Gorillaz was formed in Britain in 1994, By Jamie Hewlett and Blur front man Damon Albarn, Gorillaz is a virtual band, Members 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums), Albarn departed from the sound of his band Blur.
Jamie Hewlett initially thought of Damon Albarn as an "arsey, a wanker"
Although not released under the Gorillaz name, Damon Albarn has said that "One of the first ever Gorillaz tunes" was Blur's 1997 single "On Your Own", which was released for their fifth album Blur.
Gorillaz is known for mixing different musical genres, including rock, hip-hop, electronic, and reggae. Their first album, Gorillaz (2001), introduced hits like "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000." It became an international success, showcasing their fresh sound and innovative music videos, which featured the animated band members in different surreal settings.
Their second album, Demon Days (2005), was even more successful, with songs like "Feel Good Inc." and "Dare." This album solidified Gorillaz as a groundbreaking project, blending darker themes with catchy tunes and collaborating with a wide range of artists.
Gorillaz released several more albums, including Plastic Beach (2010), The Now Now (2018), and Song Machine, Season One (2020). They are known for their collaborations with musicians like De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, and many others. Each album comes with new animated videos that expand on the storylines of the fictional band members.
Despite the virtual nature of the band, Gorillaz has toured live with the real musicians behind the music, often using visuals of the animated characters during performances. Today, Gorillaz continues to push the boundaries of music and visual art, maintaining a unique and ever-evolving place in modern music.
