should come on the Africa Express train in September. That'd be a nice chance to collaborate."