Gorillaz#Noodle

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| footer = Musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, the co-creators of Gorillaz

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Musician Damon Albarn and comic artist Jamie Hewlett met in 1990 when guitarist Graham Coxon, a fan of Hewlett's work, asked him to interview Blur, which Albarn and Coxon had recently formed.{{cite journal|last=Elliot|first=Paul|date=August 2001|title=FEATURE: Damon and Jamie Interview. HEY HEY WE'RE THE MONKEYS!|url=http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/11140.html|journal=Q|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606151746/http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/11140.html|url-status=live}} The interview was published in Deadline, home of Hewlett's comic strip Tank Girl. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey, a wanker". Though Hewlett became acquaintances with the band, he and Albarn often clashed, especially after Hewlett began seeing Coxon's ex-girlfriend Jane Oliver. Despite this, Albarn and Hewlett started sharing a flat on Westbourne Grove in London in 1997.{{cite journal |first = Chris |last = Heath |author-link = Chris Heath |date = November 2007 |url = http://www.vblurpage.com/articles/stories/q_07.htm |title = The 21 People Who Changed Music: Damon Albarn |journal = Q |page = 87 |access-date = 24 April 2017 |archive-date = 25 April 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121737/http://www.vblurpage.com/articles/stories/q_07.htm |url-status = dead }} Hewlett had recently broken up with Oliver and Albarn was at the end of his highly publicised relationship with Justine Frischmann of Elastica.

The idea to create Gorillaz came about when Albarn and Hewlett were watching MTV. Hewlett said, "If you watch MTV for too long, it's a bit like hell – there's nothing of substance there. So we got this idea for a virtual band, something that would be a comment on that."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html |title=Keeping It (Un)real|access-date=5 October 2008|first=Neil|last=Gaiman|author-link=Neil Gaiman|date=July 2005|magazine=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105225835/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html|archive-date=5 January 2010|url-status=live}} Albarn said: "This was the beginning of the boy band sort of explosion... and it just felt so manufactured. And we were like, well let's make a manufactured band but make it kind of interesting."{{Cite AV media|author=Hot 97|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI|title=Gorillaz Share The Secret Behind Their Animations, Friction & New Album|type=video|via=YouTube|time=1:42|access-date=24 August 2022|date=28 April 2017|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713103845/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s|url-status=live}}

The band originally identified themselves as "Gorilla" and the first song they recorded was "Ghost Train",{{cite news|last=Macnie|first=Jim|date=9 June 2005|title=Gorillaz: Who Can It Be Now?|publisher=VH1|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1503836/060905/gorillaz.jhtml|url-status=dead|access-date=10 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506223813/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1503836/060905/gorillaz.jhtml|archive-date=6 May 2009}} which was later released as a B-side on their single "Rock the House". The band's visual style is thought to have evolved from The 16s, a rejected comic strip Hewlett conceived with Tank Girl co-creator Alan Martin.{{cite news |title=Where Tank Girl meets Snoopy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7529278.stm |access-date=20 December 2021 |agency=BBC |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220141319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7529278.stm |url-status=live }}

Although not released under the Gorillaz name, 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 studio album Blur.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2854145.htm|last1=McDougall|first1=Lindsay|title=Gorillaz's Damon Albarn interview (part 2)|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518214436/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2854145.htm|url-status=live}}

From 1998 to 2000, Albarn recorded Gorillaz' self-titled debut album at his newly opened Studio 13 in London as well as at Geejam Studios in Jamaica.{{cite AV media notes|title=Gorillaz|publisher=Parlophone|type=CD liner|year=2001|id=7243 531138 1 0}} The sessions resulted in the first Gorillaz release, the EP Tomorrow Comes Today, released on 27 November 2000. This EP consisted mostly of tracks which later appeared on the album, and it also included the band's first music video for "Tomorrow Comes Today", which introduced the virtual band members for the first time.

With Gorillaz, Albarn explored genres he had not explored with Blur, such as hip-hop, dub and Latin music, a process he described as liberating: "One of the reasons I began Gorillaz is I had a lot of rhythms I never thought I could use with Blur. A lot of that stuff never really seemed to manifest itself in the music we made together as Blur."{{cite journal|year=2001|title=Gorillaz Interview|url=http://damonalbarnunofficial.blogspot.com/2012/01/gorillaz-interview-2001-q-magazine.html|journal=Q|access-date=12 July 2020|archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314235216/https://damonalbarnunofficial.blogspot.com/2012/01/gorillaz-interview-2001-q-magazine.html|url-status=live}}

Albarn began work on the album by himself, but eventually invited American hip-hop producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura. He said: "I called Dan the Automator in after I'd done more than half of it and felt it would benefit from having somebody else's focus. So I just rang him and asked whether he was interested in helping me finish it off." Nakamura and Albarn had recently collaborated on Deltron 3030, the debut album by the hip-hop supergroup of the same name featuring rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala, both of whom Nakamura recruited to assist in finishing Gorillaz material. Del featured on two tracks on the album, including the lead single "Clint Eastwood", while Kid Koala contributed turntables to various tracks. The album featured additional collaborations with Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club, Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, representing a pattern of collaboration with a wide range of artists which later became a staple of Gorillaz.

File:Dan the Automator 2015.jpg produced the band's debut album.]]Gorillaz was released on 26 March 2001 and was a major commercial success, debuting at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 14 on the US Billboard 200, going on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide, powered by the success of the "Clint Eastwood" single.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/artists/gorillaz/|title=Artists|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418103625/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/artists/gorillaz/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gorillaz/chart-history/tlp/|title=Gorillaz|magazine=Billboard|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109150704/https://www.billboard.com/artist/gorillaz/chart-history/tlp/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vblurpage.com/info/chartography/sales_albums.htm|title=Blur Album Sales|website=vblurpage.com|access-date=1 July 2019|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915023814/http://www.vblurpage.com/info/chartography/sales_albums.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ |title=BPI Awards – bpi |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074620/https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/ |url-status=dead }} The album was promoted with the singles "Clint Eastwood", "19-2000" and "Rock the House", in addition to the previously released "Tomorrow Comes Today", with each single featuring a music video directed by Hewlett starring the virtual members. Hewlett also helmed the design of the band's website, which was presented as an interactive tour of the band's fictional "Kong Studios" home and recording studio, featuring interactive games and explorative elements.{{cite journal|date=16 March 2001|title=Gorillaz in Our Midst|journal=The Guardian}} Following the release of the album, the band embarked on a brief tour of Europe, Japan and the United States to support the album in which a touring band featuring Albarn played completely obscured behind a giant screen on which Hewlett's accompanying visuals were projected. The virtual band member's voice actors were also present at some shows and spoke live to the audience to give the impression that the fictional band was present on stage. In later interviews, Albarn described the band's first tour as difficult due to the limitations imposed by the band playing behind a screen: "For someone who had just spent the last ten years out front being a frontman [with Blur], it was a really weird experience. And I have to say, some nights I just wanted to get a knife and just cut [the screen] and stick my head through."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=737s |title=Gorillaz Share the Secret Behind Their Animations, Friction & New Album – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803142949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=737s |url-status=dead }} The album was followed by the B-sides compilation G-Sides released in December 2001.

On 7 December 2001, the band released the single "911", a collaboration with hip hop group D12 (without Eminem) and singer Terry Hall of the Specials about the September 11 attacks.{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Cass|author-link=Cass Browne|author2=Gorillaz|title=Rise of the Ogre|date=2 November 2006|publisher=Penguin|location=United States|isbn=1-59448-931-9|page=99}} At the 2002 Brit Awards the virtual members of Gorillaz "performed" for the first time, appearing in 3D animation on four large screens along with rap accompaniment by Phi Life Cypher, a production which reportedly cost £300,000 to create.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1830047.stm|title=Brits get underway|access-date=12 July 2020|date=20 February 2002|work=BBC News|archive-date=12 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712170030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1830047.stm|url-status=live}} The band were nominated for four Brit Awards, including Best British Group, Best British Album and British Breakthrough Act,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1760402.stm|title=Brit Awards 2002: The nominations|access-date=11 February 2009|date=14 January 2002|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111005221/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1760402.stm|archive-date=11 November 2011|url-status=live}} but did not win any awards.{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gorillaz/2002/02/23/745445.html|title=Gorillaz come out of the mist|access-date=11 February 2009|first=Kieran|last=Grant|date=23 February 2002|work=Canadian Online Explorer|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709161655/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gorillaz/2002/02/23/745445.html|archive-date=9 July 2012|url-status=usurped}}

On 1 July 2002, a remix album titled Laika Come Home was released, containing most of the tracks from Gorillaz remixed in dub and reggae style by the DJ group Spacemonkeyz.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/gorillaz/6476|title=NME Album Reviews – Space Monkeys vs. Gorillaz: Laika Come Home|work=NME|date=12 September 2005|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531080043/http://www.nme.com/reviews/gorillaz/6476|url-status=live}} On 18 November 2002, the band released the DVD Phase One: Celebrity Take Down, which contained all of the band's released visual content up to that point along with other extras.{{cite news|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18165-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd|title=Phase One: Celebrity Take Down DVD|access-date=11 February 2009|first=Rob|last=Mitchum|date=5 February 2003|work=Pitchfork|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104010306/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3525-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd/|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=dead}}

After the success of the debut album, Albarn and Hewlett briefly explored the possibility of creating a Gorillaz theatrical film, but Hewlett claimed the duo later lost interest: "We lost all interest in doing it as soon as we started meeting with studios and talking to these Hollywood executive types, we just weren't on the same page. We said, fuck it, we'll sit on the idea until we can do it ourselves, and maybe even raise the money ourselves."{{cite journal|last=Joseph|first=Michael|date=2 November 2006|title=Gorillaz in the Midst|journal=The Big Issue in Scotland|issue=604|page=13}}

Albarn spent the majority of 2003 on tour with Blur in support of their newly released album Think Tank; however, upon completion of the tour, he decided to return to Gorillaz, reuniting with Hewlett to prepare for a second album. Hewlett explained that the duo chose to continue Gorillaz to prove that the project was not "a gimmick": "If you do it again, it's no longer a gimmick, and if it works then we've proved a point."{{cite web |url=http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/article/both.html |title=Website Suspended – Pickaweb |publisher=Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318041813/http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/article/both.html |archive-date= 18 March 2012}} The resulting album Demon Days, released on 11 May 2005, was another major commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the UK Albums Charts and No. 6 on the US Billboard 200, and has since gone six times platinum in the UK, double platinum in the United States,{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Gorillaz&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |title=Gorillaz RIAA certifications |access-date=7 December 2008 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903230335/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Gorillaz&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=dead}} and triple platinum in Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums |access-date=3 April 2007 |year=2006 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102034739/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |archive-date=2 January 2010}} outperforming sales of the first album and becoming the band's most successful album to date.{{cite web|url=http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/gorillaz_profile.html |title=Artist Profile – Gorillaz |access-date=7 December 2008 |year=2006 |publisher=EMI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115114738/http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/gorillaz_profile.html |archive-date=15 November 2008 }} The album's success was partially driven by the success of the lead single "Feel Good Inc."{{Citation |last=Rambarran |first=Shara |title="Feel Good" with Gorillaz and "Reject False Icons": The Fantasy Worlds of the Virtual Group and Their Creators |date=2016-03-01 |work=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Virtuality |pages=148–166 |editor-last=Whiteley |editor-first=Sheila |url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28035/chapter-abstract/211921711?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2025-02-16 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199321285.013.15 |isbn=978-0-19-932128-5 |editor2-last=Rambarran |editor2-first=Shara|url-access=subscription }} featuring hip-hop group De La Soul, which topped Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in the U.S. for eight consecutive weeks and was featured in a commercial for Apple's iPod.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYhyCZWZtA |title=Gorillaz Feel Good Inc. Apple iPod + iTunes – mai 2005 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904172217/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYhyCZWZtA |url-status=dead }} The album was also supported by the later singles "Dare", "Dirty Harry", and the double A-side "Kids with Guns" / "El Mañana".

File:Danger Mouse with Broken Bells 2010.jpg to produce the band's second album Demon Days after hearing his mashup album The Grey Album.]]Demon Days found the band taking a darker tone, partially influenced by a train journey Albarn had taken with his family through impoverished rural China.{{Cite web|url=https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/96999.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709034459/http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/96999.html|url-status=dead|title=New Damon interview in Notion magazine – talks Gorillaz|website=Gorillaz-news.livejournal.com|archive-date=9 July 2012|access-date=23 October 2020}} Albarn described the album as a concept album: "The whole album kind of tells the story of the night — staying up during the night — but it's also an allegory. It's what we're living in basically, the world in a state of night."{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=5 April 2005|title=Cartoon Gorillaz put a muzzle on Danger Mouse, Damon Albarn|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1499626/cartoon-gorillaz-put-a-muzzle-on-danger-mouse-damon-albarn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214101011/http://www.mtv.com/news/1499626/cartoon-gorillaz-put-a-muzzle-on-danger-mouse-damon-albarn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2016|publisher=MTV News}} Believing that the album needed "a slightly different approach" compared to the first album, Albarn enlisted American producer Brian Burton, better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, to produce the album, whom Albarn praised as "one of the best young producers in the world" after hearing his 2004 mashup album The Grey Album. Burton felt he and Albarn had a high degree of affinity with each other, stating in an interview on the creation of the album: "We never had any arguments. We even have that finish-each-other's-sentences thing happening. There are a lot of the same influences between us, like Ennio Morricone and psychedelic pop-rock, but he has 10 years on me, so I have some catching up to do. Where he can school me on new wave and punk of the late '70s/early '80s, I can school him on a lot of hip-hop. We're very competitive and pushed each other."{{Cite web|url=https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/106200.html|title=New Danger Mouse interview (talks about working with Gorillaz) in LA Weekly|website=Gorillaz-news.livejournal.com|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801045424/https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/106200.html|url-status=live}} Similar to the first album, Demon Days features collaborations with several different artists, including Bootie Brown, Shaun Ryder, Ike Turner, MF Doom (who was recording with Danger Mouse as Danger Doom at the time) and Martina Topley-Bird, among others.{{cite AV media notes|title=Demon Days |publisher=Parlophone|type=CD liner|year=2005|id=07243 873838 1 4 }}

File:De La Soul Demon Days Live.jpg performances (pictured here with De La Soul on stage).]] The band chose to forgo traditional live touring in support of Demon Days, instead limiting live performance during the album cycle to a five night residency in November 2005 at the Manchester Opera House billed as Demon Days Live.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spin.com/2005/09/gorillaz-take-manchester-prep-holographic-live-show/|title=Gorillaz Take Manchester, Prep Holographic Live Show|magazine=Spin|date=22 September 2005|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427061509/http://www.spin.com/2005/09/gorillaz-take-manchester-prep-holographic-live-show/|url-status=live}} The concerts saw the band performing the album in full each night with most featured artists from the album present. Unlike the debut album's tour, the touring band was visible on stage in view of the audience but obscured by lighting in such a way that only their silhouettes were visible, with a screen above the band displaying Hewlett's visuals alongside each song.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-127-1366821|title=Gorillaz live secrets revealed|magazine=NME|date=29 October 2005|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427194536/http://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-127-1366821|url-status=live}} The residency was later repeated in April 2006 at New York City's Apollo Theater and the Manchester performances were later released on DVD as Demon Days: Live at the Manchester Opera House.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1525131/gorillaz-taking-up-residency-at-new-yorks-apollo-theater/|title=GORILLAZ TAKING UP RESIDENCY AT NEW YORK'S APOLLO THEATER|publisher=MTV|date=1 March 2006|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427192609/http://www.mtv.com/news/1525131/gorillaz-taking-up-residency-at-new-yorks-apollo-theater/|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-134-1353123|title=Gorillaz to release DVD|magazine=NME|date=24 February 2006|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427060559/http://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-134-1353123|url-status=live}} As part of their promotion of the album in Latin America, the band was interviewed in September 2005 on the live-action Mexican show Rebelde.{{cite web |last1=Canche Alvarez |first1=Eduardo |title=¿Recuerdas Rebelde? RBD entrevistó a Gorillaz para el estreno de DARE en 2005 |url=https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/rebelde-rbd-gorillaz-dare-telenovela-mexicana-entrevista.html |website=México Desconocido |access-date=10 June 2023 |language=es |date=7 June 2022 |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610171341/https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/rebelde-rbd-gorillaz-dare-telenovela-mexicana-entrevista.html |url-status=live }} This episode also included the Latin American premiere of the music video for "Dare".

The virtual Gorillaz members "performed" at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2005{{cite news|url=http://www.eyeliner3d.com/gorillaz_case_study.html |title=Gorillaz at the MTV Awards 2005 |access-date=9 September 2007 |year=2006 |publisher=Dimensional Studios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329154828/http://www.eyeliner3d.com/gorillaz_case_study.html |archive-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=live }} and again at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2006, appearing to perform on stage via Musion Eyeliner technology.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1522950/madonnas-oddest-collab-yet-singer-to-perform-at-grammys-with-gorillaz/|title=Madonna's Oddest Collab Yet: Singer To Perform At Grammys With Gorillaz|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|publisher=MTV|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928070931/http://www.mtv.com/news/1522950/madonnas-oddest-collab-yet-singer-to-perform-at-grammys-with-gorillaz/|url-status=dead}} Albarn later expressed disappointment at the execution of the performance, citing the low volume level required so as to not disturb the technology: "That was tough... They started and it was so quiet cause they've got this piece of film that you've got to pull over the stage so any bass frequencies would just mess up the illusion completely."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s |title=YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713103845/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s |url-status=dead }} At the Grammys, the band won Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Feel Good Inc.", which was also nominated for Record of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards|title=48th Annual GRAMMY Awards|date=28 November 2017|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321022554/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards|url-status=live}} Albarn and Hewlett explored the idea of producing a full "live holographic tour" featuring the virtual Gorillaz appearing on stage with Musion Eyeliner technology after the Grammys performance, but the tour was ultimately never realised due to the tremendous expense and logistical issues that would have resulted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/gorillaz-playin/|title=Gorillaz playing Apollo Theater | Demon Days Live|website=BrooklynVegan.com|date=March 2006|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204044639/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/gorillaz-playin/|url-status=live}}

In October 2006, the band released the book Rise of the Ogre. Presented as an autobiography of the band ostensibly written by the fictional members and expanding on the band's fictional backstory and universe, the book was actually written by official Gorillaz script writer and live drummer Cass Browne and featured new artwork by Hewlett.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Jo |title=Gorillaz face the music |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=3 December 2010}} Later the same month, the band released another DVD, Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades, compiling much of the band's visual content from the album cycle. A second B-sides compilation, D-Sides was released in November 2007, featuring B-sides and remixes associated with Demon Days as well as unreleased tracks from the sessions for the album.{{cite news|url=http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#070918|title=D-Sides Confirmed|access-date=19 September 2007|date=18 September 2007|work=fans.gorillaz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324065333/http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#070918|archive-date=24 March 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#071020|title=D-Sides Deluxe Preview|access-date=3 November 2007|date=20 October 2007|work=fans.gorillaz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324065333/http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#071020|archive-date=24 March 2010|url-status=dead}} In 2008, the documentary film Bananaz was released. Directed by Ceri Levy, the film documents the behind-the-scenes history of the band from 2000 to 2006.{{cite web|title=Bananaz: Dir. Ceri Levy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/damon-albarn-gorillaz|access-date=30 September 2018|website=The Guardian|date=19 April 2009|archive-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204131508/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/damon-albarn-gorillaz|url-status=live}}

Albarn and Hewlett's next project together was the opera Monkey: Journey to the West based on the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, which premiered at the 2007 Manchester International Festival. While not officially a Gorillaz project, Albarn mentioned in an interview that the project was "Gorillaz, really but we can't call it that for legal reasons".{{Cite web|url=http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/Jamie08/jamie.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327140329/http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/Jamie08/jamie.html|url-status=dead|title=Jamie Hewlett : The Gorillaz-Unofficial 2008 Interview|archive-date=27 March 2010}}

After completing work on Monkey in late 2007, Albarn and Hewlett began working on a new Gorillaz project entitled Carousel, described by Albarn as being about "the mystical aspects of Britain". Hewlett described Carousel in a 2008 interview as "even bigger and more difficult than Monkey... It's sort of like a film but not with one narrative story. There's many stories, told around a bigger story, set to music, and done in live action, animation, all different styles. Originally it was a film but now we think it's a film and it's a stage thing as well. Damon's written around 70 songs for it, and I've got great plans for the visuals."{{Cite web |url=https://glidemagazine.com/12210/damon-albarn-jamie-hewlett-name-next-project-carousel/ |title=Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett Name Next Project – 'Carousel' – Glide Magazine |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716051720/https://glidemagazine.com/12210/damon-albarn-jamie-hewlett-name-next-project-carousel/ |url-status=dead }} The Carousel concept was eventually dropped with Albarn and Hewlett's work evolving into the third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2009/nov/28/showing-off-damon-albarn|title=Audio: Paul Morley interviews Blur's Damon Albarn|first=Paul|last=Morley|date=28 November 2009|access-date=23 October 2020|website=The Guardian|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801034629/https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2009/nov/28/showing-off-damon-albarn|url-status=live}}

Drawing upon environmentalist themes, Plastic Beach was inspired by the idea of a "secret floating island deep in the South Pacific... made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity" inspired by marine pollution such as plastic that Albarn had found in a beach near one of his homes in Devon as well as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/37638-gorillaz-reveal-full-album-details/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123125020/http://pitchfork.com/news/37638-gorillaz-reveal-full-album-details/|url-status=live|title=Gorillaz Reveal Full Album Details|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=23 January 2010|date=20 January 2010}} Unlike previous Gorillaz albums, Albarn made the decision to produce Plastic Beach by himself, with no co-producer.{{cite AV media notes |title=Plastic Beach |type=Experience Edition liner notes |publisher=Parlophone |year=2010 |id=5099962616720}} The album was recorded throughout 2008 and 2009 in London, New York City and Syria although production of the album was briefly interrupted so that Albarn could join Blur for a reunion tour in the summer of 2009, with Albarn explaining "there's no way you can do that and that [Blur and Gorillaz] at the same time." Plastic Beach saw Gorillaz move into a more electronic pop sound, with Albarn describing the album as "the most pop record I've ever made" and saying that he took special care to make the album's lyrics and melodies clear and focused compared to previous albums. Plastic Beach also featured the largest cast of collaborators featured yet on a Gorillaz album, fulfilling Albarn's goal of "work[ing] with an incredibly eclectic, surprising cast of people" including artists such as Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Little Dragon, former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed and Gruff Rhys among others, and also included orchestral contributions from Sinfonia Viva and the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music. Albarn explained the expanded roster of featured artists represented his and Hewlett's new vision of Gorillaz as a project, explaining in a July 2008 interview that "Gorillaz now to us is not like four animated characters any more – it's more like an organisation of people doing new projects... That's my ideal model."{{Cite web|url=https://subjecto.com/the-production-of-gorillaz-album-plastic-beach/|title=The Production Of Gorillaz Album Plastic Beach Music Essay|website=Subjecto.com|date=4 April 2020|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801030521/https://subjecto.com/the-production-of-gorillaz-album-plastic-beach/|url-status=dead}}

File:Gorillaz live 2010.jpg saw the touring band performing in full view of the audience for the first time.]]Released on 3 March 2010, Plastic Beach debuted at No. 2 on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200 chart, the band's highest placing debut chart position. The album was supported by the lead single "Stylo" featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack (with Bruce Willis appearing in the music video) released in January 2010 and the later singles "On Melancholy Hill" and "Rhinestone Eyes". To promote the album, the band embarked on the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour, the band's first world tour and also their first live performances in which the touring band performed fully in view of the audience on stage with no visual obstructions. The tour, which featured many of the collaborative artists from Plastic Beach and saw the touring band wearing naval attire, was later described by Albarn as having been extremely costly to produce, with the band barely breaking even on the shows, saying "I loved doing it, but economically it was a fucking disaster."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-damon-albarn-on-the-future-of-blur-his-first-ever-solo-album-and-why-he-doesnt-hate-oasis-anymore-20130528|title=Q&A: Damon Albarn on the Future of Blur, His First Ever Solo Album and Why He Doesn't Hate Oasis Anymore|first=Jonathan|last=Tingen|date=28 May 2013|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611121009/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-damon-albarn-on-the-future-of-blur-his-first-ever-solo-album-and-why-he-doesnt-hate-oasis-anymore-20130528|url-status=dead}} The tour was preceded by headline performances at several international music festivals, including the Coachella and Glastonbury festivals. On 21 November 2010, while still on tour, the band released the non-album single "Doncamatic" featuring British singer Daley.{{cite web|url=http://gorillaz.com/news/news/breaking-news-brand-new-gorillaz-single-to-be-played-on-zane-lowe-show-youtube-tonight |title=News – BREAKING NEWS! Brand new Gorillaz single to be played on Zane Lowe show & Youtube tonight! |publisher=Gorillaz.com |date=5 October 2010 |access-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711113046/http://gorillaz.com/news/news/breaking-news-brand-new-gorillaz-single-to-be-played-on-zane-lowe-show-youtube-tonight |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}

During the North American leg of the Escape to Plastic Beach tour in the fall of 2010, Albarn continued recording Gorillaz songs entirely on his iPad. The recordings were later released as the album The Fall, first released digitally on Christmas Day 2010 and later given a physical release on 19 April 2011.{{cite web|title=Damon Albarn reveals Gorillaz' free Christmas album details|url=http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/54286|work=NME News|access-date=26 December 2010|date=16 December 2010|archive-date=19 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219135842/http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/54286|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Gorillaz/dp/B00EMKV55S | title=The Fall: Amazon.co.uk: Music | website=Amazon UK | access-date=7 February 2019 | archive-date=9 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124536/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Gorillaz/dp/B00EMKV55S | url-status=live }} The Fall is also co-produced by Stephen Sedgwick, the mixer engineer of the band.{{cite AV media notes|title=The Fall |publisher=Parlophone|type=CD liner|year=2011|id=5099909758827}} Albarn said the album served as a diary of the American leg of the tour, explaining that the tracks were presented exactly as they were on the day they were written and recorded with no additional production or overdubs: "I literally made it on the road. I didn't write it before, I didn't prepare it. I just did it day by day as a kind of diary of my experience in America. If I left it until the New Year to release it then the cynics out there would say, 'Oh well, it's been tampered with', but if I put it out now they'd know that I haven't done anything because I've been on tour ever since."{{cite news|title=Gorillaz to release new album free on Christmas Day|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/10/gorillaz-new-album-free-christmas|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited 2010|access-date=26 December 2010|first=Sean|last=Michaels|date=10 December 2010|location=London|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182306/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/10/gorillaz-new-album-free-christmas|url-status=live}} The band later released a "Gorillaz edition" of the Korg iElectribe music production app for iPad, featuring many of the same samples and sounds used by Albarn to create The Fall.{{cite web |url = http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/index.htm |title = GorillazUnofficial 100% unofficial. 100% Gorillaz |publisher = Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date = 18 July 2011 |archive-date = 30 December 2005 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051230165840/http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/index.htm |url-status = dead }}{{cite web |url = https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ielectribe-gorillaz-edition/id430288460 |title = KORG iELECTRIBE Gorillaz Edition for iPad on the iTunes App Store |publisher = iTunes Store |date = 26 May 2011 |access-date = 18 July 2011 |archive-date = 3 December 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111203010728/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/korg-ielectribe-gorillaz-edition/id430288460?mt=8 |url-status = live }}

On 23 February 2012, Gorillaz released "DoYaThing", a single to promote a Gorillaz-branded collection of Converse shoes which were released shortly after. The song was a part of Converse's "Three Artists, One Song" project, with the two additional collaborators being James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and André 3000 of Outkast. Two different edits of the song were released: a four-and-a-half minute radio edit released on Converse's website and the full 13-minute version of the song released on the Gorillaz website. Hewlett returned to direct the single's music video, featuring fictionalized animated versions of Murphy and André interacting with the Gorillaz' virtual members.{{cite web |url=http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/ |title=GorillazUnofficial 100% unofficial. 100% Gorillaz |publisher=Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326063451/http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/ |archive-date=26 March 2012 }} The song received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise given to André 3000's contributions to the track.{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/doyathing-gorillaz-andre-3000-james-murphy_n_1295056.html |title='DoYaThing': Gorillaz, Andre 3000 and James Murphy Release Collaboration For Converse (AUDIO) |date=23 February 2012 |work=HuffPost |access-date=5 March 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303104936/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/doyathing-gorillaz-andre-3000-james-murphy_n_1295056.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.beatsperminute.com/reviews/track-review-gorillaz-doyathing-feat-andre-3000-and-james-murphy |title=Track review Gorillaz DoYaThing feat. Andre 3000 and James Murphy |publisher=Beats Per Minute |first=Brendan |last=Frank |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012 |archive-date=2 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302053531/http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/track-review-gorillaz-doyathing-feat-andre-3000-and-james-murphy/ |url-status=live }}

In April 2012, Albarn told The Guardian that he and Hewlett had fallen out and that future Gorillaz projects were "unlikely".{{cite news |title=Damon Albarn: Gorillaz, heroin and the last days of Blur |author=Harris, John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-blur? |newspaper=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |location=London/Manchester |date=7 April 2012 |page=1 |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031122252/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-blur |url-status=live }} Tension between the two had been building, partly due to a belief held by Hewlett that his contributions to Gorillaz were being minimised. Speaking to The Guardian in April 2017, Hewlett explained: "Damon had half the Clash on stage, and Bobby Womack and Mos Def and De La Soul, and fucking Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Bashy and everyone else. It was the greatest band ever. And the screen on stage behind them seemed to get smaller every day. I'd say, 'Have we got a new screen?' and the tour manager was like, 'No, it's the same screen.' Because it seemed to me like it was getting smaller."{{cite news |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett: 'We fight over everything' |author=Sawyer, Miranda |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/30/damon-albarn-and-jamie-hewlett-we-fight-over-everything-gorillaz-humanz-interview |work=The Guardian |date=30 April 2017 |access-date=30 April 2017 |archive-date=30 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430071547/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/30/damon-albarn-and-jamie-hewlett-we-fight-over-everything-gorillaz-humanz-interview |url-status=live }} Albarn gave his side of the story in a separate interview, saying "I think we were at a cross purposes somewhat on that last record [Plastic Beach], which is a shame. It was one of those things, the music and the videos weren't working as well together, but I felt we'd made a really good record and I was into it." On 25 April 2012, in an interview with Metro, Albarn was more optimistic about Gorillaz' future, saying that once he had worked out his differences with Hewlett, he was sure that they would make another record.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Andrew |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/music/897126-damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished-yet |title=Damon Albarn: Blur and Gorillaz aren't finished yet | Metro News |work=Metro |location=UK |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=27 December 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129132257/http://www.metro.co.uk/music/897126-damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished-yet |url-status=live }} In June 2013, Hewlett confirmed that he and Albarn planned to someday continue Gorillaz and record a follow-up album to Plastic Beach, saying "We'll come back to it when the time is right."{{cite web |author=Guardian music |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/24/blur-gorillaz-new-albums-damon-albarn |title=Blur and Gorillaz will both make new albums, says Albarn collaborator |work=The Guardian |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=27 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227180559/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/24/blur-gorillaz-new-albums-damon-albarn |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51295-blur-and-gorillaz-will-release-new-albums-gorillaz-jamie-hewlett-says/ |title=Blur and Gorillaz Will Release New Albums, Gorillaz' Jamie Hewlett Says |work=Pitchfork |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200741/http://pitchfork.com/news/51295-blur-and-gorillaz-will-release-new-albums-gorillaz-jamie-hewlett-says/ |url-status=live }}

Following the release of DoYaThing and the publicization of Albarn and Hewlett's fall-out in 2012, Gorillaz entered a multiyear hiatus. During the hiatus, Albarn released a solo album, Everyday Robots, scored stage productions and continued to record and tour with Blur, while Hewlett held art exhibitions and attempted to create a film project which was ultimately never realized.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=931s |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) interview for M6, May 2017 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803141718/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=931s |url-status=dead }} While on tour in support of Everyday Robots in 2014, Albarn signaled openness to returning to Gorillaz, telling The National Post that he "wouldn't mind having another stab at a Gorillaz record".{{cite news |url = http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/04/29/i-dont-take-britpop-seriously-and-no-one-should-damon-albarn-does-a-rare-bit-of-looking-back-on-his-first-solo-record/ |archive-url = https://archive.today/20140501210752/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/04/29/i-dont-take-britpop-seriously-and-no-one-should-damon-albarn-does-a-rare-bit-of-looking-back-on-his-first-solo-record/ |url-status=dead |archive-date = 1 May 2014 |title = 'I don't take Britpop seriously and no one should': Damon Albarn does a rare bit of looking back on his first solo record, Everyday Robots |first = Jonathan |last = Dekel |date = 29 April 2014 |work = National Post }} Two months later he reported that he had "been writing quite a lot of songs on the road for Gorillaz".{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/06/bonnaroo-2014-damon-albarn-interview|title=Damon Albarn Hypes Up New Gorillaz Tracks|publisher=Fuse|date=15 June 2014|access-date=19 October 2014|author=Xu, Tina|page=1|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026114607/http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/06/bonnaroo-2014-damon-albarn-interview|url-status=live}} and at the end of 2014 confirmed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald that he was planning to record another Gorillaz album.{{cite magazine | url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/damon-albarn-new-gorillaz-album-coming-in-2016/ | title=Damon Albarn says new Gorillaz album coming in 2016 | magazine=Consequence of Sound | date=19 October 2014 | access-date=19 October 2014 | author=Kaye, Ben | page=1 | archive-date=12 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412142125/https://consequence.net/2014/10/damon-albarn-new-gorillaz-album-coming-in-2016/ | url-status=live }} Speaking about his relationship with Hewlett, Albarn said that the pair's well-publicised fall-out had helped their relationship in the long term.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/88966 |title=New Gorillaz album will be released in 2016, says Jamie Hewlett |work=NME |date=12 October 2015 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192502/http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/88966 |url-status=live }} Hewlett described the moment when he and Albarn agreed to continue Gorillaz at an afterparty after one of Albarn's solo shows in 2014: "We'd had a bit to drink, and he said, 'Do you want to do another one?' And I said, 'Do you?' and he said, 'Do you?' And I said, 'Yeah, sure.' I started work on it straight away, learning to draw the characters again. I played around by myself for eight months while he was performing with Blur in 2015."{{cite web |first=Lane |last=Brown |url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html |title=Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher on Their Gorillaz Team-Up |website=Vulture.com |date=25 April 2017 |access-date=28 April 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619090300/https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html |url-status=live }}

File:Twilight Tone.jpg co-produced the band's fifth album Humanz.]]Recording sessions for the band's fifth studio album, Humanz, began in late 2015 and continued through 2016, taking place in London, New York City, Paris and Jamaica.{{cite web|last1=Tingen|first1=Paul|author-link1=Paul Tingen|title=Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/inside-track-gorillaz-charger|website=Sound on Sound|access-date=8 December 2017|date=July 2017|archive-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031701/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/inside-track-gorillaz-charger|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://imgur.com/a/WwMYH |title=Gorillaz – HUMANZ (2LP Vinyl) – Album on Imgur |website=Imgur.com |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=27 April 2017 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807044444/https://imgur.com/a/WwMYH |url-status=live }} Albarn enlisted American hip-hop and house producer Anthony Khan, known by his stage name the Twilite Tone, to co-produce the album. Albarn chose Khan from a list of possible producers compiled by Parlophone, the band's record label after Albarn and Khan spoke via Skype. Humanz was also co-produced by Remi Kabaka Jr., a friend of Albarn's who had worked with him in the non-profit musical organization Africa Express and also has been the voice actor for the Gorillaz virtual band member Russel Hobbs since 2000. In conceptualizing the album, Albarn and Khan envisioned Humanz as being the soundtrack for "a party for the end of the world", with Albarn specifically imagining a future in which Donald Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as context for the album's narrative (Trump becoming president was still considered an unlikely event at the time of recording), explaining "Let's use that as a kind of dark fantasy for this record, let's imagine the night Donald Trump wins the election and how we're all going to feel that night."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpldsoUROC8&t=1591s |title=Gorillaz Interview (Damon Albarn, Twilite Tone, de la Soul) – Sway in the Morning – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001200018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpldsoUROC8&t=1591s |url-status=dead }} Khan stated that "The idea of Donald Trump being president allowed us to create a narrative together. I suggested that the album should be about joy, pain and urgency. That was to be our state of mind before we even touched a keyboard or an MPC. Especially in American music, dare I say black music, there's a way of communicating joy that at the same time allows you to feel the struggle the person has been through. And the urgency is there because something needs to be done. So that was the mantra. I wanted to blend Damon, a Briton, with the joy and pain and struggle that African-American music can express." Humanz again featured a large cast of featured artists, including Popcaan, Vince Staples, DRAM, Jehnny Beth, Pusha T, Peven Everett, Danny Brown, Grace Jones and Mavis Staples, among others. The first track from the album released publicly was "Hallelujah Money" featuring Benjamin Clementine, released on 20 January 2017 with an accompanying video featuring Clementine. While not an official single, Albarn explained that the band chose to release the track on the day of Trump's inauguration because "It was meant to be something sung at the imaginary inauguration of Donald Trump, which turned out to be the real inauguration of Donald Trump, so we released it because we had imagined that happening and it did happen."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=109s |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) interview for M6, May 2017 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=3 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903214011/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=109s |url-status=dead }}

File:Gorillaz, Brixton Academy, London (34377484273).jpg in London, June 2017]]Humanz was released on 28 April 2017, the band's first new studio album in 7 years. Featuring a "modern-sounding urban hip-hop/R&B sensibility", the album debuted at #2 on both the UK Album charts and the US Billboard 200. Humanz received generally positive reviews from critics, although received some criticism from fans and critics for what was perceived as a diminished presence from Albarn in contrast to the abundance of featured artists.{{Cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/gorillaz-new-album-has-moments-of-genius-but-one-too-many-collaborators|title='Humanz' review: Gorillaz new album has moments of genius, but one too many collaborators|website=Mixmag|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190739/https://mixmag.net/feature/gorillaz-new-album-has-moments-of-genius-but-one-too-many-collaborators|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Doherty|first=Niall|title=Looney Tunes: Virtual Band's Frenzied Fifth Revels In The Chaos|magazine=Q|location=London|issue=372|date=June 2017|page=113}} The album was released in both standard and deluxe editions, with the deluxe edition featuring an additional 6 bonus tracks and was promoted by the lead single "Saturnz Barz" featuring Popcaan and the later single "Strobelite" featuring Peven Everett. The Hewlett-directed music video for "Saturnz Barz" made use of YouTube's 360-degree video format and reportedly cost $800,000 to create.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html|title=Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher on the Making of Gorillaz's 'We Got the Power'|first=Lane|last=Brown|website=Vulture.com|date=25 April 2017|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429020434/http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html|url-status=live}}

The band embarked on the Humanz Tour to support the album from the summer of 2017 to early 2018. Like the band's previous tour, the Humanz Tour featured the touring band in full view of the audience with a large screen behind them displaying Hewlett-created visuals and featured several of the different collaborative artists from the band's history. The tour was preceded by a handful of European warm-up shows, including the first Demon Dayz Festival held on 10 June 2017 at the Dreamland Margate theme park, a Gorillaz curated music festival which was later repeated in Los Angeles in October 2018. On 8 June 2017 the band released the non-album single "Sleeping Powder" with an accompanying music video and on 3 November 2017 a "Super Deluxe" version of Humanz, featuring an additional 14 unreleased tracks from the album's sessions, including alternative versions of previously released songs as well as the single "Garage Palace" featuring Little Simz.

Albarn continued recording while on the road during the Humanz Tour, and mentioned in an interview with Q Magazine in September 2017 that he was planning on releasing the material as a future Gorillaz album. Comparing the production of the album to The Fall, which was also recorded while the band was on tour, Albarn mentioned that "It will be a more complete record than The Fall, but hopefully have that spontaneity."{{cite web|title=The Gorillaz might drop a surprise album on us|url=http://mixmag.net/read/the-gorillaz-might-drop-a-surprise-new-album-on-us-news|website=Mixmag|access-date=20 December 2017|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616114157/http://mixmag.net/read/the-gorillaz-might-drop-a-surprise-new-album-on-us-news|url-status=live|author-first1=Valerie|author-last1=Lee|date=29 September 2017}} Albarn signaled his desire to complete and release the album quickly, adding that "I really like the idea of making new music and playing it live almost simultaneously" and "If we're going to do more Gorillaz we don't want to wait seven years because, y'know, we're getting on a bit now. During a September 2017 concert in Seattle, the band debuted a new song "Ode to Idaho", which was later included on the album as "Idaho". During the performance, Albarn stated it had been written in the days prior.{{cite news |last1=Blanchard |first1=Nicole |title=Jam to a new ode to Idaho, thanks to this Grammy-winning band — and Bruce Willis |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/article176791296.html |access-date=16 October 2023 |work=Idaho Statesman |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231016150148/https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/article176791296.html |archive-date=16 October 2023 |url-status=live}}

During a break in the Humanz Tour in February 2018, Albarn returned to London where he worked with producer James Ford, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and Florence and the Machine, and Kabaka Jr. to finish the newly written material, resulting in the band's sixth studio album, The Now Now, released on 29 June 2018. Featuring "simple, mostly upbeat songs" and 1980s new wave influences,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-now-now-mw0003183127|title=The Now Now – Gorillaz|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-now-now-mw0003183127|url-status=live}} the album was noted for its distinctly small list of featured artists compared to previous Gorillaz work, with only two tracks featuring any outside artists (the album's lead single "Humility" featuring George Benson and "Hollywood" featuring Snoop Dogg and Jamie Principle). Albarn mentioned that the few numbers of featured artists was partially due to the album's quick production, which in turn was a result of Albarn wanting to finish the album before the band's touring schedule resumed: "We've been very lucky to be offered all the festivals this year on the back of the last record [Humanz]... but I didn't want to do that unless I had something new to work with, so the only option was to make another record really quickly and not have lots of guests on it, because that takes a long time to organize; just do it all myself, really."{{cite interview|last=Albarn|first=Damon|subject-link=Damon Albarn|interviewer=Gordon Smart|title=Why Damon Albarn Shunned A Collaboration With Prince|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/gorillaz/damon-albarn-shunned-prince-collaboration|access-date=11 June 2018|publisher=Radio X|location=London|date=31 May 2018|quote=We've been very lucky to be offered all the festivals this year on the back of the last record ... but I didn't want to do that unless I had something new to work with, so the only option was to make another record really quickly and not have lots of guests on it, because that takes a long time to organise; just do it all myself, really.|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731080213/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/gorillaz/damon-albarn-shunned-prince-collaboration/|url-status=live}} Albarn also explained that with The Now Now he sought to make a Gorillaz album "where I'm just singing for once" and that the album is "pretty much just me singing, very sort of in the world of 2-D."{{cite news|last=Serota|first=Maggie|date=31 May 2018|title=Gorillaz {{em dash}} "Humility" and "Lake Zurich"|work=Spin|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/05/gorillaz-humility-and-lake-zurich/|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142830/https://www.spin.com/2018/05/gorillaz-humility-and-lake-zurich/|url-status=live}}

File:Gorillaz @ Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 10-13-2018.jpg, New York City on The Now Now Tour in October 2018]] In the fictional Gorillaz storyline, the band introduced Ace from Cartoon Network's animated series The Powerpuff Girls as a temporary bassist of the band during The Now Now album cycle, filling in for the imprisoned Murdoc Niccals.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/|title=The Gorillaz's New Band Member is a Powerpuff Girls Character|date=31 May 2018|website=Cbr.com|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801042230/https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/|url-status=live}} Explaining the crossover in an interview with the BBC, Albarn said "We were massive fans of The Powerpuff Girls when they came out, the energy of that cartoon was really cool, and we kind of know the creator of it (Craig McCracken). It was a very organic thing."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mt0hELiP4g |title=Damon Albarn interview with Matt Everitt – BBC Radio 6, 2018 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904013328/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mt0hELiP4g&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=dead }}

The band's remaining 2018 live dates were billed as The Now Now Tour to support the album, and included a performance in Tokyo on 22 June 2018 billed as "The Now Now World Premiere" in which the band played the full album live for the first and only time, a performance which was later broadcast by Boiler Room.{{Cite web|url=https://boilerroom.tv/session/gorillaz|title=Gorillaz|website=Boilerroom.tv|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109024502/https://boilerroom.tv/session/gorillaz|url-status=live}} On 16 December 2019, the documentary Gorillaz: Reject False Icons was screened worldwide on a one-day theatrical release. Filmed and directed by Hewlett's son Denholm, the documentary showcases a behind-the-scenes look at the production of Humanz and The Now Now as well as the album's associated tours.{{cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |title=Gorillaz Announce New Movie Reject False Icons |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-new-movie-reject-false-icons/ |work=Pitchfork |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122193936/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-new-movie-reject-false-icons/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Clash Music |title=Five Things We Learned From New Gorillaz Film Reject False Icons |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/five-things-we-learned-from-new-gorillaz-film-reject-false-icons |work=Clash |access-date=16 December 2019 |date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216124241/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/five-things-we-learned-from-new-gorillaz-film-reject-false-icons |url-status=live }} One week after the film's theatrical release, a "Director's Cut" version of the film featuring additional footage was released on the official Gorillaz YouTube channel in three parts. In the credits for Reject False Icons, Kabaka Jr. was listed as an official member of the band (labeled as "A&R/Producer") alongside Albarn and Hewlett for the first time.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vccKwyv4qxE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/vccKwyv4qxE| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act One – Humanz (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWlP1MeRkN8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zWlP1MeRkN8| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act Two – Humanz World Tour (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKgMuYKqf4|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act Three – The Now Now (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019|access-date=24 December 2019|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225024522/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKgMuYKqf4|url-status=live}}

On 29 January 2020, the band announced its new project Song Machine. Eschewing the typical album format of releasing music, Song Machine is instead a web series that sees the band releasing one new song a month as "episodes" to the series, with 11 episodes releasing to comprise the first "season".{{Cite web|last=Helman|first=Peter|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2071709/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-tease/news/|title=Gorillaz Are Teasing Something Called 'Song Machine'|date=28 January 2020|website=Stereogum|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=28 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128234922/https://www.stereogum.com/2071709/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-tease/news/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-new-music-video-series-song-machine-details-944519/|title=Gorillaz Detail New Music, Video Series 'Song Machine'|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=29 January 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217032213/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-new-music-video-series-song-machine-details-944519/|url-status=live}} Elaborating on the idea behind Song Machine in a radio interview shortly after the announcement of the project, Albarn explained that "We no longer kind of see ourselves as constrained to making albums. We can now make episodes and seasons."{{cite AV media|date=31 January 2020|title=Gorillaz Interview 2020 – BBC Radio 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KESXPd6wsBg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/KESXPd6wsBg| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=30 June 2020|publisher=BBC}}{{cbignore}} Each episode features previously unannounced guest musicians on new Gorillaz material, with the first being "Momentary Bliss", which was released on 31 January and features both British rapper Slowthai and the Kent-based punk rock duo Slaves.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nastylittleman.com/artists/gorillaz/|title=GORILLAZ {{!}} Nasty Little Man|website=Nasty Little Man|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129181644/https://www.nastylittleman.com/artists/gorillaz/|url-status=live}} Upon the premiere of "Momentary Bliss", Albarn revealed that the group had been in the studio with Schoolboy Q and Sampa the Great among others, although he did say that these songs were likely to be saved for future episodes of Song Machine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drwj|title=Radio 1's Future Sounds with Annie Mac – Gorillaz, slowthai and Slaves – BBC Sounds|date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131091345/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drwj|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=31 January 2020}} The group also teased a possible collaboration with Australian band Tame Impala on Instagram.{{Cite web|last=Richards|first=Will|date=1 February 2020|title=Gorillaz tease Tame Impala collaboration as 'Song Machine' project continues|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-tease-tame-impala-collaboration-as-song-machine-project-continues-2603985|access-date=14 June 2020|website=NME|archive-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201190026/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-tease-tame-impala-collaboration-as-song-machine-project-continues-2603985|url-status=live}}

On 27 February, the band released the second episode of Song Machine entitled "Désolé". The song features Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara.{{cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Gorillaz Team With Malian Star Fatoumata Diawara for New Song 'Désolé'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-fatoumata-diawara-new-song-desole-song-machine-958067/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=27 February 2020|date=27 February 2020|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227171824/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-fatoumata-diawara-new-song-desole-song-machine-958067/|url-status=live}} The third episode, "Aries", released on 9 April and featured Peter Hook and Georgia.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-peter-hook-new-song-aries-980372/|title=Gorillaz Recruit Peter Hook for New Order-Inspired 'Aries'|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=9 April 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=10 April 2020|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410050630/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-peter-hook-new-song-aries-980372/|url-status=live}} The fourth track "How Far?" featuring Tony Allen and Skepta was released 2 May. This song was released without an accompanying music video as a tribute to Allen, who died on 30 April.{{cite web|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=2 May 2020|title=Gorillaz Share New Song "How Far?" With Tony Allen and Skepta: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-share-new-song-how-far-with-tony-allen-and-skepta-listen/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502180549/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-share-new-song-how-far-with-tony-allen-and-skepta-listen/|url-status=live}} On 26 May, Gorillaz announced the release of a new book titled Gorillaz Almanac. The book comes in three editions: standard, deluxe and super deluxe, all of which were set to release on 23 October but has since been delayed to 22 December{{Update inline|date=December 2020}} with a physical release of season one of Song Machine included with each copy.{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=26 May 2020|title=Gorillaz Celebrate 20-Year Visual History With Expansive 'Almanac' Book|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-almanac-1004653/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922095704/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-almanac-1004653/|url-status=live}} On 9 June, the band released "Friday 13th", the fourth episode of Song Machine. The track features French-British rapper Octavian.{{cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Gorillaz Team Up With Octavian for Woozy New Track 'Friday 13th'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-octavian-new-song-video-friday-13th-song-machine-1011792/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=9 June 2020|date=9 June 2020|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609173538/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-octavian-new-song-video-friday-13th-song-machine-1011792/|url-status=live}} On 20 July, the band released "Pac-Man", the fifth episode of Song Machine, in honour of Pac-Man's 40th anniversary.{{Cite web|date=20 July 2020|title=GORILLAZ: SONG MACHINE SEASON 1 EPISODE 5 'PAC-MAN' FT SCHOOLBOY Q|url=https://www.nastylittleman.com/2020/07/20/gorillaz-song-machine-season-1-episode-5-pac-man-ft-schoolboy-q/|website=Nasty Little Man|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722072050/https://www.nastylittleman.com/2020/07/20/gorillaz-song-machine-season-1-episode-5-pac-man-ft-schoolboy-q/|url-status=live}} The track features American rapper Schoolboy Q.{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Gorillaz, Schoolboy Q Honor Arcade Classic Pac-Man on New Song|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-schoolboy-q-honor-arcade-classic-pac-man-on-new-song-1030712/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=20 July 2020|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803122349/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-schoolboy-q-honor-arcade-classic-pac-man-on-new-song-1030712/|url-status=live}}

On 9 September, the band released "Strange Timez", the sixth episode of Song Machine. The track features Robert Smith, from the Cure. Gorillaz also announced the title and tracklist for Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, released on 23 October 2020, featuring further guest appearances from Elton John, 6lack, JPEGMafia, Kano, Roxani Arias, Moonchild Sanelly and Chai, among others.{{Cite web|last=Skinner|first=Tom|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-album-tracklist-robert-smith-2749027|title=Gorillaz team up with Robert Smith on 'Strange Timez' and share star-studded 'Song Machine' tracklist|website=NME|date=9 September 2020|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021030159/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-album-tracklist-robert-smith-2749027|url-status=live}} On 1 October, the band released "The Pink Phantom", the seventh episode of Song Machine. The track features Elton John and American R&B recording artist 6lack.{{Cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=1 October 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9458395/elton-john-gorillaz-the-pink-phantom-6lack|title=Elton John Tickles the Ivories and Steals Our Hearts With Gorillaz Collab 'The Pink Phantom'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008175206/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9458395/elton-john-gorillaz-the-pink-phantom-6lack|url-status=live}} Before the release of Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, Gorillaz started a radio show on Apple Music called Song Machine Radio where each virtual character has a turn to invite special guests and play some of their favourite tunes. A few days ahead of the release of Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, Albarn revealed that he had written a song for the project's second season.{{Cite web |last=Del Real |first=Andrés |date=18 October 2020 |title=Damon Albarn: "Nuestra mayor crisis existencial es nuestra relación con internet" |url=https://www.latercera.com/culto/2020/10/18/damon-albarn-nuestra-mayor-crisis-existencial-es-nuestra-relacion-con-internet/ |access-date=23 October 2020 |website=La Tercera |language=es |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031022016/https://www.latercera.com/culto/2020/10/18/damon-albarn-nuestra-mayor-crisis-existencial-es-nuestra-relacion-con-internet/ |url-status=live }}

On 5 November, the band released "The Valley of the Pagans", the eighth episode of Song Machine. The track features American singer Beck. The music video is somewhat notorious for being the first major studio production filmed in Grand Theft Auto V. The video ends with a reference to previous album, Plastic Beach.{{Cite web|date=5 November 2020|title=Gorillaz – The Valley of the Pagans ft. Beck (Episode Eight) – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4Lwt5-ZM0&feature=youtu.be| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104173948/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4Lwt5-ZM0&feature=youtu.be| archive-date=4 November 2020 | url-status=dead|access-date=7 November 2020|via=YouTube}} For unknown reasons, the music video on the official Gorillaz YouTube channel was set to private just a few days after its initial premiere. On 9 March 2021, Gorillaz uploaded an alternative version of the music video to their official YouTube channel, which does not feature any gameplay from Grand Theft Auto V.{{Cite web|date=9 March 2021|title=Gorillaz – The Valley of the Pagans ft. Beck (Episode Eight) – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNGA90mUJds| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/aNGA90mUJds| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=9 March 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} On 24 December, the band released "The Lost Chord", the ninth and final episode of the first season of Song Machine. The track features British musician Leee John.

On 26 March 2021, the band celebrated its debut album's 20th anniversary with oncoming reissues of their catalog and teases of non-fungible tokens;{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Eoin|date=26 March 2021|title=Gorillaz Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Debut Album with Reissue and NFT Teases|url=https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-celebrate-20th-anniversary-debut-album-reissue-and-nft-teasers|access-date=29 March 2021|website=DJ Mag|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330054537/https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-celebrate-20th-anniversary-debut-album-reissue-and-nft-teasers|url-status=live}} due to its impact on climate change, the latter was met with criticism by various sources and fans—some noting that the act contradicts the environmental themes of Plastic Beach. No non-fungible tokens have since released.{{Cite web|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=27 March 2021|title=Fans criticize Gorillaz for selling NFT after impact on climate change revealed|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fans-criticise-gorillaz-selling-nft-impact-climate-change-revealed-2909226?amp|access-date=29 March 2021|website=NME|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505014753/https://www.nme.com/news/music/fans-criticise-gorillaz-selling-nft-impact-climate-change-revealed-2909226?amp|url-status=live}} The band also announced a boxset, the G Collection, containing six of their studio albums—excluding The Fall—for Record Store Day.{{cite web|last=Middleton|first=Ryan|date=7 April 2021|title=Record Store Day Unveils 2021 Exclusives & Drops: MF Doom, Gorillaz, Tangerine Dream|url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2021/04/record-store-day-unveils-2021-exclusives-drops-mf-doom-gorillaz-tangerine-dream/|access-date=18 May 2021|website=Magnet|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519020319/https://www.magneticmag.com/2021/04/record-store-day-unveils-2021-exclusives-drops-mf-doom-gorillaz-tangerine-dream/|url-status=live}} On 10 August 2021, Gorillaz debuted three new songs, "Meanwhile" (featuring British rapper Jelani Blackman), "Jimmy Jimmy" (featuring British rapper AJ Tracey), and "Déjà Vu" (featuring Jamaican-British singer Alicaì Harley), during a free concert at The O₂ Arena in London, England exclusively for National Health Service employees and their families. They then performed them again at the subsequent concert open to the public the next day (both of which served as the first live audience concerts of the Song Machine Tour).{{Cite web|last=Guttridge-Hewitt|first=Martin|date=11 August 2021|title=Gorillaz debut three new songs at free concert for NHS workers|url=https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-debut-three-new-songs-free-concert-nhs-workers|access-date=25 August 2021|website=DJ Mag|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825234731/https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-debut-three-new-songs-free-concert-nhs-workers|url-status=live}} These three songs were announced to be tracks from a new EP entitled Meanwhile, with the cover originally published on TikTok.{{Cite web|title=Gorillaz {{!}} ♬ Jimmy Jimmy (feat. AJ Tracey) {{!}} on TikTok|url=https://www.tiktok.com/music/Jimmy-Jimmy-feat-AJ-Tracey-6997843045823580162?_r=1|access-date=24 August 2021|website=TikTok|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824171326/https://www.tiktok.com/music/Jimmy-Jimmy-feat-AJ-Tracey-6997843045823580162?_r=1|url-status=live}}

On 17 September 2021, Albarn revealed that he had recorded a new Gorillaz song with Bad Bunny while in Jamaica, and, at the time, said it would be the first single for a new album, influenced by Latin America, releasing in 2022.{{Cite web|last=Hale|first=Lyra|date=17 September 2021|title=Bad Bunny and Gorillaz Collaboration Has Been Confirmed — & Fans Are Here for It|url=https://remezcla.com/music/bad-bunny-gorillaz-collaboration-confirmed/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Remezcla|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918191418/https://remezcla.com/music/bad-bunny-gorillaz-collaboration-confirmed/|url-status=live}} The concept for the album would later change, with the song being announced at a later date. On 31 August 2022, the name of this song was revealed to be "Tormenta".{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Katie|title=Gorillaz announce new album Cracker Island, out in February|url=https://www.avclub.com/gorillaz-cracker-island-february-2023-tame-impala-beck-1849479238|website=The A.V. Club|date=31 August 2022|access-date=23 June 2024|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028055418/https://www.avclub.com/gorillaz-cracker-island-february-2023-tame-impala-beck-1849479238|url-status=live}}

In November 2021, Albarn announced that an animated film based on the band was in the works at Netflix, but by February 2023, it had been cancelled.{{cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz Animated Feature Out at Netflix, Says Co-Creator |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/02/gorillaz-animated-feature-out-at-netflix-says-co-creator/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=Animation Magazine |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223011328/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/02/gorillaz-animated-feature-out-at-netflix-says-co-creator/ |url-status=live }}

Throughout 2022, Gorillaz went on a world tour in South America, Europe, Australia, and North America, where they debuted new material.{{Cite web|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=1 May 2022|title=Watch Gorillaz perform new Thundercat collab as they kick off 2022 world tour|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-gorillaz-perform-new-thundercat-collab-as-they-kick-off-2022-world-tour-3216214|access-date=17 August 2022|website=NME|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223105216/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-gorillaz-perform-new-thundercat-collab-as-they-kick-off-2022-world-tour-3216214|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Weisband|first=Sami|date=25 May 2022|title=Gorillaz plot first North American tour in four years for this fall|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2022/05/gorillaz-plot-first-north-american-tour-in-four-years-for-this-fall/|access-date=17 August 2022|website=Dancing Astronaut|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702050815/https://dancingastronaut.com/2022/05/gorillaz-plot-first-north-american-tour-in-four-years-for-this-fall/|url-status=live}} In June 2022, the band began teasing the release of new material, with promotional displays and websites surfacing encouraging fans to sign up to be a part of "The Last Cult". The band released a new single (regularly performed on tour) called "Cracker Island", featuring Thundercat and produced with Greg Kurstin, on 22 June,{{Cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=22 June 2022|title=Gorillaz and Thundercat Share New Song "Cracker Island"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-and-thundercat-share-new-song-cracker-island-listen/|access-date=17 August 2022|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=29 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629105544/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-and-thundercat-share-new-song-cracker-island-listen/|url-status=live}} with the music video being released on 28 July.{{Cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/shorts/cracker-island-music-video-ushers-in-new-era-for-gorillaz/|title='Cracker Island' Music Video Ushers in New Era for Gorillaz|website=Animation Magazine|date=28 July 2022|access-date=17 August 2022|archive-date=17 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817092905/https://www.animationmagazine.net/shorts/cracker-island-music-video-ushers-in-new-era-for-gorillaz/|url-status=live}} Their scheduled performance at the first Splendour in the Grass festival in Queensland, Australia on 22 July was cancelled owing to torrential rain.{{Cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=After Three Years Away, Splendour In The Grass Festival Cancels Day One Because Of Weather|website=Stereogum|date=22 July 2022|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2193981/after-three-years-away-splendour-in-the-grass-festival-cancels-day-one-because-of-weather/news/|access-date=5 August 2022|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016145415/https://www.stereogum.com/2193981/after-three-years-away-splendour-in-the-grass-festival-cancels-day-one-because-of-weather/news/|url-status=live}} In July 2022, they played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre as part of Illuminate Adelaide, supported by Moonchild Sanelly.{{cite web|title=Illuminate Adelaide review: Gorillaz|first=Heather Taylor|last=Johnson|website=InDaily|date=29 July 2022|url=https://indaily.com.au/inreview/music/2022/07/29/illuminate-adelaide-review-gorillaz/|access-date=5 August 2022|archive-date=5 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805104610/https://indaily.com.au/inreview/music/2022/07/29/illuminate-adelaide-review-gorillaz/|url-status=live}} In August 2022, the band performed the new song "New Gold" (featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown) at All Points East in London,{{Cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|date=20 August 2022|title=Gorillaz Debut Tame Impala & Bootie Brown Collab "New Gold" At All Points East|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2196937/gorillaz-debut-tame-impala-bootie-brown-collab-new-gold-at-all-points-east/news/|access-date=6 November 2022|website=Stereogum|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105162947/https://www.stereogum.com/2196937/gorillaz-debut-tame-impala-bootie-brown-collab-new-gold-at-all-points-east/news/|url-status=live}} and released it as their second single for their eighth studio album, announced on the same day to be titled Cracker Island (released on 24 February 2023).{{Cite web|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=31 August 2022|title=Gorillaz announce new album 'Cracker Island', release 'New Gold' with Tame Impala and Bootie Brown|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-announce-new-album-cracker-island-release-new-gold-with-tame-impala-and-bootie-brown-3301856|access-date=31 August 2022|website=NME|archive-date=31 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831192632/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-announce-new-album-cracker-island-release-new-gold-with-tame-impala-and-bootie-brown-3301856|url-status=live}} The album, produced with Kurstin, also features appearances from Stevie Nicks, Bad Bunny, Beck, and Adeleye Omotayo.{{Cite web|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=31 August 2022|title=Gorillaz Announce Album, Share New Song Featuring Tame Impala|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-album-share-new-song-featuring-tame-impala-listen/|access-date=1 September 2022|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=31 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831192632/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-album-share-new-song-featuring-tame-impala-listen/|url-status=live}} On 4 November, the band released the third single from Cracker Island, "Baby Queen" (previously released on the FIFA 23 soundtrack).{{Cite web|last=Kenneally|first=Cerys|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/gorillaz-release-fifa-23-song-baby-queen|title=Gorillaz release FIFA 23 song "Baby Queen"|website=The Line of Best Fit|date=4 November 2022|access-date=6 November 2022|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105150126/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/gorillaz-release-fifa-23-song-baby-queen|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Uitti|first=Jack|url=https://americansongwriter.com/gorillaz-release-new-song-inspired-by-meeting-with-thai-princess-baby-queen/|title=Gorillaz Release New Song Inspired by Meeting with Thai Princess, "Baby Queen"|website=American Songwriter|publisher=Savage Media Holdings|date=5 November 2022|access-date=6 November 2022|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105223526/https://americansongwriter.com/gorillaz-release-new-song-inspired-by-meeting-with-thai-princess-baby-queen/|url-status=live}} On 8 December, the band released the album's fourth single, "Skinny Ape", alongside the announcement of two virtual shows in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus on 17 and 18 December, respectively.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Damian|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-upbeat-new-single-skinny-ape-and-announce-virtual-shows-in-london-and-new-york-3363411|title=Gorillaz share upbeat new single 'Skinny Ape' and announce virtual shows in London and New York|website=NME|date=8 December 2022|access-date=8 December 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208194622/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-upbeat-new-single-skinny-ape-and-announce-virtual-shows-in-london-and-new-york-3363411|url-status=live}} On 27 January 2023, the album's fifth single, "Silent Running" featuring Adeleye Omotayo, was released, with a music video following on 8 February.{{Cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2211834/gorillaz-silent-running-feat-adeleye-omotayo/music/|title=Gorillaz – "Silent Running" (Feat. Adeleye Omotayo)|website=Stereogum|date=26 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127014315/https://www.stereogum.com/2211834/gorillaz-silent-running-feat-adeleye-omotayo/music/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Damian|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-new-animated-video-silent-running-adeleye-omotayo-3394797|title=Gorillaz share new animated video for 'Silent Running' with Adeleye Omotayo|website=NME|date=8 February 2023|access-date=12 February 2023|archive-date=12 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212141229/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-new-animated-video-silent-running-adeleye-omotayo-3394797|url-status=live}} The album received mostly positive reviews, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine describing it as "less an exploration of new sonic territory so much as it is a reaffirmation of [Albarn's] strengths" with "a clean, efficient energy".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/cracker-island/gorillaz|title=Cracker Island by Gorillaz Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=23 February 2023|archive-date=18 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218202722/https://www.metacritic.com/music/cracker-island/gorillaz|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |date=24 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz – 'Cracker Island' Album Reviews, Somgs & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cracker-island-mw0003801095 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=AllMusic |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216160347/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cracker-island-mw0003801095 |url-status=live }}

On 27 February 2023, a deluxe version of Cracker Island was released with five bonus tracks. Previous collaborators Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul appeared on the deluxe version, as well as Brazilian artist MC Bin Laden.{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=27 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz share five new songs on 'Cracker Island' deluxe edition |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-five-new-songs-on-cracker-island-deluxe-edition-3404833 |access-date=2 March 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203326/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-five-new-songs-on-cracker-island-deluxe-edition-3404833 |url-status=live }} The album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024.{{cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/2024-grammys-arctic-monkeys-lana-del-rey-boygenius-nominated-for-best-alternative-music-album/ |title=2024 Grammys: Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, Boygenius, and More Nominated for Best Alternative Music Album |website=Pitchfork |date=10 November 2023 |access-date=23 November 2023}}

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Gorillaz released a video on 29 January 2025 titled NOSTALGIAZ, featuring clips from their music videos set to "Pirate's Progress" from Plastic Beach.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQBlt1sfUhY|title=Gorillaz presents: NOSTALGIAZ|website=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=29 January 2025|access-date=29 January 2025}}

{{Self-published|section|date=May 2020}}

Writers and critics have variously described Gorillaz as art pop,The following references cite the band as art pop:

• {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/11/gorillaz-review-dreamland|title=Gorillaz review – Albarn's Demon Dayz festival brings joyful apocalypse to the pier|last=Wright|first=Danny|work=The Guardian|date=1 June 2017|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1930553/leaked-gorillaz-demos-support-rumored-new-album-tracklist/news/|title=Leaked Gorillaz Demos Support Rumored New Album Tracklist|last=Breihan|first=Tom|publisher=Stereogum|date=20 March 2017|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite magazine|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/07622-gorillaz-the-singles-collection-2001-2011-review|title=Gorillaz |last=Calvert|first=John|magazine=The Quietus|date=23 December 2011|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/504508/gorillazjames-murphyandre-3000s-converse-track-the-story-behind-the-song|title=Gorillaz/James Murphy/Andre 3000's Converse Track: The Story Behind The Song|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|magazine=Billboard|date=21 February 2012|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/music-gorillaz-in-our-midst/104900124/|title=Music: Gorillaz in our midst|last=Boller|first=Jay|work=Star Tribune|date=17 August 2012|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite web|title=Leaked Gorillaz Demos Support Rumored New Album Tracklist|work=Yahoo Entertainment|first=Tom|last=Breihan|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/leaked-gorillaz-demos-support-rumored-085034988.html|quote="the return of Damon Albarn's beloved art-pop project Gorillaz"|date=20 March 2017|access-date=25 March 2020}}
• {{cite web|title=Benjamin Clementine Biography|publisher=AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/benjamin-clementine-mn0003277471/biography|quote="Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's art-pop project Gorillaz's fourth album, Humanz".|access-date=25 March 2020}} alternative rock,The following references cite the band as alternative rock:
• {{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/gorillaz-plan-escape-to-plastic-beach-world-tour-2033956.html|title=Gorillaz plan 'Escape to Plastic Beach' world tour|work=The Independent|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924203952/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/gorillaz-plan-escape-to-plastic-beach-world-tour-2033956.html|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/gorillaz-update-us-what-russels-been-too-243889|title=Gorillaz update us on what Russel's been up to, too|work=The A.V. Club|first=William|last=Hughes|date=8 October 2016 |access-date=14 May 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=https://vrscout.com/news/watch-gorillaz-360-music-video-vr-headset|title=How To Watch The Gorillaz 360° Music Video on Any VR Headset – VRScout|date=28 March 2017|publisher=vrscout.com}}
• {{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/new-gorillaz-music-due-for-release-in-2016/|title=New Gorillaz Music Due For Release In 2016 – Music Feeds|date=13 October 2015|website=Musicfeeds.com|access-date=29 June 2018}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-list-of-bands-youre-not-allowed-to-like-anymore-since-alternative-became-a-bad-word/|title=A List of Bands You're Not Allowed to Like Anymore Since "Alternative" Became a Bad Word|date=27 January 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/gorillaz-contributors-and-discography|title=Inside the Gorillaverse: A Look at Alt-Rock's Best Cartoon Band|publisher=Metacritic}} hip hop,The following references cite the band as hip hop:
• {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/13/popandrock.shopping3|title=Gorillaz, Demon Days|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2005|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite magazine|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/album/gorillaz-human/|title=Gorillaz – 'Humanz'|last=Wehner|first=Cyclone|magazine=Music Feeds|date=April 2017|access-date=19 November 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=http://districtmagazine.ie/the-10-best-gorillaz-collaborations-with-hip-hop-artists/|title=The 10 best Gorillaz collaborations with hip hop artists|last=Davidson|first=Eric|publisher=District|date=7 June 2017|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032553/http://districtmagazine.ie/the-10-best-gorillaz-collaborations-with-hip-hop-artists/|url-status=dead}} electronic,The following references describe the band as electronic or electronica:
• {{cite magazine|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/album/gorillaz-human/|title=Gorillaz – 'Humanz'|last=Wehner|first=Cyclone|magazine=Music Feeds|date=April 2017|access-date=19 November 2017}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/121872-gorillaz-plastic-beach-2496174715.html|title=Gorillaz: Plastic Beach|last=Kabran|first=Michael|website=PopMatters|date=7 March 2010|access-date=28 November 2017}}
• {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7857110/gorillaz-songs-best-hits-list|title=The 15 Best Gorillaz Songs|date=5 July 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=28 April 2020}} trip hop,The following references describe the band as trip hop:
• {{cite magazine|last1=Lynch|first1=Joe|title=The Week's Best New Music: Feist, Gorillaz, Mary J. Blige & More|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7776267/best-new-music-feist-gorillaz-mary-j-blige|magazine=Billboard|date=28 April 2017|access-date=14 May 2017}}
• {{cite news |first= Kieran |last= Grant |title= Gorillaz in his midst |date= 20 January 2001 |publisher= Jam! |access-date= 12 July 2016 |url= http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/B/Blur/2001/01/20/pf-743419.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191554/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/B/Blur/2001/01/20/pf-743419.html |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |df= dmy-all }}
• {{cite news|first=Lisa |last=Lee |title=Miho Hatori Uses Her Noodle |date=1 June 2007 |newspaper=AsianWeek |url=http://www.asianweek.com/2007/06/01/miho-hatori-uses-her-noodle/ |access-date=12 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704190236/http://www.asianweek.com/2007/06/01/miho-hatori-uses-her-noodle/ |archive-date=4 July 2015 }} pop,The following references cite the band as pop:
• {{cite magazine|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/07622-gorillaz-the-singles-collection-2001-2011-review|title=Gorillaz |last=Calvert|first=John|magazine=The Quietus|date=23 December 2011|access-date=22 November 2017}}
• {{cite book |last = Brown |first = Cass |author-link = Cass Browne |author2=Gorillaz |title = Rise of the Ogre |date = 2 November 2006 |publisher = Penguin |location = United States |isbn = 1-59448-931-9 |pages = 43–7 }}
• {{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2017/04/gorillaz-in-10-songs/|title=Gorillaz in 10 Songs|last=Phillips|first=Lior|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=27 April 2017|access-date=19 November 2017}} dark pop,The following references cite the band as dark pop:
• {{cite web|url=http://www.vblurpage.com/news/2005/0407.htm|title=Blur News – Damon talks about "Demon Days" and his future projects – Apr 7, 2005|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328012938/http://www.vblurpage.com/news/2005/0407.htm|url-status=dead}} alternative hip hop,The following references cite the band as alternative hip hop or alternative rap:
• {{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-list-of-bands-youre-not-allowed-to-like-anymore-since-alternative-became-a-bad-word/|title=A List of Bands You're Not Allowed to Like Anymore Since "Alternative" Became a Bad Word|date=27 January 2017}}
• {{cite web|last1=DeGroot|first1=Joey|title=Gorillaz Co-Creator Jamie Hewlett Preps Retrospective Art Book|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/18527/20141203/gorillaz-jamie-hewlett-damon-albarn-preps-retrospective-art-book.htm|work=Music Times|date=3 December 2014|access-date=4 December 2014|page=1|quote="In other Gorillaz news, Damon Albarn recently revealed plans to revive the beloved alternative hip-hop outfit, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that he intends on releasing a new Gorillaz album in 2016."}} rap rock,The following references cite the band as rap rock:
• {{cite magazine |last=Hermes |first=Will |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-gorillaz-humanz-rings-in-the-apocalypse-in-style-w478893 |title=Review: Gorillaz' 'Humanz' Rings in the Apocalypse in Style |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=27 April 2017 |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630042844/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-gorillaz-humanz-rings-in-the-apocalypse-in-style-w478893 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web |first=Sean |last=Palmer |url=http://www.queanbeyanagechronicle.com.au/story/4646118/gorillaz-in-the-midst-of-rap-rock/?cs=5355 |title=Gorillaz in the midst of rap-rock | The Queanbeyan Age |website=Queanbeyanagechronicle.com.au |date=8 May 2017 |access-date=1 July 2017 }} indie rock,{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/10-best-gorillaz-songs/|title=10 Best Gorillaz Songs|website=Diffuser.fm|date=23 March 2014 |access-date=29 June 2018}} bedroom pop,{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/amp/gorillaz-the-now-now-2583303134|title= Gorillaz's 'The Now Now" Rises From a Personal Place of Ennui for Damon Albarn|website=PopMatters|date=3 July 2018}} dance-rock,[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-collection-2001-2011-mw0002241721 "The Singles Collection 2001–2011"]. AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2014 new wave,{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2017/04/gorillaz-in-10-songs/|title=Gorillaz in 10 Songs|last=Phillips|first=Lior|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=27 April 2017|access-date=19 November 2017}} funk, worldbeat, and experimental rock.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/10/gorillaz-whirlwind|title=GORILLAZ UNVEIL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACK "WHIRLWIND"|website=Fuse}} The band's aesthetic and general approach has been described as postmodern. According to AllMusic, Gorillaz blend Britpop and hip-hop,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gorillaz-mn0000664770|title=Gorillaz – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=1 September 2017}} while The Guardian described the band as "a sort of dub/hip-hop/lo-fi indie/world music hybrid".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/13/popandrock.shopping3|title=Gorillaz, Demon Days|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2005|access-date=22 November 2017}} According to PopMatters, the band's early work foreshadowed "the melding of hip-hop, rock, and electronic elements in pop music" that grew in significance in the next decade.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/121872-gorillaz-plastic-beach-2496174715.html|title=Gorillaz: Plastic Beach|last=Kabran|first=Michael|website=PopMatters|date=7 March 2010|access-date=28 November 2017}} {{Quote box

|quote = "[Influencing] to us, is the greatest achievement of Gorillaz. It's that we know that a very large percentage of our audience are kids, who go on gorillaz.com, who go on gorillaz-unofficial.com, and through seeing the cartoons and hearing the tune, buying the record, are finding out about this stuff that they knew nothing about. So they're learning about Vlad The Impaler, or Ronald Searle, or The Specials... so it's like an education. They really get into it. And they discover it, the music we grew up on."

|author = – Jamie Hewlett

|source ={{Cite web|date=18 November 2006|title=Jamie Hewlett – the Gorillaz-Unofficial interview|url=http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/faninterview.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411081636/http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/faninterview.html|archive-date=11 April 2016}}

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|align = right

}}

Gorillaz’ main musical influences include Fishmans, Massive Attack, the Specials, Big Audio Dynamite, Public Image Ltd, Tom Tom Club, Fun Boy Three, Unkle, A Tribe Called Quest, and fellow collaborators De La Soul,{{Cite news|last=Kirkaldy|first=Ian|date=27 Jun 2001|title=The Naked Apes: An Interview with the Gorillaz|work=PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/010628-gorillaz-2496101515.html}}{{Cite web|date=22 March 2010|title=Gorillaz's Damon Albarn talks to the Doctor (Part 1)|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2853037.htm}}{{Cite book|last=Rachel|first=Daniel|title=The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|year=2014|isbn=978-1250051295|pages=387}}{{Cite news|last=Yoshida|first=Emily|date=29 March 2016|title=The Rise of Mo'Wax Founder James Lavelle — and The Record Industry That Fell With Him|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/29/11320786/artist-and-repertoire-dj-shadow-documentary-interview-unkle-sxsw-2016}}{{Cite book|last=Browne|first=Cass|title=Rise of The Ogre|publisher=Riverhead Books|year=2006|isbn=9781594489310|pages=69}} as well as The Human League, The Kinks, XTC, Simple Minds, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Ween, Portishead, Beck, Wire, Fela Kuti, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth Wind and Fire, Augustus Pablo, Zapp, and DJ Kool Herc.{{Cite book|last=Browne|first=Cass|title=Rise of The Ogre|publisher=Riverhead Books|year=2006|isbn=9781594489310|pages=156}}{{Cite news|date=24 March 2017|title=Gorillaz channel Earth, Wind and Fire on new LP|work=Press From|url=https://pressfrom.info/uk/news/entertainment/-131690-gorillaz-channel-earth-wind-and-fire-on-new-lp.html|access-date=10 October 2020|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504214439/https://pressfrom.info/uk/news/entertainment/-131690-gorillaz-channel-earth-wind-and-fire-on-new-lp.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=20 May 2016|title=A huge influence on the new Gorillaz album revealed?|work=Gigwise|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/107052/clint-eastwood-stars-gorillaz-new-album-songs-influenced-by-somple-min}} Gorillaz’ primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes,{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=21 July 2020|title=Gorillaz, Schoolboy Q Honor Arcade Classic Pac-Man on New Song|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-schoolboy-q-honor-arcade-classic-pac-man-on-new-song-14459/}} Mad magazine,{{Cite news|last=Melville|first=Carman|title=Drawing Gorillaz JAMIE HEWLETT: THE ARTIST BEHIND THE GORILLAZ|work=Fuel}}{{Cite book|last=Hewlett|first=Jamie|title=Jamie Hewlett|publisher=TASCHEN|year=2017|isbn=978-3836560931|pages=1}} The Simpsons,{{Cite web|title=Gorillaz: Old Exclusive Interview| date=3 June 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8U5alH_NyI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/M8U5alH_NyI| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} 2000 AD,{{Cite journal|last=Bolger|first=Thomas|date=9 November 2020|title=Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head|url=https://www.port-magazine.com/music/fire-coming-out-of-the-monkeys-head/|journal=PORT Magazine}} and Métal hurlant (Heavy Metal).{{Cite news|last=Kermode|first=Mark|date=20 July 2008|title=The year of the monkey|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2008/jul/20/art}} Furthermore, Hewlett has also cited European artists such as Carl Giles, Ronald Searle,{{Cite news|url = https://consequence.net/2013/07/jamie-hewlett-chats-gorillaz-comics-and-his-favorite-childhood-toy|title =Jamie Hewlett chats Gorillaz, comics, and his favorite childhood toy|last = Franks|first = Allison|date = July 2013|work = Consequence of Sound|access-date = 2 June 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Fairs |first1=Marcus |title=Jamie Hewlett |date=June 2006 |url=http://www.iconeye.com/404/item/2494-jamie-hewlett-%7C-icon-036-%7C-june-2006 |website=iconeye.com/ |publisher=Icon Eye |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014501/http://www.iconeye.com/404/item/2494-jamie-hewlett-%7C-icon-036-%7C-june-2006 |archive-date=29 November 2014}} Moebius, Tanino Liberatore,{{cite web|title=JAMIE HEWLETT Graphic Artist (1968– ) Designer of the Year 2006 |url=http://design.designmuseum.org/design/jamie-hewlett |website=design.designmuseum.org |publisher=Design Museum |access-date=24 January 2015 |quote=Q. What or who inspires you? A. Jack Davis, Ronald Searle, Liberatore, Moebius, Tony Hart. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109023951/http://design.designmuseum.org/design/jamie-hewlett |archive-date=9 January 2015}} Mike McMahon,{{Cite news|last=Fairs|first=Marcus|date=June 2006|title=Jamie Hewlett {{!}} icon 036 {{!}} June 2006 – Icon Magazine|work=Icon|url=https://www.iconeye.com/404/item/2494-jamie-hewlett-%7C-icon-036-%7C-june-2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014501/https://www.iconeye.com/404/item/2494-jamie-hewlett-%7C-icon-036-%7C-june-2006|archive-date=29 November 2014}} and Brendan McCarthy.{{cite web|last1=Buchanan|first1=Stuart|title=Interview: Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) – Sex, Tanks & Kangaroos|url=http://stuartbuchanan.com/music/2011/07/31/interview-jamie-hewlett-gorillaz-sex-tanks-kangaroos/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111449/http://stuartbuchanan.com/music/2011/07/31/interview-jamie-hewlett-gorillaz-sex-tanks-kangaroos/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2015|website=Stuart Buchanan|publisher=Glasgow University Magazine|access-date=29 March 2015}} The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits, the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, and real bands with fictional stage personas like ABC (circa How to Be a ... Zillionaire!) and Silicon Teens.{{Cite news|last=Peel|first=Ian|date=November 2018|title=The Godfathers of Pop: 2-D interview|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2018/11/the-godfathers-of-pop-2-d-interview/}}Charts of Darkness. Dazed Film & TV (2001)

Musical artists and bands who have been influenced by Gorillaz's work include Major Lazer,{{Cite news|last=Rubin|first=Rick|date=31 March 2015|title=Diplo|work=Interview|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/diplo#_}} Dethklok,{{Cite news|last=Serba|first=John|date=6 November 2012|title='Metalocalypse' creator Brendon Small: bringing Dethklok to the live stage took 'tons of work'|work=MLive|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2012/11/metalocalypse_creator_brendon.html}}{{Cite news|date=23 July 2008|title=Dethklok Co-Creator/Vocalist/Guitarist Brendon Small Interviewed|work=Metal Underground|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=37971}} Rat Boy,{{Cite news|last=James|first=Robyn|title=WE SAT DOWN WITH // RAT BOY|work=What The Funk?|url=https://www.whatthefunkmag.com/we-sat-down-with-rat-boy/}} Chromeo, Flume,{{Cite news|date=8 January 2019|title=The Art of Flumestep|work=WECB FM|url=http://wecb.fm/milkcrate/theartofflumestep|access-date=6 June 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606055658/http://wecb.fm/milkcrate/theartofflumestep|url-status=dead}} Foster the People,{{Cite web|date=7 September 2011|title=Foster The People discuss the influence of Damon Albarn and The Beatles – Q25|website=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vS6wLiMUpo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-vS6wLiMUpo| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=7 June 2020}}{{cbignore}} The 1975,{{Cite news|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=27 November 2018|title=Matty Healy says 'Music For Cars' era is The 1975's 'Gorillaz moment'|work=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/matty-healy-music-for-cars-era-1975-gorillaz-moment-2413396}} 5 Seconds of Summer,{{Cite magazine|date=23 June 2018|title=5 Seconds of Summer Want You Back: 'Our Purpose Is Very Different Than Other Bands'|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8462361/5-seconds-of-summer-interview-youngblood-2018}} Awolnation,{{Cite news|last=Gerichter|first=Daniel|date=25 September 2014|title=Interview: AWOLNATION Set Sail for Sophomore Supremacy|work=Aesthetic Magazine|url=https://aestheticmagazinetoronto.com/2014/09/25/interview-awolnation-set-sail-for-sophomore-supremacy/}} Paramore,{{Cite news|last=Smith-Engelhardt|first=Joe|date=27 April 2020|title=HERE ARE THE SONGS HAYLEY WILLIAMS SAYS INSPIRED PARAMORE'S BEGINNINGS|work=Alternative Press Magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-zac-farro-mixtape-playlist-paramore-inspirations/}} Grimes,{{Cite news|last=Smith-Engelhardt|first=Joe|date=27 April 2019|title=GRIMES WANTS 'TO GORILLAZ IT' WITH A HOLOGRAM TOUR|work=Alternative Press Magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/grimes-wants-to-do-hologram-tour-retire-from-touring/}} Kesha,{{Cite news|last=Garland|first=Emma|date=8 January 2016|title=Kesha's MySpace Profile from 2008 is Better Than DJ Khaled's Snapchat|work=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/keshas-myspace-profile-from-2008-is-better-than-dj-khaleds-snapchat/}} A.G. Cook,{{Cite news|last=Jolley|first=Ben|date=18 September 2020|title=The evolution of A. G. Cook|work=Mixmag|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/a-g-cook-pc-music-experimental-pop-interview|access-date=18 October 2020}} Finneas,{{Cite news|last=Kaye|first=Ben|date=7 August 2020|title=FINNEAS Shares New Version of "Let's Fall in Love for the Night (1964)": Stream|work=Consequence of Sound|url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/finneas-lets-fall-in-love-for-the-night-1964-stream/|access-date=23 October 2020}} Oliver Tree,{{Cite news|date=17 July 2020|title=Oliver Tree's 'Nostalgic Rock' Playlist|work=Spin|url=https://www.spin.com/2020/07/oliver-trees-nostalgic-rock-playlist/}} Flatbush Zombies,{{Cite news|last=Watson|first=Elliot|date=6 June 2020|title=FLATBUSH ZOMBIES ON ACTUAL FACTUALS AND HOW HIP-HOP CAN CHANGE THE WORLD|publisher=Hunger TV|url=https://www.hungertv.com/feature/flatbush-zombies-on-actual-factuals-and-how-hip-hop-can-change-the-world/}} Vic Mensa,{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-freshmen-2014/2014/05/vic-mensa-2/|title=Vic Mensa |date=16 May 2014 |publisher=Xxlmag.com}} IDK,{{Cite news|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|title=IDK Interview|work=Thrasher Magazine|url=https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/music-interviews/idk-interview/}} Trippie Redd,{{Cite news|last=Robles|first=Julian|date=27 March 2018|title=Trippie Redd Only Wants To Create Timeless Music|work=Hot New Hip Hop|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/trippie-redd-only-wants-to-create-timeless-music-news.46402.html}} The Internet,{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Kathleen|date=14 June 2019|title=The Internet's Matt Martians on being discovered by Tyler, The Creator and joining Odd Future|work=GQ Magazine|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/matt-martians-interview}} ASAP Rocky,{{Cite news|last=Dunn|first=Francesca|date=9 April 2015|title=A$AP rocky opens up on drugs and women in london|work=Vice|url=https://i-d.co/article/aap-rocky-opens-up-on-drugs-and-women-in-london/}} Lupe Fiasco,{{Cite news|last=Brelhan|first=Tom|date=14 May 2006|title=Lupe Fiasco|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6334-lupe-fiasco/}} Brockhampton,{{Cite news|last=O’Shaughnessy|first=Niall|date=October 8, 2018|title=The Groupchat: BROCKHAMPTON|work=College Tribune|url=http://collegetribune.ie/the-groupchat-brockhampton/}} Odd Future{{Cite web|title=Tyler, The Creator – Fin Lyrics {{!}} Genius Lyrics|url=https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-fin-lyrics|access-date=7 June 2020|website=Genius.com}} and Billie Eilish, who was joined by Albarn to sing her song, "Getting Older", and Gorillaz' song, "Feel Good Inc." with Posdnuos of De La Soul.{{Cite web|last=Halperin and Miller|first=Shirley and Jeff|date=17 April 2022|title=Damon Albarn Joins Billie Eilish for Gorillaz Classic at Coachella|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/billie-eilish-damon-albarn-gorillaz-coachella-1235234201/|access-date=17 April 2022}}

In addition to the exhibition, Gorillaz also announced “four very special standalone one-off limited-capacity live Gorillaz shows at Copper Box Arena taking place on August 29th, August 30th, and September 2nd and 3rd,” the band's first gigs since Coachella 2023.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Virtual members

• 2-D – lead vocals, keyboards, guitar (1998–present)
• Murdoc Niccals – bass (1998–present), drum machine (2008–present){{efn|Murdoc was briefly in hiatus from the band in 2018 during the course of The Now Now due to being in jail, leading to Ace becoming his temporary replacement.{{Cite web |last=Staley |first=Brandon |date=31 May 2018 |title=The Gorillaz's New Band Member is a Powerpuff Girls Character |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/ |access-date=19 December 2018 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801042230/https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/ |url-status=live }}}}
• Noodle – guitar, keyboards, vocals (1998–2006; 2012–present)
• Russel Hobbs – drums, percussion, drum machine (1998–2006; 2012–present)

{{col-2}}

Former virtual members

• Paula Cracker – guitar (1998)
• Cyborg Noodle – guitar, vocals (2008–2010)
• Ace – bass (2018)

{{col-end}}

{{Anchor|Murdoc Niccals}}

Murdoc Faust Niccals (born Murdoc Alphonce Niccals) is the bassist for the band. He is voiced by Phil Cornwell and was created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. Murdoc is based on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Victor Frankenstein, and Creeper from Scooby-Doo.{{Cite magazine|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=8 June 2010|title=Keith Richards: Music's most influential character?|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/08/keith-richards-characters/|access-date=19 September 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131193002/https://ew.com/article/2010/06/08/keith-richards-characters/|url-status=live}} In particular, he was inspired by a photograph of the Rolling Stones taken in 1968 by photographer David Bailey.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iORNib9p-OM&vl=en |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/iORNib9p-OM |archive-date=19 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Pen & Pad : Interview with Jamie Hewlett |website=YouTube |date=11 September 2017 |access-date=26 December 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news|last=Howe|first=Rupert|date=1 August 2020|title=Eyewitness: 20 Years of Gorillaz|work=Q Magazine}} Once described by creator Jamie Hewlett as being the "unpleasant villain of the band".{{Cite web |title=Keith Richards: Music's most influential character? |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/08/keith-richards-characters/ |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=EW.com |language=en}} Murdoc is a Satanist{{Cite news|last=D.|first=Spence|date=29 June 2001|title=Gorillaz In Tha Midst|work=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/29/gorillaz-in-tha-midst|access-date=19 September 2023|archive-date=4 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904085218/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/29/gorillaz-in-tha-midst|url-status=live}} who is often depicted wearing an inverted cross necklace, with "Hail Satan" being a common catchphrase of his. He was created by Hewlett and Damon Albarn in 1998, with his first official appearance being Gorillaz' debut EP Tomorrow Comes Today in 2000.{{Cite journal|last=Morton|first=Roger|date=November 2000|title=Gorillaz Exclusive Interview|journal=Dazed}}

Stuart Harold "2-D" Pot provides the lead vocals and plays the keyboard for the band. 2-D's singing voice is provided by Blur frontman Damon Albarn on Gorillaz' recordings and performances; his speaking voice was provided by actor Nelson De Freitas in various Gorillaz direct-to-video projects such as Phase One: Celebrity Take Down and Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades. In 2017, Kevin Bishop was cast as the new speaking voice of 2-D.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/watch-gorillaz-first-ever-live-nme-interview-2056278|title=Watch Gorillaz' first ever live NME interview|work=NME|date=21 April 2017|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213232818/https://www.nme.com/news/watch-gorillaz-first-ever-live-nme-interview-2056278|url-status=live}} He was created by Albarn and Jamie Hewlett in 1998. Most of 2-D's recordings were made with a megaphone part due to his very bass voice, confirmed Hewlett.

{{Anchor|Noodle}}

Noodle provides the lead guitar and keyboards, as well as some occasional vocals for the band.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303029/gorillaz/biography |title=Artists – Biography – Gorillaz |last=Phares |first=Heather |date=2011 |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-date=18 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118003204/http://www.billboard.com/artist/303029/gorillaz/biography |url-status=live }} Like all other band members of Gorillaz, she was created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. Originally from Japan, Noodle has been voiced by Haruka Kuroda,Bananaz. HanWay Films (2008) Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9754-ecdysis/|title=Miho Hatori: Ecdysis Album Review|publisher=Pitchfork|first=Stuart|last=Berman|date=11 January 2007|access-date=8 August 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003112824/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9754-ecdysis/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/02/11/music/cibo-mattos-yuka-and-miho-share-the-secrets-to-their-second-marriage-2/#.VAtra2RdV68|title=Cibo Matto's Yuka and Miho share the secrets to their 'second marriage'|work=The Japan Times|first=Jon|last=Wilks|author-link=Jon Wilks|date=11 February 2014|access-date=8 August 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003122840/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/02/11/music/cibo-mattos-yuka-and-miho-share-the-secrets-to-their-second-marriage-2/#.VAtra2RdV68|url-status=live}} and Haruka Abe.{{cite web |title=LEFT HAND HARUKA METHOD: The Haruka Kuroda Interview |url=https://monkeyz.podiant.co/e/36d29315cfc81a/ |website=Hallelujah Monkeyz: The Gorillaz Fancast |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145636/https://monkeyz.podiant.co/e/36d29315cfc81a/ |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=dead }} Noodle was originally conceptualised by co-creator Jamie Hewlett as a 17-year-old girl named Paula Cracker, but co-creator Damon Albarn noted that the character was too similar to the characters that Hewlett is typically known for drawing, and recommended that he attempt to create "something different". Taking Albarn's advice, Hewlett designed an illustration of a 10-year-old Japanese girl named Noodle who is a martial arts expert.{{cite journal |last1=Eckstein |first1=Lars |title=Torpedoing the authorship of popular music: a reading of Gorillaz' 'Feel Good Inc.' |journal=Popular Music |date=May 2009 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=239–255 |doi=10.1017/S0261143009001809 |s2cid=58901015 |url=https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/files/5713/eckstein_torpedoing_the_authorship.pdf |access-date=2 October 2023 |issn = 0261-1430}} In October 2016, Noodle became the global ambassador for Jaguar Racing, appearing in a short commercial advertising the company.{{cite news |url=http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/noodle-from-gorillaz-becomes-global-ambassador-for-jaguar-racing-100716 |title=Noodle from Gorillaz becomes global ambassador for Jaguar Racing |first=Samuel |last=Reiman |work=Fox Sports |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=7 October 2016 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009213848/http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/noodle-from-gorillaz-becomes-global-ambassador-for-jaguar-racing-100716 |url-status=unfit }}

Russel Hobbs was originally conceptualized by Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn in 1998 as a metafictional representation of the hip hop aspects of Gorillaz, embodying the spirit of the bands' collaborations with various rappers over the years. He is referenced in the lyrics to the Gorillaz track "Clint Eastwood". He was originally inspired by Hewlett's love for hip hop artists like Ice Cube{{cite AV media|last=de Caunes|first=Antoine|date=15 November 2017|title=Jamie Hewlett|medium=Radio|url=https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/popopop/popopop-15-novembre-2017|access-date=13 October 2020|time=41:20|location=franceinter|publisher=France Inter|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020734/https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/popopop/popopop-15-novembre-2017|url-status=live}} (the cousin of rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, who raps on "Clint Eastwood" and "Rock The House" as Del the Ghost Rapper).{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=Dana|date=17 June 2016|title=DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN RECALLS GHOSTWRITING FOR ICE CUBE & GORILLAZ' "CLINT EASTWOOD" BEING HIS ONLY PLATINUM RECORD|work=HipHopDX|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.39273/title.del-the-funky-homosapien-recalls-ghostwriting-for-ice-cube-gorillaz-clint-eastwood-being-his-only-platinum-record|access-date=11 July 2023|archive-date=30 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430162939/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.39273/title.del-the-funky-homosapien-recalls-ghostwriting-for-ice-cube-gorillaz-clint-eastwood-being-his-only-platinum-record|url-status=live}} Russel's speaking voice is provided by percussionist and DJ Remi Kabaka Jr., who has been an actual percussionist and producer for Gorillaz since Humanz in 2017. Russel's fictional backstory of being possessed by the spirits of dead musicians is what originally inspired the usage of collaborators and guests on Gorillaz' albums.{{cite AV media |last=Orr |first=Mal |date=7 April 2006 |title=Essential Gorillaz|medium=Documentary |publisher=MTV}}{{Cite journal|last=Moreau|first=François|date=5 October 2020|title=On a créé la pop moderne|url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2020/10/05/musique/musique/rencontre-avec-gorillaz-on-a-cree-la-pop-moderne/|journal=Les Inrockuptibles|access-date=11 July 2023|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128034525/https://www.lesinrocks.com/2020/10/05/musique/musique/rencontre-avec-gorillaz-on-a-cree-la-pop-moderne/|url-status=live}}

Additional members include Ace, a Powerpuff Girls character from the Gangreen Gang, a green-skinned gang making part of this universe, and the bassist recording with the band on The Now Now (2018) and Murdoc's substitute, while the latter was arrested in prison until he returns with the band 1 year later. Cyborg Noodle, Noodle's substitute on guitar and a robotic version of herself, while the latter was lost somewhere in Japan. Cyborg Noodle's appearance is only used for the Plastic Beach phase. Del tha Ghost Rapper, a fictionalized version of real-life rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Russel's spirit, and the band's current rapper from 1998 to 2001, until he was back in 2023 during the sessions of Cracker Island, and Paula Cracker, the band's earlier guitarist and 2-D's former girlfriend, when the band was named Gorilla, until Noodle's arrival on guitar.

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:25

PlotArea = left:80 bottom:100 top:06 right:0

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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1998 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}

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Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1998

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals

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{{Main|Gorillaz discography}}

Studio albums

• Gorillaz (2001)
• Demon Days (2005)
• Plastic Beach (2010)
• The Fall (2010)
• Humanz (2017)
• The Now Now (2018)
• Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020)
• Cracker Island (2023)

• Gorillaz Live (2001–2002)
• Demon Days Live (2005–2006)
• Escape to Plastic Beach Tour (2010)
• Humanz Tour (2017–2018)
• The Now Now Tour (2018)
• Song Machine Tour (2020–2021)
• Gorillaz World Tour 2022 (2022)

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Gorillaz}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Sister project links|d=Q189991|c=category:Gorillaz|n=no|b=no|v=no|wikt=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no|q=yes|species=no}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{YouTube|handle=Gorillaz}}
• {{Discogs artist}}

{{Gorillaz}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Gorillaz

|list =

{{Brit British Group}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Alternative}}

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}}

{{Navboxes

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|list =

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}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Warner Records artists