Gorillaz Interview
Sunday Express, March 2001
Murdoc
Murdoc, you look a bit like Shaggy from Scooby Doo - what do you think of that?
Murdoc: I think he said it best when he said, “It wasn’t me!” you know what I mean? Hasn’t he just had a big number two or something?
Who are your major influences and why?
Murdoc: You want to know who springs to mind when I’m on the job, so to speak. Lou Reed always asks, “What would Andy have said?” supposedly, although that’s a bit redundant as Andy would only have said “Gee” or “Great.” Anyway, I digress, I have a fantasy hybrid in mind at all times, a cross between Augustus Pablo, Mary Millington, Chuck Jones, and Terry Hall. Our band is like The Clash down Sesame Street with a bag of pink whiz, don’t you think?
You’ve been involved in a few small gigs so far, how did you feel playing live in front of an audience?
Murdoc: I’m glad you mentioned that they were small gigs. You wouldn’t think they were from the media scrum that has surrounded them and the amount of vitriol that has been issued from impotent, alcoholic, bitter, middle-brow hacks about them! We’ve been accused of everything from racism to manipulation when all I’ve got back from the audience is an amazing buzz, a reciprocated high. I feel like King Kong when I’m up on stage, no, I feel like King Dong! Yeah, it’s not an ordinary gig but we’re no ordinary band!
When you’re on the road does the band get on? Who gets up to the most mischief?
Murdoc: The crew are far worse than even I could ever hope to be. We have a guitar tech called Attila and he makes the scene on the Stones' private jet look like Brian Kant and the crew from Play Away.
You have your own wagon, don’t you? - do you let the others in?
Murdoc: I’m glad you’ve mentioned that! I didn’t let anybody in, on principle, my turf is my turf, you know? Any mother who steps onto that turf is gonna get chopped down. Despite this and against my better judgment, I decided to give the fans who bought our album a special online peak into my Winnebago, and what happens? Some shit bag has only gone a nicked it! I’ve got them on security footage committing the dirty deed, if your readers have any info, they can let me know at http://www.murdocswinnebago.com. I’ve had a couple of leads, but it’s only been time wasters so far.
You were a bit of a juvenile delinquent when you were younger - what was it like growing up in Stoke-on-Trent?
Murdoc: Growing up is growing up, my big brother Hannibal would have been a psychotic football hooligan whether we’d lived in Stoke, Brighton, or Bangladesh! Know what I mean? When you’re a fourteen-year-old rocker and your brother is the leader of the local skinhead gang and mates with all of the C.B. radio freaks on the side, then you're always going to have a weird mix of being respected and stigmatized all at the same time.
Do you ever get time to go to Stoke City games anymore?
Murdoc: Sod Stoke City, I’m a Man U fan but only because I’m not really into football. I don’t see the fascination with a gaggle of grown men chasing an inflated bladder around a field, although I’ve done just that and quite enjoyed the experience.
You and 2D fight all the time don’t you - but you must love each other really?
Murdoc: I’ve said this so many times now that it sounds like a media sound bite to me, but it’s true. I saved his life and he owes me his soul!
And who revs your motor most - Penelope Pitstop or Jessica Rabbit?
Murdoc: I hate these post-bloody-modern cartoon questions. I align myself more with Foucault’s re-acceptance of Kant’s definition of the enlightenment, and I’m not talking about Brian again, ya know, a bit of De Sade and all that! I’m free, you're free, get your pants off! And I’m not quoting Primal Scream, or John Inman for that matter!
2D
You and Murdoc fight all the time, don't you? - but what do you really think of Murdoc?
2D: It’s all front with him, he loves us all really, and he just needs a good night's sleep.
Murdoc: Yeah, and you need to wake up, brain ache!
You look a bit like Posh Spice (you have identical noses - but granted, you smile more) - is she important to you as an influence, and why?
2D: That’s possibly the weirdest thing I’ve been asked apart from that American Magazine that kept going on about Crosby, Stills, and Pat Cash! Your luck that you asked me really coz I don’t care, but Murdoc can get really angry if he thinks a journalist is being silly.
Are you the sex symbol of the band, and why?? Is being a sex symbol important to you, and why?
2D: It’s not important to me, in fact, I don’t ever think about stuff like that because it’s not real, is it?
Murdoc: What he fails to mention here is that he doesn’t actually think about anything at all, if you get close up to him you could suffer permanent Pete Townsend-ear from the level of white noise that his downer-fueled brain emits.
What's more important to 2D - a good pair of trainers or...
2D: Or what? And why ask in the third person? Do you want Russel to answer? He loves trainers more than I do, he makes statements with his trainers.
Murdoc: Is that true, Russ?
Russel: Yeah, with these trainers I’m making the statement that I hope I don’t tread in no big ginger dog pooh, ‘cause the tread is mighty deep.
You take quite a starring role on the album - would you say Gorillaz was a 2D project, and why?
2D: SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH! If Murdoc hears you say that, he’ll kick up a right old stink!
Murdoc: Don’t you lot forget it! It’s my band, my band!
Where do you see Gorillaz going?
2D: Everyone in the band is very clean, we all use the toilet.
Murdoc: Bravo, brain ache! The world can sleep safe with that nugget of information.
Is there anyone you’d particularly like to duet with and why - perhaps 3D from Massive Attack would be nice?
Murdoc: Oh, here we go...
2D: I’ve written stuff with 3D for Horace Andy. That was such a privilege because he’s always been a massive influence on my singing.
Can we expect any solo stuff from you in the future?
2D: That would really confuse everyone because they all get me mixed up with Damon already, so that would make their brains melt
Murdoc: You’d know all about that.
And who really does it for you - The Archies or Josie and the Pussycats?
2D: I think Jughead is cool, but Archie was a bit funny if you ask me. Why didn’t he just make his mind up and go out with Betty or Veronica?
Murdoc: Why didn’t he go out with Betty and Veronica more like!
Russel: Damn straight!
Noodle
Noodle, you either have a very cool haircut or you’re very bald for a ten-year-old girl - which is it?
Russel: As you say, she’s only ten so don’t you go being smart with her, you hear me? She has a traditional ancient Japanese Samurai hairdo. She’s got more than just a cool hairdo though, her guitar style ain’t bad for a ten-year-old either!
How do you cope with the older members of the band?
Noodle (Translated from Japanese): Russel and 2D are like the big brothers I never had and Murdoc is very naughty, he always makes me laugh! You can never tell what mood he is going to be in, sometimes he is very happy, and at other times very mad!
Do the others look after you?
Murdoc: Didn’t you see her Hong Kong Phooey those zombie gorillas in our last video? That was no stunt, man, those ghouls had me by the ghoulies and she kicked their arses!
You seem like a very happy person - what really makes you smile?
Noodle (Japanese): The Tao!
What do you most like listening to on your cool new radio hat?
Noodle: Richie Sambora-san!
Murdoc: We let her off, she is only ten!
Would you recommend band life to other aspirational 10-year-olds, and why?
Noodle (Japanese): Sometimes I have to stay up past my bedtime, and that I don’t think I would recommend that to anyone.
What advice would you give to other 10-year-olds?
Noodle (Japanese): Follow the words of your teachers with clarity, and interpret them to find your own way!
What song would you most like to cover?
Noodle: "I’m Gonna Be a Monkey", Ren and Stimpy-san!
Who would you most like to snog - Charlie Brown or Bart Simpson?
Russel: What did I tell you about that, chief?
And forgive me, but what's your favourite food?
Noodle: Pot Noodle!
Russel: Murdoc? What have you been feeding this child?
Murdoc: “It wasn’t me!”
Russel
In terms of your sheer size, you don’t look dissimilar to Hollywood über-ape King Kong - do you command a similar presence in terms of the band?
Russel: Now I know you ain’t implying this, but when that idiot Simon Price called us subliminally racist and said that I looked like a gorilla, what he was actually doing was parading his own dirty psyche for the whole world to see. I know that you wouldn’t be doing that, would you?
What would you say was a bigger influence on your life as yet - seventies disco/soul or The Nation of Islam?
Russel: I’m not going to deny the power of sweet soul music, but Hip-Hop is my thing and I don’t want to be trivializing the Nation of Islam, I think it’s becoming patently clear that pork is a dirty meat, you hear me?
Take us back to the drive-by shooting - how come you were the only survivor?
Russel: I want to make it clear that Del and I were just caught in the crossfire, no way were we ever gang bangers. I was just lucky, there ain’t no other thing to it and I’m doubly blessed that Del can still live on through me. I’m the bottle and he’s the genie!
Does it bring home the relevance of life, or do you feel a certain sense of invincibility now?
Russel: Seeing someone shot in front of you and die, right there, does not make you feel invincible!
Murdoc: I know! Why don’t you keep pushing it? I mean, after all, he only weighs twenty stone and you’re just pushing all the wrong buttons!
Are you happy to continue the legacy of your friends via spiritual Hip-Hop and mc-eeing, or do you feel it’s a bit of a burden carrying around so many ghosts?
Murdoc: Bravo! You just don’t care, do you? Hail Satan!
Russel: I think I made my feelings on this perfectly clear in the Dazed and Confused article, but for all you who don’t know, I’m not the Hip-Hop Doris Stokes, it’s just me and Del!
What were your first impressions of Murdoc when he approached you in a record shop in Soho?
Russel: I thought he should hand back all of the CDs that he had crammed in his pockets from the bargain bin!
What exactly is the Gorillaz agenda?
Russel: To wean the kids off of the virulent strain of marketing lead crap that they have been force-fed for years!
What song would you most fancy remixing and why?
Russel: I’d love to do something else with Phi Life Cipher, or maybe for Mark B and Blade. English Hip-Hop needs a big up!
What’s the best thing about living in England?
Russel: Being in Gorillaz, no contest. What did you think I was gonna say? Beef on the bone or Badiel and Skinner, think again!
What’s it like for someone in Gorillaz to venture out into the public eye?
Russel: We’re always having to explain ourselves and make comparisons between fictional characters and us. I hate that, but our fans are cool!
Are you recognized yet? Are people not put off by the whites of your eyes?
Russel: I haven’t heard anyone shout, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of his eyes” yet, I’ve been recognized though. People were calling my name out at our gig, which was touching.
Who does it for you the most - Tank Girl or Lara Croft?
Russel: You had to go and spoil it, didn’t you!
Murdoc, you look a bit like Shaggy from Scooby Doo - what do you think of that?
Murdoc: I think he said it best when he said, “It wasn’t me!” you know what I mean? Hasn’t he just had a big number two or something?
Who are your major influences and why?
Murdoc: You want to know who springs to mind when I’m on the job, so to speak. Lou Reed always asks, “What would Andy have said?” supposedly, although that’s a bit redundant as Andy would only have said “Gee” or “Great.” Anyway, I digress, I have a fantasy hybrid in mind at all times, a cross between Augustus Pablo, Mary Millington, Chuck Jones, and Terry Hall. Our band is like The Clash down Sesame Street with a bag of pink whiz, don’t you think?
You’ve been involved in a few small gigs so far, how did you feel playing live in front of an audience?
Murdoc: I’m glad you mentioned that they were small gigs. You wouldn’t think they were from the media scrum that has surrounded them and the amount of vitriol that has been issued from impotent, alcoholic, bitter, middle-brow hacks about them! We’ve been accused of everything from racism to manipulation when all I’ve got back from the audience is an amazing buzz, a reciprocated high. I feel like King Kong when I’m up on stage, no, I feel like King Dong! Yeah, it’s not an ordinary gig but we’re no ordinary band!
When you’re on the road does the band get on? Who gets up to the most mischief?
Murdoc: The crew are far worse than even I could ever hope to be. We have a guitar tech called Attila and he makes the scene on the Stones' private jet look like Brian Kant and the crew from Play Away.
You have your own wagon, don’t you? - do you let the others in?
Murdoc: I’m glad you’ve mentioned that! I didn’t let anybody in, on principle, my turf is my turf, you know? Any mother who steps onto that turf is gonna get chopped down. Despite this and against my better judgment, I decided to give the fans who bought our album a special online peak into my Winnebago, and what happens? Some shit bag has only gone a nicked it! I’ve got them on security footage committing the dirty deed, if your readers have any info, they can let me know at http://www.murdocswinnebago.com. I’ve had a couple of leads, but it’s only been time wasters so far.
You were a bit of a juvenile delinquent when you were younger - what was it like growing up in Stoke-on-Trent?
Murdoc: Growing up is growing up, my big brother Hannibal would have been a psychotic football hooligan whether we’d lived in Stoke, Brighton, or Bangladesh! Know what I mean? When you’re a fourteen-year-old rocker and your brother is the leader of the local skinhead gang and mates with all of the C.B. radio freaks on the side, then you're always going to have a weird mix of being respected and stigmatized all at the same time.
Do you ever get time to go to Stoke City games anymore?
Murdoc: Sod Stoke City, I’m a Man U fan but only because I’m not really into football. I don’t see the fascination with a gaggle of grown men chasing an inflated bladder around a field, although I’ve done just that and quite enjoyed the experience.
You and 2D fight all the time don’t you - but you must love each other really?
Murdoc: I’ve said this so many times now that it sounds like a media sound bite to me, but it’s true. I saved his life and he owes me his soul!
And who revs your motor most - Penelope Pitstop or Jessica Rabbit?
Murdoc: I hate these post-bloody-modern cartoon questions. I align myself more with Foucault’s re-acceptance of Kant’s definition of the enlightenment, and I’m not talking about Brian again, ya know, a bit of De Sade and all that! I’m free, you're free, get your pants off! And I’m not quoting Primal Scream, or John Inman for that matter!
2D
You and Murdoc fight all the time, don't you? - but what do you really think of Murdoc?
2D: It’s all front with him, he loves us all really, and he just needs a good night's sleep.
Murdoc: Yeah, and you need to wake up, brain ache!
You look a bit like Posh Spice (you have identical noses - but granted, you smile more) - is she important to you as an influence, and why?
2D: That’s possibly the weirdest thing I’ve been asked apart from that American Magazine that kept going on about Crosby, Stills, and Pat Cash! Your luck that you asked me really coz I don’t care, but Murdoc can get really angry if he thinks a journalist is being silly.
Are you the sex symbol of the band, and why?? Is being a sex symbol important to you, and why?
2D: It’s not important to me, in fact, I don’t ever think about stuff like that because it’s not real, is it?
Murdoc: What he fails to mention here is that he doesn’t actually think about anything at all, if you get close up to him you could suffer permanent Pete Townsend-ear from the level of white noise that his downer-fueled brain emits.
What's more important to 2D - a good pair of trainers or...
2D: Or what? And why ask in the third person? Do you want Russel to answer? He loves trainers more than I do, he makes statements with his trainers.
Murdoc: Is that true, Russ?
Russel: Yeah, with these trainers I’m making the statement that I hope I don’t tread in no big ginger dog pooh, ‘cause the tread is mighty deep.
You take quite a starring role on the album - would you say Gorillaz was a 2D project, and why?
2D: SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH! If Murdoc hears you say that, he’ll kick up a right old stink!
Murdoc: Don’t you lot forget it! It’s my band, my band!
Where do you see Gorillaz going?
2D: Everyone in the band is very clean, we all use the toilet.
Murdoc: Bravo, brain ache! The world can sleep safe with that nugget of information.
Is there anyone you’d particularly like to duet with and why - perhaps 3D from Massive Attack would be nice?
Murdoc: Oh, here we go...
2D: I’ve written stuff with 3D for Horace Andy. That was such a privilege because he’s always been a massive influence on my singing.
Can we expect any solo stuff from you in the future?
2D: That would really confuse everyone because they all get me mixed up with Damon already, so that would make their brains melt
Murdoc: You’d know all about that.
And who really does it for you - The Archies or Josie and the Pussycats?
2D: I think Jughead is cool, but Archie was a bit funny if you ask me. Why didn’t he just make his mind up and go out with Betty or Veronica?
Murdoc: Why didn’t he go out with Betty and Veronica more like!
Russel: Damn straight!
Noodle
Noodle, you either have a very cool haircut or you’re very bald for a ten-year-old girl - which is it?
Russel: As you say, she’s only ten so don’t you go being smart with her, you hear me? She has a traditional ancient Japanese Samurai hairdo. She’s got more than just a cool hairdo though, her guitar style ain’t bad for a ten-year-old either!
How do you cope with the older members of the band?
Noodle (Translated from Japanese): Russel and 2D are like the big brothers I never had and Murdoc is very naughty, he always makes me laugh! You can never tell what mood he is going to be in, sometimes he is very happy, and at other times very mad!
Do the others look after you?
Murdoc: Didn’t you see her Hong Kong Phooey those zombie gorillas in our last video? That was no stunt, man, those ghouls had me by the ghoulies and she kicked their arses!
You seem like a very happy person - what really makes you smile?
Noodle (Japanese): The Tao!
What do you most like listening to on your cool new radio hat?
Noodle: Richie Sambora-san!
Murdoc: We let her off, she is only ten!
Would you recommend band life to other aspirational 10-year-olds, and why?
Noodle (Japanese): Sometimes I have to stay up past my bedtime, and that I don’t think I would recommend that to anyone.
What advice would you give to other 10-year-olds?
Noodle (Japanese): Follow the words of your teachers with clarity, and interpret them to find your own way!
What song would you most like to cover?
Noodle: "I’m Gonna Be a Monkey", Ren and Stimpy-san!
Who would you most like to snog - Charlie Brown or Bart Simpson?
Russel: What did I tell you about that, chief?
And forgive me, but what's your favourite food?
Noodle: Pot Noodle!
Russel: Murdoc? What have you been feeding this child?
Murdoc: “It wasn’t me!”
Russel
In terms of your sheer size, you don’t look dissimilar to Hollywood über-ape King Kong - do you command a similar presence in terms of the band?
Russel: Now I know you ain’t implying this, but when that idiot Simon Price called us subliminally racist and said that I looked like a gorilla, what he was actually doing was parading his own dirty psyche for the whole world to see. I know that you wouldn’t be doing that, would you?
What would you say was a bigger influence on your life as yet - seventies disco/soul or The Nation of Islam?
Russel: I’m not going to deny the power of sweet soul music, but Hip-Hop is my thing and I don’t want to be trivializing the Nation of Islam, I think it’s becoming patently clear that pork is a dirty meat, you hear me?
Take us back to the drive-by shooting - how come you were the only survivor?
Russel: I want to make it clear that Del and I were just caught in the crossfire, no way were we ever gang bangers. I was just lucky, there ain’t no other thing to it and I’m doubly blessed that Del can still live on through me. I’m the bottle and he’s the genie!
Does it bring home the relevance of life, or do you feel a certain sense of invincibility now?
Russel: Seeing someone shot in front of you and die, right there, does not make you feel invincible!
Murdoc: I know! Why don’t you keep pushing it? I mean, after all, he only weighs twenty stone and you’re just pushing all the wrong buttons!
Are you happy to continue the legacy of your friends via spiritual Hip-Hop and mc-eeing, or do you feel it’s a bit of a burden carrying around so many ghosts?
Murdoc: Bravo! You just don’t care, do you? Hail Satan!
Russel: I think I made my feelings on this perfectly clear in the Dazed and Confused article, but for all you who don’t know, I’m not the Hip-Hop Doris Stokes, it’s just me and Del!
What were your first impressions of Murdoc when he approached you in a record shop in Soho?
Russel: I thought he should hand back all of the CDs that he had crammed in his pockets from the bargain bin!
What exactly is the Gorillaz agenda?
Russel: To wean the kids off of the virulent strain of marketing lead crap that they have been force-fed for years!
What song would you most fancy remixing and why?
Russel: I’d love to do something else with Phi Life Cipher, or maybe for Mark B and Blade. English Hip-Hop needs a big up!
What’s the best thing about living in England?
Russel: Being in Gorillaz, no contest. What did you think I was gonna say? Beef on the bone or Badiel and Skinner, think again!
What’s it like for someone in Gorillaz to venture out into the public eye?
Russel: We’re always having to explain ourselves and make comparisons between fictional characters and us. I hate that, but our fans are cool!
Are you recognized yet? Are people not put off by the whites of your eyes?
Russel: I haven’t heard anyone shout, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of his eyes” yet, I’ve been recognized though. People were calling my name out at our gig, which was touching.
Who does it for you the most - Tank Girl or Lara Croft?
Russel: You had to go and spoil it, didn’t you!