THEN: James played bass for Blur, teaming with Dave Rowntree to form Britpop’s greatest rhythm section. His work on classics such as “Girls & Boys” and “Coffee & TV” is distinctive and brilliant. He also partied hard; in his autobiography Bit Of A Blur he estimates he spent a million pounds on champagne and cocaine.

NOW: James is a renaissance man! After Blur slowed down in the wake of Think Tank, he bought a farm in the Cotswolds and started making award-winning artisan cheeses. He hosted a music and food festival called Alex James Presents Harvest in 2011, followed by an event called the Big Feastival in 2012 and 2013. Thanks to his interest in astronomy, he became an artist in residence at Oxford University’s astrophysics department in 2007. He’s also worked with Aubin & Willis as a fashion designer and model and has hosted the radio programs Alex James’s Magical Musical Tour and The A-Z of Classic FM Music. James still plays bass for Blur whenever they reunite.