Exclusive Gorillaz Interview
The Official Gorillaz Fansite, December 2001
At last Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel have broken their conspicuous silence. Well at least Russel, Murdoc and 2D have and I'm sure wherever Noodle is she's not being quiet. So here goes. I was first contacted by a bleary eyed Russel, looking all cookied and X-Boxed out. Ironically, after his own disappearing act of last month, he was wondering where all his band mates had got to and he of course turned to me for the answer. I was busy trying to negotiate my way around the fact that I, like him, did not have a clue where they might be when any semblance of order was banished from the room by the stench of what was either brimstone or asparagus tainted piss (both decidedly evil.) Murdoc had arrived! So, where had they been? Before we could get any answers Murdoc went to great pains to tell me and Russel that the X Box was, in his opinion and I quote "Shit" and that he was hanging out for a large Game Cube endorsement deal. At which point 2D appeared and piped up about "Manic Miner" on the 48K Spectrum, which was dually noted and ignored. This was getting us no where fast, I mean first you don't hear a thing from them in over a month and then they're all in your face, making you so confused that you don't know if you know what you know, if you know what I mean. Was that too many knows? I took this opportunity to ask the boys about this month's up and coming events.
fans.com
So what can we expect from the Red Cross shows?
Murdoc
That's not us playing, man. Albarn has formed a tribute band and I've let him use our name. The boy's desperate to help victims of war but he's also desperate for some decent tunes to perform and quite frankly I want him and the war-pigs off of all of our backs so I'm happy to let him have a bash at playing some real music. Who knows, he might even learn something by begging scraps my table. He doesn't get out much any more and I know that him and the rest of Fat Les would love to have a hit in America.
Russel
We are though, about to start work on entirely new live show that we'll be unveiling for you all early next year. We also have some tentative State Side dates planned but nothing is confirmed yet.
fans.com
What can you tell us about the half-hour TV special?
Murdoc
This was all part of me allowing Albarnio to perform my material. We cut a deal where he and pencil boy Hewlett would get their final swan song, once and for all making it clear to the world who was the creative talent in this band; me! Who’s the star? Me! Who's band it is? Mine! And who would be bowing out from their fifteen minutes in the spotlight? Them. I'll no longer have to share my glory with those gits. No more T.V, Radio and column inches for them. The future I can reassure you is firmly cast in the form of an inverted crucifix! Hail Satan!
Russel
Have you finished "Big Chief He Who Speaks Loudly Saying Nothing?" The show is called "Gorillaz in Charts of Darkness," Josh. It has its premiere on Tuesday the 11th at 12.20 a.m on Channel 4 in the UK and then is on a couple more times before Christmas at more reasonable hours in the day. It contains two short films that we've shot, we call them "Gorillabites." These are the first in a series of ten coming to your screens soon and are entitled "Jump the Gut," a story which I'm not happy about and "Hey Our Toys Have Arrived.
2D
I said I was sorry Russ. Del talked me into it and you didn't have to shake my head so hard.
Russel
Sure D, I know we all make mistakes, just don't go making them while I'm catching some Z’s. Anyway, we'll be playing this show in the gorillaz.com cinema and it'll be coming to a station near you before you know it.
fans.com
Any chance Noodle will be making an appearance today?
2D
I don't think so Josh, she's busy riding round London on a number six double-decker bus with our festive "Hail Santa" greeting on the side of it.
Murdoc
It's Hail Satan you idiot and don't be expecting any presents from the lord of the flies either. He might be big and red but he isn't jolly and the only slaying he'll be doing is when he comes for your soul, numb nuts.
At this point I made a quiet and unnoticed exit. As much as I've missed them all, the last thing I need is to get caught up in a round of "The Pan in the Face Game." So many questions were left unasked and so many left unanswered but lets hope the old MB will see the welcome return of the red pen before long so that the burning issues of the day will be given proper attention. Like "What do they really think of Gorillas in the Mist?" and "What just are their thought's on the (a) The Monkees. (b) The Archies and (c) The Banana Splits?" Hail Santa indeed. Josh.
fans.com
So what can we expect from the Red Cross shows?
Murdoc
That's not us playing, man. Albarn has formed a tribute band and I've let him use our name. The boy's desperate to help victims of war but he's also desperate for some decent tunes to perform and quite frankly I want him and the war-pigs off of all of our backs so I'm happy to let him have a bash at playing some real music. Who knows, he might even learn something by begging scraps my table. He doesn't get out much any more and I know that him and the rest of Fat Les would love to have a hit in America.
Russel
We are though, about to start work on entirely new live show that we'll be unveiling for you all early next year. We also have some tentative State Side dates planned but nothing is confirmed yet.
fans.com
What can you tell us about the half-hour TV special?
Murdoc
This was all part of me allowing Albarnio to perform my material. We cut a deal where he and pencil boy Hewlett would get their final swan song, once and for all making it clear to the world who was the creative talent in this band; me! Who’s the star? Me! Who's band it is? Mine! And who would be bowing out from their fifteen minutes in the spotlight? Them. I'll no longer have to share my glory with those gits. No more T.V, Radio and column inches for them. The future I can reassure you is firmly cast in the form of an inverted crucifix! Hail Satan!
Russel
Have you finished "Big Chief He Who Speaks Loudly Saying Nothing?" The show is called "Gorillaz in Charts of Darkness," Josh. It has its premiere on Tuesday the 11th at 12.20 a.m on Channel 4 in the UK and then is on a couple more times before Christmas at more reasonable hours in the day. It contains two short films that we've shot, we call them "Gorillabites." These are the first in a series of ten coming to your screens soon and are entitled "Jump the Gut," a story which I'm not happy about and "Hey Our Toys Have Arrived.
2D
I said I was sorry Russ. Del talked me into it and you didn't have to shake my head so hard.
Russel
Sure D, I know we all make mistakes, just don't go making them while I'm catching some Z’s. Anyway, we'll be playing this show in the gorillaz.com cinema and it'll be coming to a station near you before you know it.
fans.com
Any chance Noodle will be making an appearance today?
2D
I don't think so Josh, she's busy riding round London on a number six double-decker bus with our festive "Hail Santa" greeting on the side of it.
Murdoc
It's Hail Satan you idiot and don't be expecting any presents from the lord of the flies either. He might be big and red but he isn't jolly and the only slaying he'll be doing is when he comes for your soul, numb nuts.
At this point I made a quiet and unnoticed exit. As much as I've missed them all, the last thing I need is to get caught up in a round of "The Pan in the Face Game." So many questions were left unasked and so many left unanswered but lets hope the old MB will see the welcome return of the red pen before long so that the burning issues of the day will be given proper attention. Like "What do they really think of Gorillas in the Mist?" and "What just are their thought's on the (a) The Monkees. (b) The Archies and (c) The Banana Splits?" Hail Santa indeed. Josh.