Gorillaz Interview
Making Music, June 2001
Opinion is split in the Making Music office over the Gorillaz. You've got the ‘album of the month’ slot, but our technical editor reckons you’re nothing but a second-rate Archies (or Josie & the Pussycats, Banana Splits) for the trainer generation.
Murdoc: What is it with you fat, half-wit hacks? Have you all read Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, and that ranting, speak first, think never, sod Burchill and assumed that you have carte blanche to position your dull excuse for existence at the centre of every interview with absolutely anybody? Subjectivity without insight or context is just the emperor’s new bollocks.
You played behind a screen at a recent live show, did you get the idea from The Residents (who played behind a hessian net at Hammersmith once)? Was that your first-ever live show?
Russel: No, the first gig we played was at the Camden Brownhouse about eighteen months ago now. That’s where EMI head honcho Whiffy Smiffy spotted us. We’re just approaching how we “Show ourselves” in a new way. We do that with everything from our music, to our videos on our internet site, all of our design work, and in our merchandise. We don’t like to take anything for granted. Our shows work on a lot of levels, obviously, we aim to give a liver-quivering audio adventure but we don’t stop there. We’re developing a visual presentation that isn’t simply the standard four faceless dullards banging through their barely discernible repertoire. It’s a culmination of genres that’s in line with our diverse musical influences. While we’re the live band at the heart of the show, the projections, rap, and DJs have their roots in a more club-orientated tradition, but those are just the parts of the experience, the sum itself is something else. Something much more.
How’s that personal hygiene problem, Murdoc? I believe you are currently under investigation by the RSPCA for your less-than-friendly approach to pet (especially cat) care.
Murdoc: That’s all bullshit. Record companies always send out the stupidest biographies stuffed full of superlatives with everybody’s releases. We had to do some record reviews for an English kiddies music magazine the other day, and if you believed everything that the record companies had to say you’d think that every group with no hope, faceless wannabes were the next god star geniuses. Like they were, I dunno, Dr. Alimantado or something, y’know?
Where did 2D learn to play the Melodica? Does he have any clear memories at all of working in a keyboard shop?
2D: I just picked up a Melodica and started by playing along in my bedroom to Augustus Pablo records. Of course I can remember working in Uncle Norm's Organ Emporium, I was Employee of the Month and had quite a reputation for my keyboard demos.
What does the band think of the new Human League album?
2D: I haven’t heard it, have you got a copy I could have?
Murdoc: If you so much as dare play that turgid shit anywhere near me I’ll kill you, Stu-Pot!
2D: Ha! “Dare”, nice one Murdoc!
Has Russel managed to find anyone dumb enough to befriend him since the mass demise of all his previous buddies? And what’s it like living with multiple personalities?
Murdoc: That’s a good idea, Eddie. Pick on the eighteen-stone mother from NY about the brutal, cold-blooded murder of all of his homies! Hehehehehe!
Russel: Forget about it, Murdoc! Y’know what Eddie? I can only draw strength from all of the hardships that Allah has seen fit to throw at me. As for Del, the Hip-Hop spirit of my un-dead pal that resides inside of me, that too gives me positive powers that I can draw upon anytime.
Did you get an advance when Whiffy Smiffy signed you, and what did you spend it on (also, have you got management yet)?
Murdoc: Of course we got an advance, what sort of dumb-ass question is that? Oh hold on, I get it, you fancy yourself as some sort of music biz big cheese. Listen, I know all about that boy band you’re peddling to the gay Jewish market you sad sweaty has been. The only thing big and cheesy about you is your baby bell end, you Muppet.
Can Murdoc/2D give us an insight into the Gorillaz writing process?
Murdoc: Listen buddy, this is my band! I saved his life, he owes me his soul. I write the songs.
2D: No, you’re thinking of Barry Manilow.
Russel: Garry Barlow more like!
Murdoc: Look who's talking, fat boy.
Have any of the band members taken musical lessons? (Can any of them read music?)
Russel: I studied the Suzuki method, it’s an alternative method for teaching children developed by Shinichi Suzuki who was a violinist, philosopher, and humanitarian. He believed that musical ability was not an inborn talent, but an ability that can be developed.
Murdoc: Not to mention being a towering bore.
Does any of the band get stage fright or suffer from music-related health problems (eg. tinnitus, repetitive strain injury)?
Murdoc: I pulled all my chest hair out playing the accordion in the nude once, but I guess it could have been worse.
What gear do you all use live and in the studio (i.e. we know Noodle uses a Les Paul, but is it special in any way)?
Noodle (Translated from Japanese): I actually use a Fender Duo-Sonic 2, for that Shadows and Beach Boys vibe, I like to stick it through a Sans Amp to give it that Sonic Youth edgy edge. Then there’s my Electro Harmonix Bad Stone for when I need to bring on that Reggae-influenced sound. I pull out an Electro Harmonix Big Muff for when we need to sound like a charging tank! I also use an MXR Phazer 100 and a Roland 501 Space Echo. On some tracks I play a Taylor Classic acoustic, a lovely-sounding guitar, it's my baby. On the Electric, I use Ernie Ball Slinky top heavy bottom strings because I heard the twisted legend Graham Coxon uses them, I love him and his sound. My amp is a Selmer Zodiac 30 True Voice, I use it because I like the pre-set buttons for the Bass and Treble, and the strobe light on the tremolo really helps.
And finally, can Noodle do a Gorillaz Haiku verse for us?
2D: Hold on I got one, I got one…
There once was a man from Montclair
Who made love to his wife on the stairs
The banister broke,
As he quickened his stroke
And he finished her off in mid-air!
Murdoc: Boom boom! You pillock!
Murdoc: What is it with you fat, half-wit hacks? Have you all read Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, and that ranting, speak first, think never, sod Burchill and assumed that you have carte blanche to position your dull excuse for existence at the centre of every interview with absolutely anybody? Subjectivity without insight or context is just the emperor’s new bollocks.
You played behind a screen at a recent live show, did you get the idea from The Residents (who played behind a hessian net at Hammersmith once)? Was that your first-ever live show?
Russel: No, the first gig we played was at the Camden Brownhouse about eighteen months ago now. That’s where EMI head honcho Whiffy Smiffy spotted us. We’re just approaching how we “Show ourselves” in a new way. We do that with everything from our music, to our videos on our internet site, all of our design work, and in our merchandise. We don’t like to take anything for granted. Our shows work on a lot of levels, obviously, we aim to give a liver-quivering audio adventure but we don’t stop there. We’re developing a visual presentation that isn’t simply the standard four faceless dullards banging through their barely discernible repertoire. It’s a culmination of genres that’s in line with our diverse musical influences. While we’re the live band at the heart of the show, the projections, rap, and DJs have their roots in a more club-orientated tradition, but those are just the parts of the experience, the sum itself is something else. Something much more.
How’s that personal hygiene problem, Murdoc? I believe you are currently under investigation by the RSPCA for your less-than-friendly approach to pet (especially cat) care.
Murdoc: That’s all bullshit. Record companies always send out the stupidest biographies stuffed full of superlatives with everybody’s releases. We had to do some record reviews for an English kiddies music magazine the other day, and if you believed everything that the record companies had to say you’d think that every group with no hope, faceless wannabes were the next god star geniuses. Like they were, I dunno, Dr. Alimantado or something, y’know?
Where did 2D learn to play the Melodica? Does he have any clear memories at all of working in a keyboard shop?
2D: I just picked up a Melodica and started by playing along in my bedroom to Augustus Pablo records. Of course I can remember working in Uncle Norm's Organ Emporium, I was Employee of the Month and had quite a reputation for my keyboard demos.
What does the band think of the new Human League album?
2D: I haven’t heard it, have you got a copy I could have?
Murdoc: If you so much as dare play that turgid shit anywhere near me I’ll kill you, Stu-Pot!
2D: Ha! “Dare”, nice one Murdoc!
Has Russel managed to find anyone dumb enough to befriend him since the mass demise of all his previous buddies? And what’s it like living with multiple personalities?
Murdoc: That’s a good idea, Eddie. Pick on the eighteen-stone mother from NY about the brutal, cold-blooded murder of all of his homies! Hehehehehe!
Russel: Forget about it, Murdoc! Y’know what Eddie? I can only draw strength from all of the hardships that Allah has seen fit to throw at me. As for Del, the Hip-Hop spirit of my un-dead pal that resides inside of me, that too gives me positive powers that I can draw upon anytime.
Did you get an advance when Whiffy Smiffy signed you, and what did you spend it on (also, have you got management yet)?
Murdoc: Of course we got an advance, what sort of dumb-ass question is that? Oh hold on, I get it, you fancy yourself as some sort of music biz big cheese. Listen, I know all about that boy band you’re peddling to the gay Jewish market you sad sweaty has been. The only thing big and cheesy about you is your baby bell end, you Muppet.
Can Murdoc/2D give us an insight into the Gorillaz writing process?
Murdoc: Listen buddy, this is my band! I saved his life, he owes me his soul. I write the songs.
2D: No, you’re thinking of Barry Manilow.
Russel: Garry Barlow more like!
Murdoc: Look who's talking, fat boy.
Have any of the band members taken musical lessons? (Can any of them read music?)
Russel: I studied the Suzuki method, it’s an alternative method for teaching children developed by Shinichi Suzuki who was a violinist, philosopher, and humanitarian. He believed that musical ability was not an inborn talent, but an ability that can be developed.
Murdoc: Not to mention being a towering bore.
Does any of the band get stage fright or suffer from music-related health problems (eg. tinnitus, repetitive strain injury)?
Murdoc: I pulled all my chest hair out playing the accordion in the nude once, but I guess it could have been worse.
What gear do you all use live and in the studio (i.e. we know Noodle uses a Les Paul, but is it special in any way)?
Noodle (Translated from Japanese): I actually use a Fender Duo-Sonic 2, for that Shadows and Beach Boys vibe, I like to stick it through a Sans Amp to give it that Sonic Youth edgy edge. Then there’s my Electro Harmonix Bad Stone for when I need to bring on that Reggae-influenced sound. I pull out an Electro Harmonix Big Muff for when we need to sound like a charging tank! I also use an MXR Phazer 100 and a Roland 501 Space Echo. On some tracks I play a Taylor Classic acoustic, a lovely-sounding guitar, it's my baby. On the Electric, I use Ernie Ball Slinky top heavy bottom strings because I heard the twisted legend Graham Coxon uses them, I love him and his sound. My amp is a Selmer Zodiac 30 True Voice, I use it because I like the pre-set buttons for the Bass and Treble, and the strobe light on the tremolo really helps.
And finally, can Noodle do a Gorillaz Haiku verse for us?
2D: Hold on I got one, I got one…
There once was a man from Montclair
Who made love to his wife on the stairs
The banister broke,
As he quickened his stroke
And he finished her off in mid-air!
Murdoc: Boom boom! You pillock!