Gorillaz videos
Gorilla, Gorillas, Gorrillaz
Virtual band founded in 1998 by Damon Albarn from Blur, and comic-book artist Jamie Hewlett designing and drawing the band. It can be found in The Guiness Book of World Records under Most Successful Virtual Band. When the band were first created in 1998, the original concept was a group named 'Gorilla', with a slightly different lineup. The lineup of characters is: 2D - Lead singer, keyboards, additional instruments. Gained his nickname from injuries he sustained in a car accident (vocals performed by Damon Albarn). Murdoc Niccals - Bassist, additional instruments. Sold his soul and middle name to the devil for the band's success. Noodle - Guitarist. A Japanese expat, she was shipped to the band in a crate at 8. Russel Hobbs - Drummer. An American expatriate, possessed by the ghosts of his late friends. Former members: Del The Ghost Rapper - Rapper. One of the above friends, he was sent to the afterlife by the Grim Reaper following their first album (vocals performed by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien). Paula Cracker - Guitarist. 2D's girlfriend of two months, she was kicked out of the band for having an affair with Murdoc. She was a part of the band when they were known as 'Gorilla'. Cyborg Noodle - Guitarist. Robotic replica of the real Noodle who replaces her on Plastic Beach. Ace (102) - Bassist. Former Gangreen Gang member (from the cartoon The Powerpuff Girls), joined in 2018 to fill in for Murdoc while he's serving time in jail after being framed for smuggling. There was also an actual gorilla who played bongos, also during the band's time as 'Gorilla'.
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.