Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher shared a hug after the Brit Awards on Tuesday (February 21).

The former Britpop rivals drank together onboard a boat on the Thames, which had been hired by record label EMI hfor their post-ceremony bash.

The embrace came after both parties confirmed they had buried the hatchet in recent NME interviews. In this week’s issue, Damon explained he had a beer with Noel last year and said his former Oasis rival has “great charisma”. Meanwhile, in last week’s NME, Noel described Damon as being “as mad as a box of frogs” and imagined working with him on a new album. He’d get a load of hip-hop dudes working on, which itself would be fucking mental”.

“It’s funny to think Blur were last here 17 years ago when we were big rivals,” Damon told the Evening Standard. “Isn’t it funny how we’ve both mellowed after all these years? We’ve buried the hatchet.”

Both parties performed at the awards ceremony, with Blur recipients of the Outstanding Contribution award, while Noel walked away empty handed after being nominated in the Best Male Solo Artist category.

To read an exclusive interview with Blur, where they discuss the possibility of recording a new album and their plans beyond this summer, pick up the new issue of NME, which is on UK newsstands and available digitally now.

Gallagher is due to pick up the Godlike Genius award and perform at next week’s NME Awards (February 29).