Gorillaz

  • London, England
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  • Hip-Hop/Rap
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  • 1998
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About Gorillaz

Official Site: http://gorillaz.com/ | @gorillazband | facebook.com/Gorillaz


Conceived as the first "virtual hip-hop group," Gorillaz blended the musical talents of Dan "The Automator" Nakamura, Blur's Damon Albarn, Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori, and Tom Tom Club's Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz with the arresting visuals of Jamie Hewlett, best known as the creator of the cult comic Tank Girl. Nakamura's Deltron 3030 cohorts Kid Koala and Del tha Funkee Homosapien rounded out the creative team behind the Gorillaz quartet, whose virtual members included 2-D, the cute but spacy singer/keyboardist; Murdoc, the spooky, possibly Satanic bassist and the brains behind the group; Russel, a drummer equally inspired by "Farrakhan and Chaka Khan" and possessed by "funkyphantoms" that occasionally rise up and provide some zombie-style rapping; and last but not least, Noodle, a ten-year-old Japanese guitar virtuosa and martial arts master. The group's website, www.gorillaz.com, showcased Hewlett's visuals and the group's music in eye- and ear-catching detail.

Gorillaz debuted in late 2000 with the Tomorrow Comes Today EP, which they followed early the next year with the popular Clint Eastwood single. A self-titled, full-length debut album arrived in spring 2001. Gorillaz was a massive worldwide success and achieved platinum-level sales in the U.S.; worldwide, it sold over seven million copies. The group's Svengalis were quick to capitalize, and released the B-sides collection G-Sides, the Phase One: Celebrity Takedown DVD, and the dub-inspired remix album Laika Come Home in 2002. The project soon went on hiatus, however, as Albarn resumed work with Blur for their seventh album, 2003's Think Tank.

When he was ready to begin the next Gorillaz album, Albarn turned to Danger Mouse (the DJ behind The Grey Album, the infamous mash-up of the Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album) and a host of other collaborators, including De La Soul, Shaun Ryder, Debbie Harry, Dennis Hopper, and Martina Topley-Bird. Although Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Nakamura did not return, 2-D, Russel, Murdoc, and Noodle were all present and accounted for on Demon Days, another Top Ten hit, which arrived in spring 2005. The album went double platinum in America and enjoyed even more success in the U.K.; it also received a host of Grammy nominations, a sign that the band had secured critical as well as commercial approval.

Gorillaz broke ground for a new album in 2007, but the project wasn't released until 2010, when Plastic Beach marked the band's third studio effort. Greeted to generally positive reviews, Plastic Beach received more attention for its tour, as ex-Clash members Paul Simonon and Mick Jones were both part of Gorillaz. During that tour, Albarn recorded a new Gorillaz album called The Fall on his iPad. Initially digitally released to fan club members on Christmas Day 2010, The Fall saw a wide official release in the spring of 2011. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi

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Music

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  • Feel Good Inc. (Pop Up Video)
    gorillaz
    Video
    Feel Good Inc. (Pop Up Video)
  • DoYaThing
    gorillaz
    Video
    DoYaThing
  • On Melancholy Hill
    gorillaz
    Video
    On Melancholy Hill
  • Stylo
    gorillaz
    Video
    Stylo
  • Rockit
    gorillaz
    Video
    Rockit
  • El Mañana
    gorillaz
    Video
    El Mañana
  • Dare
    gorillaz
    Video
    Dare
  • Feel Good Inc.
    gorillaz
    Video
    Feel Good Inc.
  • Clint Eastwood
    gorillaz
    Video
    Clint Eastwood
  • 40812
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
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    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Feel Good Inc.
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/5/9/8/6/104868952.mp3
    • Clint Eastwood
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/5/0/4/9/6/879869405.mp3
    • Dare
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/9/3/6/6/104866393.mp3
    • On Melancholy Hill
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/6/3/3/9/252093369.mp3
    • Dirty Harry
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/2/2/9/6/104869223.mp3
    • Stylo (Album Version) (Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/0/4/3/9/252093402.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Gorillaz Don't Get Justin Bieber
    gorillaz
    video
    Gorillaz Don't Get Justin Bieber
  • Feel Good Inc.
    gorillaz
    video
    Feel Good Inc.
  • Done & Dusted (Live)
    gorillaz
    video
    Done & Dusted (Live)
  • Demon Days(Live)
    gorillaz
    video
    Demon Days(Live)
  • House Band: Gorillaz Part 2
    gorillaz
    video
    House Band: Gorillaz Part 2
  • House Band: Gorillaz Part 3
    gorillaz
    video
    House Band: Gorillaz Part 3
  • House Band: Gorillaz Part 1
    gorillaz
    video
    House Band: Gorillaz Part 1
  • Gorillaz on bringing on Danger Mouse
    gorillaz
    video
    Gorillaz on bringing on Danger Mouse
  • Gorillaz on guest stars on "Demon Days"
    gorillaz
    video
    Gorillaz on guest stars on "Demon Days"
  • Gorillaz on their vinyl toys
    gorillaz
    video
    Gorillaz on their vinyl toys

Photos

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  • The Gorillaz' "Stylo" is nominated for Best Video Woodie
    Gorillaz
    The Gorillaz' "Stylo" is nominated for Best Video Woodie
    Getty Images
  • As are Gorillaz, who are up for Breakthrough Video
    Gorillaz
    As are Gorillaz, who are up for Breakthrough Video
    REBEL Media/WireImage
  • Russel of Gorillaz performs on stage at the 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 at the Atlantic Pavilion on November 3, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal.
    Gorillaz
    Russel of Gorillaz performs on stage at the 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 at the Atlantic Pavilion on November 3, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal.
    MJ Kim/Getty Images
  • Gorillaz
    Gorillaz
    Gorillaz
    Jamie Hewlett
  • Gorillaz
    Dave Hogan/Getty Images
  • Gorillaz
    Courtesy of Virgin Records
  • Gorillaz
  • Gorillaz
  • Gorillaz

News

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  • Gorillaz
    Mark E. Smith Turns Every Band Into the Fall
    MTV Hive
    May 15, 2013
    Every Wednesday, Douglas Wolk explores the people, places and coincidences that tie disparate musicians together. Re-Mit -- the 30th or so studio ...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Gorillaz returning with third album in March
    music.yahoo.com
    Hot on the heels of this week's announcement of a headlining slot at the Coachella festival in southern California in April, Damon Albarn's cartoon-po...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz to headline Coachella
    music.yahoo.com
    Jay-Z will bring his "Empire State of Mind" to the West Coast for Coachella this year. The Brooklyn-born rapper will headline the Coachella Valley Mus...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz headline Coachella festival
    music.yahoo.com
    Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz will headline the 11th annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, to be held April 16-18 in southern California. Also con...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Gorillaz Introduce New Member of Animated Band
    www.rollingstone.com
    The Gorillaz have embraced one of the unique advantages of being a cartoon band -- by making up a brand new band member with the help of their fans. P...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Listen: Gorillaz Celebrate Record Store Day With 'Phoner to Arizona'
    www.rollingstone.com
    Click to listen to Gorillaz's "Phoner to Arizona" The Gorillaz originally released their most recent album The Fall as a free download for their fans ...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Review: Gorillaz return with island-themed CD
    music.yahoo.com
    especially new. While Gorillaz aren't exactly occupying exotic territory on "Plastic Beach," at least the ride is enjoyable. CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Con...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Gorillaz's
    MTV News
    "Superfast Jellyfish" and the electro-oddity "Glitter Freeze," which gets an assist from the Fall's Mark E. Smith. It's just that, as the clanging ele...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Gorillaz/James Murphy/Andre 3000's Converse Track: The Story Behind The Song | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    In the most high-profile offering of its "3 Artists. 1 Song" campaign to date, Converse Inc. announced on Feb. 9 that Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem frontm...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Damon Albarn Hints That Blur And Gorillaz Are Done | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet As we've come to expect, Damon Albarn has been keeping busy of late. The songwriter recently recorded two studio albums, Rocket Juice and the Mo...
    Read More
  • Gorillaz
    Damon Albarn Says New Music From Blur and Gorillaz is Unlikely
    Paste
    new album and releasing music from his opera, Dr. Dee, it seems like the two bands that helped Albarn make a name for himself will most likely not be ...
    Read More

Discography

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  • The Fall (2010)
    Gorillaz
    The Fall (2010)
    Virgin
  • Plastic Beach (2010)
    Gorillaz
    Plastic Beach (2010)
    Virgin
  • Demon Days (2005)
    Gorillaz
    Demon Days (2005)
    Virgin
  • Gorillaz (2001)
    Gorillaz
    Gorillaz (2001)
    Virgin
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