Russel Hobbs, Gorillaz drummer
Record Collector, August 2018
Russel Hobbs is the fictional drummer with the virtual band Gorillaz, founded in 1998 by Blur’s Damon Albarn (who provides vocals as 2D) and the comic book artist, Jamie Hewlett.
Interview: Hannah Vettese
What do you collect, and why?
All kinds of stuff - the whole spectrum - plus some shit not even on the scale. Eastern European prog, Turkish folk like Selda Bagcan, Polish bands like Laboratorium, and 70s Italian film music. Oh, and anything - I mean literally anything - from Sublime Frequencies. Also, Cherrystones compilations and Finders Keepers. If you don’t know Gareth Goddard, or Andy Votel, you don’t know nothing. Hanging out with those two would be like
crate-digging with Yoda and Huggy Bear at the same time.
How big is your collection?
What does infinity look like?
What do you think it is worth?
Same answer as the last question. Give or take a few bucks.
How and where do you store it?
In an underground missile silo Noodle [Gorillaz’s lead guitarist] found for me in Wales. It’s a subterranean Willy Wonka funk-factory. You go down there, you don’t come back the same guy. Might not even come back at all. 2D [aka Gorillaz’s frontman Damon Albarn] once spent six weeks lost in the synth cave. Finally found him curled up in the Stevie Wonder section hugging a signed copy of Innervisions.
What’s the rarest/most unusual/most valuable item you have in your collection?
An unplayed copy of I Wah Dub by Blackbeard. It’s a very special piece of music by a master technician: imagine if ET, Fozzie Bear and Lee “Scratch” Perry made a tune together. Either that or an original copy of Sam’ Suffy by Marc Moulin. When was the last time you heard a rhino and a trombone on the same record?
What elusive gem are you still looking for?
The meaning of life. Nah, just kidding. Already found it. But I’m still on the lookout for an original copy of George Duke’s The Third Wave - Here and Now. Also, an original Death Laid An Egg by Bruno Maderna, and Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat by Charanjit Singh.
What’s given you the biggest thrill?
I remember my core temp rising when I picked up a copy of Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares, Vol 1. Mind-blowing piece of vinyl by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir from 1975, and it only cost me two British pounds!
How do you track stuff down?
I have record ninjas out there. I’m serious. There are such things as record ninjas. ’Cos the best stuff can get lost in the shadows, slip through cracks so small you won’t ever see it again. That’s where the ninjas come in.
What’s your favourite record shop?
Honest Jon’s, Portobello Road, London. Also, Amoeba in LA and... and Mr Bongo in Brighton, it specialises in rare Brazilian/Latino records. Yeah, I know that’s three stores, but making me pick only one just ain’t right.
How often do you listen to the stuff in your collection?
All the time. Especially Sundays. That’s record day. Well, every day is record day, but Sunday is vinyl day. I have a machine called a Soundburger which means I can play vinyl on the move. It’s like a massive, very impractical Walkman. Great sound, but don’t try strapping it to your jogging shorts.
Is there a visual side to collecting for you?
Sure: do judge a record by its cover. If it’s a good cover it’s usually a half-decent record, particularly Library records: anything by KPM or Rouge Music with a weird geometrical design on the front is going to have some seriously weird shit on it. Keep your eyes peeled for that.
How will you eventually dispose of your collection?
I will melt it down and use it as Tarmac or make cycling helmets out of them. Or maybe I’ll have it buried with me in a giant glass pyramid, like a groovy, modern-day Louvre. A tomb of eternal tunes. Plus, a reasonably-priced gift shop.
What’s your all-time favourite record, regardless of value or rarity?
My all-time favourite record isn’t even a record. It’s called C86: it’s a cassette of indie music that came out in 1986 on the cover of NME [and was compiled by the late, great Roy Carr - Ed]. It’s incredible; I mean, pretty much everyone on that cassette [Primal Scream, The Wedding Present, The Soup Dragons] went on to influence independent music in some way. Okay, gotta split. Great talking to you guys, happy digging. Russel out.
Gorillaz’s latest album, The Now Now, is out now on Parlophone.
Interview: Hannah Vettese
What do you collect, and why?
All kinds of stuff - the whole spectrum - plus some shit not even on the scale. Eastern European prog, Turkish folk like Selda Bagcan, Polish bands like Laboratorium, and 70s Italian film music. Oh, and anything - I mean literally anything - from Sublime Frequencies. Also, Cherrystones compilations and Finders Keepers. If you don’t know Gareth Goddard, or Andy Votel, you don’t know nothing. Hanging out with those two would be like
crate-digging with Yoda and Huggy Bear at the same time.
How big is your collection?
What does infinity look like?
What do you think it is worth?
Same answer as the last question. Give or take a few bucks.
How and where do you store it?
In an underground missile silo Noodle [Gorillaz’s lead guitarist] found for me in Wales. It’s a subterranean Willy Wonka funk-factory. You go down there, you don’t come back the same guy. Might not even come back at all. 2D [aka Gorillaz’s frontman Damon Albarn] once spent six weeks lost in the synth cave. Finally found him curled up in the Stevie Wonder section hugging a signed copy of Innervisions.
What’s the rarest/most unusual/most valuable item you have in your collection?
An unplayed copy of I Wah Dub by Blackbeard. It’s a very special piece of music by a master technician: imagine if ET, Fozzie Bear and Lee “Scratch” Perry made a tune together. Either that or an original copy of Sam’ Suffy by Marc Moulin. When was the last time you heard a rhino and a trombone on the same record?
What elusive gem are you still looking for?
The meaning of life. Nah, just kidding. Already found it. But I’m still on the lookout for an original copy of George Duke’s The Third Wave - Here and Now. Also, an original Death Laid An Egg by Bruno Maderna, and Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat by Charanjit Singh.
What’s given you the biggest thrill?
I remember my core temp rising when I picked up a copy of Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares, Vol 1. Mind-blowing piece of vinyl by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir from 1975, and it only cost me two British pounds!
How do you track stuff down?
I have record ninjas out there. I’m serious. There are such things as record ninjas. ’Cos the best stuff can get lost in the shadows, slip through cracks so small you won’t ever see it again. That’s where the ninjas come in.
What’s your favourite record shop?
Honest Jon’s, Portobello Road, London. Also, Amoeba in LA and... and Mr Bongo in Brighton, it specialises in rare Brazilian/Latino records. Yeah, I know that’s three stores, but making me pick only one just ain’t right.
How often do you listen to the stuff in your collection?
All the time. Especially Sundays. That’s record day. Well, every day is record day, but Sunday is vinyl day. I have a machine called a Soundburger which means I can play vinyl on the move. It’s like a massive, very impractical Walkman. Great sound, but don’t try strapping it to your jogging shorts.
Is there a visual side to collecting for you?
Sure: do judge a record by its cover. If it’s a good cover it’s usually a half-decent record, particularly Library records: anything by KPM or Rouge Music with a weird geometrical design on the front is going to have some seriously weird shit on it. Keep your eyes peeled for that.
How will you eventually dispose of your collection?
I will melt it down and use it as Tarmac or make cycling helmets out of them. Or maybe I’ll have it buried with me in a giant glass pyramid, like a groovy, modern-day Louvre. A tomb of eternal tunes. Plus, a reasonably-priced gift shop.
What’s your all-time favourite record, regardless of value or rarity?
My all-time favourite record isn’t even a record. It’s called C86: it’s a cassette of indie music that came out in 1986 on the cover of NME [and was compiled by the late, great Roy Carr - Ed]. It’s incredible; I mean, pretty much everyone on that cassette [Primal Scream, The Wedding Present, The Soup Dragons] went on to influence independent music in some way. Okay, gotta split. Great talking to you guys, happy digging. Russel out.
Gorillaz’s latest album, The Now Now, is out now on Parlophone.