Artist · EveryDisc catalogue

Gorillaz

A British virtual group created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The project includes an extensive fictional universe surrounding the 'virtual group' itself, which consists of four animated members: 2D (lead vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar, drum machine), Noodle (guitar, melodica, vocals), and Russel Hobbs (drums, percussion). Their fictional universe is shown on the band's website and in music videos, as well as in a number of other media, such as short cartoons. A book titled Rise of the Ogre was also written, containing the biography of the characters and some of the people working on Gorillaz. The music is the result of collaborations between various musicians and Albarn, who is the only permanent author of the music, in which influences of genres such as alternative, rock, hip-hop, electronics, dub, and pop can be traced. The group's self-titled debut album sold seven million copies, which allowed the group to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the 'Most Successful Virtual Band'. The second studio album, titled Demon Days and released in 2005, was certified platinum five times in the UK, twice in the USA, and won five Grammy nominations in 2006. By 2007, sales of the albums Gorillaz and Demon Days had exceeded the 15 million mark.