Five Things You Didn’t Know About Gorillaz

Vitamin String Quartet Performs Gorillaz will be available in March. The album includes beautiful string versions of Gorillaz hits including “Clint Eastwood”, “Feel Good Inc.”, and “Stylo.”

Gorillaz is a four man band out of Britain, although that’s not completely accurate, as the band is actually made up of four cartoons. Gorillaz has been around for a decade, (which means we’re getting old), and is the brainchild of Blur’s Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlitt. Here are five things you may not have known about the best cartoon act since Jem and the Holograms.

1. The animated members of Gorillaz are named 2D (lead vocals and guitar), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboard and vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). The band’s website describes 2D as a 23 year old simpleminded sweetheart who idolizes Murdoc, who is said to be a 36 year old former drug addict. Noodle is an 11 year old martial arts expert who pals around with Russel Hoffs, a 25 year old New York City native and the band’s only “proper musician.” 2. The real life human component of the band consists of Damon Albert and a rotating lineup of musicians which has included Cibo Matto’s Miho Hatori, Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads, Del the Funky Homosapien and Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash. The group’s 2010 performance at England’s Glastonbury Festival included appearances by Snoop Dogg and Lou Reed. 3. The band’s three studio albums, Gorillaz, Demon Days and Plastic Beach have sold over 23 million copies worldwide. Demon Days included contributions from Ike Turner, MF DOOM, Dennis Hopper and the London Community Gospel Choir. 4. The band has been nominated for seven Grammys and won the 2006 award for best pop collaboration with vocals for “Feel Good Inc.” They shared the award with David Jude Jolicoeur of De La Soul, who provided the single’s rap segment. 5. The band collaborated with Madonna at the Grammy Awards on a mash-up of their nominated single and the material girl’s “Hung Up.” This performance featured hologram versions of the band and Madonna. Plans were announced for a tour featuring these holograms, but were soon cancelled, as the technology was too expensive and too unpredictable. The Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”