Banana Logic
Amplifier, December 2001
Meet England's newest hit-makers, the Gorillaz. Don't tell the kids, but the fab faux of Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel live in a world where nothing is real. Including the band. Tank Girl animator Jamie Hewlett and Blur's Damon Albarn exercised their collective warped imagination and scored a chart-topping self-titled album that meshes pop, punk, dub, techno and Cuban jazz rendered by cartoon characters. Along with a star-studded cast of collaborators including Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club), Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto), Ibrahim Ferrer (Biennia Vista Social Club), Del Tha Funky Homosapien and producer Dan the Automater, the Gorillaz are pop stars who never get old, always look good and, according to Albarn, "work cheap." But that's no reason to treat them like a bunch of monkeys.
Bassist Murdoc is the ambitious one. The snaggle-toothed Stoke-on-Trent hooligan initiated the Gorillaz out of a desire to be a rock god. First on board was front man 2D whom Murdoc befriended while ram-raiding the Organ Emporium where the blank-eyed crooner was formerly employed. Russel joined the fray next. Discovered in a Soho rap record shop, the menacing hip-hopping drummer lists his influences as Farrakhan and Chaka Kahn. In obeisance of British rock legend, the group turned to the NME classifieds to secure the missing link to stardom: a guitarist. FedEx'ed to Gorillaz headquarters post haste was an adolescent Asian ax princess answering to the name Noodle. A martial arts aficionado and admitted Richie Sambora fan, she enlisted without question. The Gorillaz in our midst are radical, chic, accessible and opinionated.
Amplifier: Damon Albarn apes your vocal style. True or False?
2D: Damon doesn't try to be like me. He actually did quite a lot of singing on my behalf. When we were recording this album in Jamaica I accidentally swallowed a hornet. It stung the inside of my mouth and my epiglottis swelled up and filled the back of my throat like a big throbbing pair of goat's testicles. The big D stepped in and cut the tracks.
Would you gig with Motley Crue now that Tommy Lee has gone solo?
RUSSEL: No!
Have you slept with Pam Anderson?
RUSSEL: No, she's a bit small for me.
Do you believe that Rod Stewart penned "Maggie May" about former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher?
MURDOC: Well, people say that Margaret Thatcher only had four hours sleep a night because she spent the other six hours on the piss with Rod. Truth is, their six-month affair ended in heartbreak for Rod when Thatcher buggered off with Danish super model Denis. So Rod followed the path of all good rock stars and wrote "Maggie" to help him cope. The tune was originally titled "Maggie Thatcher." But that idea was scrapped 'cause Thatcher's spin-doctor decided that being connected to a shaggy-haired pop singer would damage her public profile.
Identify your two favorite Spice Girls?
NOODLE: Lengthy Spice and Needy Spice.
Do you hang with the A-list of British rock royalty like Gary Glitter and Jarvis Cocker?
MURDOC: I've never met Jarvis or Gary. However my brother's mate knows the bloke who used to play Doogie Howser. Ringo is known as "Ringoed" in my circle of friends. I used to be mates with a Blue Meanie. His name was Simon.
David Gray allows his stick man Clune equal billing under the lights. What's your take on this?
RUSSEL: There was some chatter about me setting up my drums at the front of the stage, but unfortunately it was ruled out for safety reasons. As you know, there are a few songs in our set that Del the ghost rapper raps on. When Del appears I usually fall asleep. If my drums were up front I might keel over and crush some kid.
Bassist Murdoc is the ambitious one. The snaggle-toothed Stoke-on-Trent hooligan initiated the Gorillaz out of a desire to be a rock god. First on board was front man 2D whom Murdoc befriended while ram-raiding the Organ Emporium where the blank-eyed crooner was formerly employed. Russel joined the fray next. Discovered in a Soho rap record shop, the menacing hip-hopping drummer lists his influences as Farrakhan and Chaka Kahn. In obeisance of British rock legend, the group turned to the NME classifieds to secure the missing link to stardom: a guitarist. FedEx'ed to Gorillaz headquarters post haste was an adolescent Asian ax princess answering to the name Noodle. A martial arts aficionado and admitted Richie Sambora fan, she enlisted without question. The Gorillaz in our midst are radical, chic, accessible and opinionated.
Amplifier: Damon Albarn apes your vocal style. True or False?
2D: Damon doesn't try to be like me. He actually did quite a lot of singing on my behalf. When we were recording this album in Jamaica I accidentally swallowed a hornet. It stung the inside of my mouth and my epiglottis swelled up and filled the back of my throat like a big throbbing pair of goat's testicles. The big D stepped in and cut the tracks.
Would you gig with Motley Crue now that Tommy Lee has gone solo?
RUSSEL: No!
Have you slept with Pam Anderson?
RUSSEL: No, she's a bit small for me.
Do you believe that Rod Stewart penned "Maggie May" about former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher?
MURDOC: Well, people say that Margaret Thatcher only had four hours sleep a night because she spent the other six hours on the piss with Rod. Truth is, their six-month affair ended in heartbreak for Rod when Thatcher buggered off with Danish super model Denis. So Rod followed the path of all good rock stars and wrote "Maggie" to help him cope. The tune was originally titled "Maggie Thatcher." But that idea was scrapped 'cause Thatcher's spin-doctor decided that being connected to a shaggy-haired pop singer would damage her public profile.
Identify your two favorite Spice Girls?
NOODLE: Lengthy Spice and Needy Spice.
Do you hang with the A-list of British rock royalty like Gary Glitter and Jarvis Cocker?
MURDOC: I've never met Jarvis or Gary. However my brother's mate knows the bloke who used to play Doogie Howser. Ringo is known as "Ringoed" in my circle of friends. I used to be mates with a Blue Meanie. His name was Simon.
David Gray allows his stick man Clune equal billing under the lights. What's your take on this?
RUSSEL: There was some chatter about me setting up my drums at the front of the stage, but unfortunately it was ruled out for safety reasons. As you know, there are a few songs in our set that Del the ghost rapper raps on. When Del appears I usually fall asleep. If my drums were up front I might keel over and crush some kid.