Talking Style and Subculture with Gorillaz
Sole Digital, July 2021
We sat down with drummer Russel Hobbs to find out about his dream collaborators and how he styles his Fred Perry polo shirts.
Following the news of British band Gorillaz becoming the face of Fred Perry’s 2021 campaign, we caught up with drummer Russel Hobbs to chat more about the band’s two-decade career, his take on the virtual influencer phenomenon, and of course, how he styles his Fred Perry polos. Read on for more.
Your debut album just turned 20 years old. Looking back, how do you feel you’ve grown as artists?
We were dreamers back then. Now we know that the dream is real, we’re freer than we’ve ever been in a way and we’ve used that to grow.
You were really the first kind of digital/virtual influencers —what’s your take on fashion’s current obsession with virtual influencers?
Influence is a good thing, but only if it’s about self-exploration. The only thing I can do is take advice but question everything. You can’t just be a passenger, gotta know who’s driving the bus.
You’re the new faces of Fred Perry’s campaign — how does it feel to be fronting that?
For me it’s all about Arthur Ashe and Fred Perry; both outsiders, winners, and gentlemen. I just imagined what lunch would be like with those two. Then there’s the culture; The Specials, Pauline Black, etc. That one shirt has meant a lot of different things to a lot of people over the years, ya know?
Typically, what do you style your Fred Perry polos with? Give us the whole ‘fit.
You got it. Top to bottom:
Which one of you would you say is the most “into” fashion, and why?
That’s easy. Noodle, because she can see into the future.
If each of you could sum up your personal style in 3 words, what would they be?
Oh I dunno about the others.
How has the past year of lockdown been for you, and how has it impacted your creativity?
To be honest I’ve quite enjoyed the solace time to myself and some beat machines. I can’t wait to play this stuff to everyone. It’s been like a year in a punk-funk boot camp, with cake.
You’ve got a pretty stellar list of previous collaborators already, but if you could collaborate with anyone living, dead, or virtual — who would it be?
Oh man! I get asked this question all the tiiiiiiiime.
Paul Robeson
Le Chevalier De St George
Frances BeyBey or Rick James
Google ‘em, it would take too long to explain. If I could start a time machine band, they would be my guys.
Since we’re reflecting on the past, let's also look toward the future —Where do you reckon Gorillaz will be in 20 years’ time?
Your guess is as good as mine. It really depends on what happens in life; art is only a mirror of life after all.
Following the news of British band Gorillaz becoming the face of Fred Perry’s 2021 campaign, we caught up with drummer Russel Hobbs to chat more about the band’s two-decade career, his take on the virtual influencer phenomenon, and of course, how he styles his Fred Perry polos. Read on for more.
Your debut album just turned 20 years old. Looking back, how do you feel you’ve grown as artists?
We were dreamers back then. Now we know that the dream is real, we’re freer than we’ve ever been in a way and we’ve used that to grow.
You were really the first kind of digital/virtual influencers —what’s your take on fashion’s current obsession with virtual influencers?
Influence is a good thing, but only if it’s about self-exploration. The only thing I can do is take advice but question everything. You can’t just be a passenger, gotta know who’s driving the bus.
You’re the new faces of Fred Perry’s campaign — how does it feel to be fronting that?
For me it’s all about Arthur Ashe and Fred Perry; both outsiders, winners, and gentlemen. I just imagined what lunch would be like with those two. Then there’s the culture; The Specials, Pauline Black, etc. That one shirt has meant a lot of different things to a lot of people over the years, ya know?
Typically, what do you style your Fred Perry polos with? Give us the whole ‘fit.
You got it. Top to bottom:
- A Laird trilby or a wool and felt Christie’s pork pie with a red silk lining—the same one as Sinatra’s
- Sex Murder Party Necklace, silver Tootal black spotted silk scarf The Fred Perry polo in black with gold trim
- Gabicci cardigan with suede elbow patches
- Black GFoot Bomber jacket
- Two-tone silver and purple Tonic trousers
- GFoot blue Hawaiian boxers
- GFoot chevron socks
- Bass Weejun Larson penny loafers—or a pair of oxblood Sebagos if the Weejuns are looking a bit tired
Which one of you would you say is the most “into” fashion, and why?
That’s easy. Noodle, because she can see into the future.
If each of you could sum up your personal style in 3 words, what would they be?
Oh I dunno about the others.
- 2 D is Ace the Face
- Murdoc is The Shining or Buffalo 66
- Russell is Hip Hop Superhero
- And Noodle is Post-Mishima Mashup
How has the past year of lockdown been for you, and how has it impacted your creativity?
To be honest I’ve quite enjoyed the solace time to myself and some beat machines. I can’t wait to play this stuff to everyone. It’s been like a year in a punk-funk boot camp, with cake.
You’ve got a pretty stellar list of previous collaborators already, but if you could collaborate with anyone living, dead, or virtual — who would it be?
Oh man! I get asked this question all the tiiiiiiiime.
Paul Robeson
Le Chevalier De St George
Frances BeyBey or Rick James
Google ‘em, it would take too long to explain. If I could start a time machine band, they would be my guys.
Since we’re reflecting on the past, let's also look toward the future —Where do you reckon Gorillaz will be in 20 years’ time?
Your guess is as good as mine. It really depends on what happens in life; art is only a mirror of life after all.