One Last Thing… Murdoc of Gorillaz
The Guardian, June 2010
Bono's done his back in, so Gorillaz have been charged with saving Glastonbury. Rich Pelley goes head to head with Murdoc
Hi, Murdoc. Do you think Bono really slipped a disc "in rehearsals" or did The Edge land a particularly good punch during a piggyback fight?
A cover-up dreamt up for damage-limitation purposes by a well-oiled press machine? Maybe. Maybe he's been detained in a Mongolian jail for playing a strenuous public game of Twister with a couple of greased-up goats. Either way, I wish him a speedy recovery.
Bono wears sunglasses all the time. When he goes on holiday, does he have to wear two pairs?
Er, right. Are these the kind of questions you normally ask people (1)? Yes, he wears two pairs of glasses. The Edge wears two cowboy hats for sun protection. And Larry takes two drumkits into the shower.
Glastonbury is ideal for lining up special guests. Who's up for it? Michael Eavis? Jedward? Chandi the dancing dog (2)? Liam?
You're not going to get very far chucking those names around, are you, sunshine? I imagine we'll draw from the roll-call of artists on our albums: Mr Snoop Dogg, Sir Mos Def, Big Bobby Womack, Mark E Smith, Shaun Ryder ... Gorillaz are coming to Glastonbury tooled up and mob-heavy. Although I reserve the right to ditch that lot and get in Pepé le Pew (3), Werner Herzog (4), Wee Jimmy Crackhead (5), Marquis de Sade (6) on bass and Charles Hawtrey (7) on spoons if I go crazy before the gig.
Rolf Harris opens the Pyramid Stage on Friday (8). Any chance of him joining you with his wobbleboard?
[Sighs] Yes. Rolf Harris. On wobbleboard. At Glastonbury. With Gorillaz. That's exactly where I'd pitch my tent, musically speaking.
As a 2D cartoon band, does the Glastonbury mud soak through you like cardboard in a puddle, or are you impervious like plastic sheeting?
I'm no fan of mud. Fricks up my Cuban heels and stains my velvet cape something rotten. Storms, on the other hand, love 'em. Rain, thunder, lightning, electricity, wind, terror, misery. Right up my strasse. But it's not going to rain at Glastonbury. Not on Friday. I've already fixed it (9).
Quite a good game (10) to play with the Guardian Glastonbury Mini Guide is the "Is this band real or have I made them up?" quiz. Fancy a game?
No.
Sure you do. Phenomenal Handclap Band. Have we made them up?
No.
Correct. They're playing the West Holts stage on Saturday. Hobo Jones And The Junkyard Dogs? Made up?
No.
Correct. Avalon Stage, Thursday. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Hang on. They're on Plastic Beach. Have you made them up?
No. They're playing the Pyramid Stage, Friday night. I get this game now. Cerebral Ballzy (11). Have I made them up?
Yes. You've made them up.
No. They're real. But they're not playing Glastonbury. Unless Stevie Wonder does his back in, in which case that's anyone's slot.
Thanks! The song Clint Eastwood goes, 'I ain't happy/I'm feeling glad/I got sunshine in a bag'. Wouldn't an umbrella be more useful at Glasto?
No. An umbrella infers I'll be spending time perusing the joint. That's not how I roll. I'm diving straight in centre stage Friday night then swooping straight off into the murky blackness. I doubt I'll be queuing for warm beer and soggy noodles. So, no umbrella required. Sounds like a Phil Collins album. I wonder if he's available (12)?
Hi, Murdoc. Do you think Bono really slipped a disc "in rehearsals" or did The Edge land a particularly good punch during a piggyback fight?
A cover-up dreamt up for damage-limitation purposes by a well-oiled press machine? Maybe. Maybe he's been detained in a Mongolian jail for playing a strenuous public game of Twister with a couple of greased-up goats. Either way, I wish him a speedy recovery.
Bono wears sunglasses all the time. When he goes on holiday, does he have to wear two pairs?
Er, right. Are these the kind of questions you normally ask people (1)? Yes, he wears two pairs of glasses. The Edge wears two cowboy hats for sun protection. And Larry takes two drumkits into the shower.
Glastonbury is ideal for lining up special guests. Who's up for it? Michael Eavis? Jedward? Chandi the dancing dog (2)? Liam?
You're not going to get very far chucking those names around, are you, sunshine? I imagine we'll draw from the roll-call of artists on our albums: Mr Snoop Dogg, Sir Mos Def, Big Bobby Womack, Mark E Smith, Shaun Ryder ... Gorillaz are coming to Glastonbury tooled up and mob-heavy. Although I reserve the right to ditch that lot and get in Pepé le Pew (3), Werner Herzog (4), Wee Jimmy Crackhead (5), Marquis de Sade (6) on bass and Charles Hawtrey (7) on spoons if I go crazy before the gig.
Rolf Harris opens the Pyramid Stage on Friday (8). Any chance of him joining you with his wobbleboard?
[Sighs] Yes. Rolf Harris. On wobbleboard. At Glastonbury. With Gorillaz. That's exactly where I'd pitch my tent, musically speaking.
As a 2D cartoon band, does the Glastonbury mud soak through you like cardboard in a puddle, or are you impervious like plastic sheeting?
I'm no fan of mud. Fricks up my Cuban heels and stains my velvet cape something rotten. Storms, on the other hand, love 'em. Rain, thunder, lightning, electricity, wind, terror, misery. Right up my strasse. But it's not going to rain at Glastonbury. Not on Friday. I've already fixed it (9).
Quite a good game (10) to play with the Guardian Glastonbury Mini Guide is the "Is this band real or have I made them up?" quiz. Fancy a game?
No.
Sure you do. Phenomenal Handclap Band. Have we made them up?
No.
Correct. They're playing the West Holts stage on Saturday. Hobo Jones And The Junkyard Dogs? Made up?
No.
Correct. Avalon Stage, Thursday. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Hang on. They're on Plastic Beach. Have you made them up?
No. They're playing the Pyramid Stage, Friday night. I get this game now. Cerebral Ballzy (11). Have I made them up?
Yes. You've made them up.
No. They're real. But they're not playing Glastonbury. Unless Stevie Wonder does his back in, in which case that's anyone's slot.
Thanks! The song Clint Eastwood goes, 'I ain't happy/I'm feeling glad/I got sunshine in a bag'. Wouldn't an umbrella be more useful at Glasto?
No. An umbrella infers I'll be spending time perusing the joint. That's not how I roll. I'm diving straight in centre stage Friday night then swooping straight off into the murky blackness. I doubt I'll be queuing for warm beer and soggy noodles. So, no umbrella required. Sounds like a Phil Collins album. I wonder if he's available (12)?