Gorillaz

Gorillaz is a virtual British band consisting of four comic book characters 2D (lead vocals and keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (electric bass), Noodle (lead guitar and background vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). It was created in 1998 by Damon Albarn, the lead singer of the British group Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, the cartoonist and co-author of the comic strip Tank Girl.

The band is not represented by a circle of real people, rather Albarn and Hewlett work with a changing group of musicians and producers, so there is no real alter ego to the individual band members. The comic book characters are provided with character traits and detailed biographies, although unlike many other "fictional" musical groups (such as Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Archies), they were not originally the subject of a comic book, animated TV series, or the like.

The debut album Gorillaz, released in spring 2001, sold over seven million copies and earned the band an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the "most successful virtual band". The Gorillaz' second album, Demon Days, released in mid-2005, reached the top of the UK charts, second in Germany and sixth in the US. It sold more than six million copies worldwide by 2006 and won a Grammy Award. In spring 2010, the band unveiled Plastic Beach, their third studio album. The Fall, their fourth studio album, followed in late 2010. After a five-year hiatus, the band released their fifth album Humanz in April 2017, their sixth album The Now Now in June 2018, and their album Song Machine - Season One: Strange Timez in October 2020.

Cast and fictitious band history

The following is taken primarily from the biography Rise of the Ogre and contains only fictional information:

• Murdoc Faust Niccals (* 6 June 1966 in Stoke-on-Trent as Murdoc Alphonce Niccals) is the bass player and founder of the band. Early in his childhood he was fascinated by Satanism and its representatives Aleister Crowley and Anton LaVey. His biggest musical influences were Black Sabbath and The Clash. After several unsuccessful attempts to form a band, he one day drove 2D over with his car during a robbery of the organ shop where he worked, putting him in a catatonic state. Sentenced to take care of 2D, who was in need of care, Murdoc caused another car accident a short time later, which brought back 2D's consciousness. With the confidence to form a successful band, Murdoc purchased a hilltop building in Essex, tainted with an eerie past, via the internet, where he set up Kong Studios, Gorillaz' recording studio.
• Stuart Harold "2D" Pot (born 23 May 1978 in Crawley) is the lead singer of the band. He is a big fan of zombie movies like Zombie and counts The Jam, The Clash, Wire and the Buzzcocks as his biggest musical influences. Since a childhood head injury, he only grows blue hair on his head. In the two car accidents with Murdoc, one eye was pushed inwards in each case, making them appear black. For this, Murdoc gave him the nickname "2D", which stands for two dents. When in a positive mood, his eyes turn white.
• Russel Hobbs (born June 3, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York) is the drummer of the band. In a drive-by shooting, Russel absorbed the souls of all his shot friends, causing his eyes to turn completely white. After four years in a coma, his parents sent him to London for protection, where he began working in a record store. One day, Russel, who was known for his extensive knowledge of music, was ambushed by Murdoc and kidnapped to Kong Studios. Since Russel liked the music, he stayed there. The ghost of his best friend Del removes himself from Russel's body every now and then and provided the rap for Clint Eastwood and Rock the House, among others.
• Noodle (born October 31, 1990 in Osaka, Japan) is the band's guitarist. She appeared one day in a FedEx box at the gates of Kong Studios and was named after the first word she said when she left the box. She replaced Paula Cracker, 2D's then-girlfriend who was supposed to be the guitarist, who was kicked out of the band after a fling with Murdoc. As Noodle later learns on a trip to Osaka, she originally came from a children's military program. After it was banned, her memory was wiped and she was shipped to England.

Filmography

TV appearances

• 2005: MTV Europe Music Awards: Feel Good Inc. (Live with De La Soul)
• 2005: MTV Cribs: Gorillaz
• 2006: Grammy Award: Feel Good Inc. & Hung Up (Live with Madonna)
• 2006: BRIT Awards: Dirty Harry (Live with Bootie Brown)
• 2006: MTV The Essential: Gorillaz

Movies

• 2009: Bananaz (film by Ceri Levy)
• 2019: Gorillaz: Reject False Icons (documentary by Denholm Hewlett).