'Cliches: Done 'Em All'
Popworld.com, April 2006
On tour with Gorillaz
Back from a UK tour the Gorillaz are taking a bit of a break after a hectic year. Here's what they told us about their time on the road...
How do you deal with the groupies?
MURDOC: Line 'em up and knock 'em down. Really. Sometimes when you're faced with what appears to be an insurmountable amount of work, the only way to get through it is to roll up your sleeves and just get stuck in.
NOODLE: We don't really encounter a lot of groupies. It's rare for us to go out and we haven't played live a great deal this year either.
MURDOC: What are you talking about? The stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon was littered with groupies, everywhere. Fantastic. And there was me in just my hat and nappy.
Anyone really messed up or embarrassed themselves on stage?
MURDOC: Did you see that picture of the girl out The Black Eyed Peas? The one where she messed herself on stage? That was funny.
2D bashed himself in the face with his microphone when we played in Lisbon. Really smooth for a frontman. He was trying to kick the stand up like James Brown, but it backfired and knocked him right in the teeth.
2D: Luckily my two front ones are missing already.
What are your tour rider demands?
2D: Scotch eggs and big sandwiches. Forty eight cans of strong continental lager.
MURDOC: We usually try and push it as far as we can go. One of us will log on to the Internet a couple of hours before, find the most outrageous demands from any band, J.Lo, Bon Jovi, whoever, and then ask the venue to double it. So we turn up, 260 people in our posse, white walls, fresh flowers, caviar, lobster, PlayStations everywhere. Pretty well anything that springs to mind.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
2D: Murdoc went through this whole 'Give me all the money in your pockets' ritual before we went on stage. I tried to object but he said it was a good luck thing for the band, before we went on.
MURDOC: I can't help it. It's just a funny little superstitious quirk I have. Like an OCD habit. I believe it give us good fortune. Well, it did for me anyway.
Any of you ever committed any rock 'n' roll cliches, like throwing the TV out of the window, worn sunglasses indoors, said 'Do you know who I am?'
MURDOC: Cliches? I've done all of them. All at the same time, in fact. I think that's why we got thrown out the Hilton in America. I ordered room service and when the guy turned up I opened the door wearing my shades, said, 'Do you know who I am?' then chucked the TV right out the window. Bosh! Instant ejection from the hotel.
Who throws the best hissy fits?
RUSSEL: That's Murdoc for sure. It's difficult to tell whether he's doing it for fun or not, but if he doesn't get his way I've seen him lie on the floor, kicking and beating his fists like a three year old. Funnily enough it seems to work so maybe that's why he does it. He always has a smile on his face by the end, too.
How do keep inconspicuous when you're out and about in public?
2D: A subtle combination of beards, glasses, moustaches, back wigs, trench coats, gloves and a deep fake tan.
MURDOC: Hmm, I'd say with that outfit that's actually why you get recognized so much.
What are the Gorillaz three laws/rules?
MURDOC: Don't be dull. Crush the opposition. Bring you daughter to the slaughter.
NOODLE: Be compassionate. Think about the effect you have. Make it one that improves the world.
RUSSEL: Do the right thing. Don't believe the hype. Party like it's 1999.
2D: Er, be German or whatever.
Back from a UK tour the Gorillaz are taking a bit of a break after a hectic year. Here's what they told us about their time on the road...
How do you deal with the groupies?
MURDOC: Line 'em up and knock 'em down. Really. Sometimes when you're faced with what appears to be an insurmountable amount of work, the only way to get through it is to roll up your sleeves and just get stuck in.
NOODLE: We don't really encounter a lot of groupies. It's rare for us to go out and we haven't played live a great deal this year either.
MURDOC: What are you talking about? The stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon was littered with groupies, everywhere. Fantastic. And there was me in just my hat and nappy.
Anyone really messed up or embarrassed themselves on stage?
MURDOC: Did you see that picture of the girl out The Black Eyed Peas? The one where she messed herself on stage? That was funny.
2D bashed himself in the face with his microphone when we played in Lisbon. Really smooth for a frontman. He was trying to kick the stand up like James Brown, but it backfired and knocked him right in the teeth.
2D: Luckily my two front ones are missing already.
What are your tour rider demands?
2D: Scotch eggs and big sandwiches. Forty eight cans of strong continental lager.
MURDOC: We usually try and push it as far as we can go. One of us will log on to the Internet a couple of hours before, find the most outrageous demands from any band, J.Lo, Bon Jovi, whoever, and then ask the venue to double it. So we turn up, 260 people in our posse, white walls, fresh flowers, caviar, lobster, PlayStations everywhere. Pretty well anything that springs to mind.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
2D: Murdoc went through this whole 'Give me all the money in your pockets' ritual before we went on stage. I tried to object but he said it was a good luck thing for the band, before we went on.
MURDOC: I can't help it. It's just a funny little superstitious quirk I have. Like an OCD habit. I believe it give us good fortune. Well, it did for me anyway.
Any of you ever committed any rock 'n' roll cliches, like throwing the TV out of the window, worn sunglasses indoors, said 'Do you know who I am?'
MURDOC: Cliches? I've done all of them. All at the same time, in fact. I think that's why we got thrown out the Hilton in America. I ordered room service and when the guy turned up I opened the door wearing my shades, said, 'Do you know who I am?' then chucked the TV right out the window. Bosh! Instant ejection from the hotel.
Who throws the best hissy fits?
RUSSEL: That's Murdoc for sure. It's difficult to tell whether he's doing it for fun or not, but if he doesn't get his way I've seen him lie on the floor, kicking and beating his fists like a three year old. Funnily enough it seems to work so maybe that's why he does it. He always has a smile on his face by the end, too.
How do keep inconspicuous when you're out and about in public?
2D: A subtle combination of beards, glasses, moustaches, back wigs, trench coats, gloves and a deep fake tan.
MURDOC: Hmm, I'd say with that outfit that's actually why you get recognized so much.
What are the Gorillaz three laws/rules?
MURDOC: Don't be dull. Crush the opposition. Bring you daughter to the slaughter.
NOODLE: Be compassionate. Think about the effect you have. Make it one that improves the world.
RUSSEL: Do the right thing. Don't believe the hype. Party like it's 1999.
2D: Er, be German or whatever.