How Phil Daniels became the voice of Blur’s Parklife single

22 August 2024, 16:08

Phil Daniels talks Blur's Parklife

Watch the Quadrophenia legend tell the story of how he came to feature on Blur's iconic track....

Released on 22nd August 1994, a few months after the band's album of the same name, Blur's classic song Parklife delivered a wry look at British life courtesy of Phil Daniels' iconic monologue.

But how did the Quadrophenia star come to feature on the famous Britpop track and how much did he get paid?

Asked how it all came about, Daniels told Radio X's Chris Moyles: "I used to play football for [...] it might have been Melody Maker at the time, and Steve Sutherland was the Editor and the Manager and he said 'Some young band are interested in you singing this song'.

"I said 'I haven't really heard of them', but then I got in contact with Damon and we had a chat, and then he sent me a tape and then I went into the studio and did it, and it was about 40 minutes, and that was it.

"I thought little of it really."

But when Chris Moyles asked him if he took a one-off payment for his feature, the former Eastenders actor replied with a smile: "No... I think what I did was I decided to take a cut instead of taking money up front".

Watch him explain all in our video above.

Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels in Quadrophenia. Picture: Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo

Talking about some of his great memories performing with Blur, he mused: "... I've been all over the world doing it, because Damon always said: 'You can do it whenever you like. I'll tell you when we're going to an interesting country and you can come along if you want'.

"So I've been to Japan, South America, America... All over the place."

Revealing what he does after his famous guest spot on the stage, he added: "Jobs a good'un. Sit behind the drum kit, watch the rest of the band play, sometimes join in with Song 2. It's great!"

The song may have taken the actor all over the world, but it's also brought him on stages much closer to home.

Back in 2012, Daniels joined Blur for a rendition of the song at their 2012 Hyde Park Show.

Bt London Live, Hyde Park, London, Britain - 12 Aug 2012. Picture: Brian Rasic/Getty Images

The collaboration came full circle again in 2023, when Blur played their epic duo of dates at London's Wembley Stadium.

Much to the delight of the crowds, Daniels reprised his feature on the track and came out to perform the single on both nights, by appearing from the band's pop up construction tent on stage.

Phil Daniels performs with Blur at Wembley Stadium in July 2023. Picture: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

Parklife may be 30 years old, but its legacy is by no means over. When Robbie Williams decided to cover the anthem at his BST Hyde Park show this summer, he was joined by none other than cockney 'ardman and EastEnders alumn Danny Dyer, who said: "I just channelled my inner Phil Daniels.

He said of his nerve-wracking take on the single: "I loved it and it was a real moment and Robbie - he called it on and you never know quite what reception you're gonna get either and I got of love from the crowd. It was a beautiful thing."