The return of the cartoon group
Les Inrockuptibles, May 2005
Why did you start up Gorillaz?
Noodle: I had the feeling that we could do better things. We weren’t looking for difficulty or starting up a personal challenge. I simply thought it would be interesting creating something new.
Murdoc: I just wanted women, power and money, and also to get rid of the soulless, manufactured shit that’s constantly shoved in our ears.
Russel: I had the desire of giving back what the musical industry gave to me. Music has been my vital organ since I was born. I’ve always wanted to make music and my heroes have always been musicians.
Where does the name of the band ‘Gorillaz’ come from?
Murdoc: The name ‘Gorillaz’ was my idea. I think that swinging on a tree offers a shit sight of life, that’s my point of view.
Were the band members created from other comic characters or were you created because of your mixed personalities?
Murdoc: You don’t get it at all, you old weasel. We’ve always been together and full of life. From Elvis to Marilyn Manson, from Snoop to Keith Richards, we’re as real as all of them. They all play a part using the imaginary side of their personality. I was created from the worst aspects of character.
When you first started, was a long lasting career important to you?
Noodle: When we recorded the first album, our aim was to make a super record and not a super career. You can’t plan a long lasting career because there are always various events that change your course, facing the unexpected is far more exciting!
Russel: We didn’t want to record the 2nd album from the success of the 1st one, so we decided to put our popularity aside to mix out some new tunes. In the self-titled, we looked for novelty. This time, our tunes have gained more maturity. Our sound isn’t just a bonfire, it’s everlasting.
What do you think of illegal downloading?
Murdoc: I think it’s great! But if I found out people were downloading our tunes without paying, I’ll sue ‘em until their eyes pop out of their sockets. But I’m less worried about internet pirates than the press cowboys.
Noodle: Internet is very important to us in order to communicate with our fans. Our website (www.gorillaz.com) is a place where we have downloads, lots of information about us and our tour dates. I also got to know Dangermouse; I downloaded his ‘Grey Album’: a wonderful, inventive record, I knew he would be perfect working for Gorillaz. We’ve also started up this competition ‘S4AS’ on our website. People can submit their work, and then the web surfers can vote for the entries. The winner will collaborate with Gorillaz in order to develop his talent.
There are rumours that you won’t be touring anymore...
Noodle: Are you mad? Why would we stop touring? We really hope to tour for our new album. But I won’t leave my bed for less than £50.000.
Murdoc: Touring can be very amusing, but if you’re not careful, it will take ya over. You become one of these bands who live like drunken pirates, constantly sailing the world’s oceans, playing, drinking, mugging, drinking and playing again...umm... actually, that doesn’t sound that bad...Where do I sign up?
Do you think you’re musically ahead of your time, or that other bands are living in the past?
Noodle: It’s all to do with time: If you want to be considered as someone who knows the music scene, you inevitably have to imitate them. So, many bands become prisoners of the past. Art consists in imitating their influences. We’re not in this category. We prefer looking to the future.
The world is a jungle, and the gorilla is a dying species. Are you trying to prove that us human beings are also a dying species?Is the cartoon concepta means of proving thatwe’re all the product of a fiendishly clever, but insane artist, the ultimate question being: ’Who holds the pencil and who turns that page’?
Noodle: ‘So...you’re wondering if the existence of Gorillaz is the means of proving that God is the shit Artist and Graphic Illustrator. Or perhaps, in a certain way we’re all the figments of someone else’s imagination? Let me quote Nietzsche. I won’t say ‘God is Dead’ but I will say ‘Jamie is absent, he’s gone to Hong Kong’. Make of that what you will.
Do you feel close to the cartoons made in the 60’s?
Noodle: Culture is ours to do with what we want to. History is meant to be distorted. The past doesn’t serve the memory or educate us, it’s useless.
Is Gorillaz political?
2-D: I consider entertainment as I consider politics. To be political, you needn’t wear a suit or change the way people think
Noodle: The ability to understand a situation and to comment on it modifies that which you observe, As a consequence, our existence as cultural commentators is purely political
Murdoc: What you’re talking about is basic show business. The political parties are the villains: people who have power get crushed by the ones who want to replace them. But they’re just the puppets. The puppetmasters are the big fat companies, the pharmaceutical groups, the petrol industries, etc... There’s an old saying: ‘For whom you vote is of no importance, there will always be a government’. It’s the people that have the true power, but they’re so bamboozled that all they do is vote. Voting is just as important as watching a soap opera. What a load of crap.
The fact of you being drawn characters contributes to destroy the popstar image. Do you think they’re overrated?
Murdoc: Popstars are the parasites of society. They feed a fantasy world. I actually feel sorry for them because they’re victims of their success. It wouldn’t be as bad if they cale up with better tunes...
Noodle: We live in a society that gives respect to those who don’t deserve it. They make you believe that self image is more important than that what you say or think.
This album is more melancholic. Does it reflect on your vision of the world?
Russel: As a whole, Demon Days is more serious than the self-titled.
2-D: Kong Studios was built on the site of a cemetery. We ended up with some weird sounds and smells: you can hear moaning and growling in some tracks. Some of ‘em sounded so sick that we nearly got rid of them.
Murdoc has bad breath, an old outdated rocker, he’s pushing 40 but he remains the greatest sex symbol of the London suburbs, what’s your secret?
Murdoc: Thanks bootlicker. It’s all down to the pheromones mate. To get this authentic ‘Eau de Murdoc’ smell, I recommend alcohol, roll ups and a bog dose of cigarillos... No fashion designer couls dream up my looks:tight jeans, clean shiny shows, hair cut with a knife and a designers cape made out of overpriced fabric. It’s wicked! It gives me a mixed look of a Victorian opium smoker and an East End yobbo, with a slight Marvin the Martian look.
Do you think Damon should be sending you out to do all the dirty promo work?
Murdoc: You read my mind mate. I can’t see myself promoting Blur’s ‘Think Tank’. Why would Damon take care of our album? He has nothing to do with it.
What do you think of the animated band created by Matsumoto and Daft Punk for Interstella 5555?
Murdoc: Ask my lawyer. I think plagiarism is the worst way of ruining music, if they stepped on my copyright, I’d stick a trial up their ass and they’d be begging in the streets for money with their silly little robot helmets.
Are Gorillaz the new Monkees? More celebrated and hairy?
Murdoc: Listen sweetheart. We write our own music, that’s the major difference. We don’t ask Neil Diamond to write our tracks. We’re artists.
Noodle: I had the feeling that we could do better things. We weren’t looking for difficulty or starting up a personal challenge. I simply thought it would be interesting creating something new.
Murdoc: I just wanted women, power and money, and also to get rid of the soulless, manufactured shit that’s constantly shoved in our ears.
Russel: I had the desire of giving back what the musical industry gave to me. Music has been my vital organ since I was born. I’ve always wanted to make music and my heroes have always been musicians.
Where does the name of the band ‘Gorillaz’ come from?
Murdoc: The name ‘Gorillaz’ was my idea. I think that swinging on a tree offers a shit sight of life, that’s my point of view.
Were the band members created from other comic characters or were you created because of your mixed personalities?
Murdoc: You don’t get it at all, you old weasel. We’ve always been together and full of life. From Elvis to Marilyn Manson, from Snoop to Keith Richards, we’re as real as all of them. They all play a part using the imaginary side of their personality. I was created from the worst aspects of character.
When you first started, was a long lasting career important to you?
Noodle: When we recorded the first album, our aim was to make a super record and not a super career. You can’t plan a long lasting career because there are always various events that change your course, facing the unexpected is far more exciting!
Russel: We didn’t want to record the 2nd album from the success of the 1st one, so we decided to put our popularity aside to mix out some new tunes. In the self-titled, we looked for novelty. This time, our tunes have gained more maturity. Our sound isn’t just a bonfire, it’s everlasting.
What do you think of illegal downloading?
Murdoc: I think it’s great! But if I found out people were downloading our tunes without paying, I’ll sue ‘em until their eyes pop out of their sockets. But I’m less worried about internet pirates than the press cowboys.
Noodle: Internet is very important to us in order to communicate with our fans. Our website (www.gorillaz.com) is a place where we have downloads, lots of information about us and our tour dates. I also got to know Dangermouse; I downloaded his ‘Grey Album’: a wonderful, inventive record, I knew he would be perfect working for Gorillaz. We’ve also started up this competition ‘S4AS’ on our website. People can submit their work, and then the web surfers can vote for the entries. The winner will collaborate with Gorillaz in order to develop his talent.
There are rumours that you won’t be touring anymore...
Noodle: Are you mad? Why would we stop touring? We really hope to tour for our new album. But I won’t leave my bed for less than £50.000.
Murdoc: Touring can be very amusing, but if you’re not careful, it will take ya over. You become one of these bands who live like drunken pirates, constantly sailing the world’s oceans, playing, drinking, mugging, drinking and playing again...umm... actually, that doesn’t sound that bad...Where do I sign up?
Do you think you’re musically ahead of your time, or that other bands are living in the past?
Noodle: It’s all to do with time: If you want to be considered as someone who knows the music scene, you inevitably have to imitate them. So, many bands become prisoners of the past. Art consists in imitating their influences. We’re not in this category. We prefer looking to the future.
The world is a jungle, and the gorilla is a dying species. Are you trying to prove that us human beings are also a dying species?Is the cartoon concepta means of proving thatwe’re all the product of a fiendishly clever, but insane artist, the ultimate question being: ’Who holds the pencil and who turns that page’?
Noodle: ‘So...you’re wondering if the existence of Gorillaz is the means of proving that God is the shit Artist and Graphic Illustrator. Or perhaps, in a certain way we’re all the figments of someone else’s imagination? Let me quote Nietzsche. I won’t say ‘God is Dead’ but I will say ‘Jamie is absent, he’s gone to Hong Kong’. Make of that what you will.
Do you feel close to the cartoons made in the 60’s?
Noodle: Culture is ours to do with what we want to. History is meant to be distorted. The past doesn’t serve the memory or educate us, it’s useless.
Is Gorillaz political?
2-D: I consider entertainment as I consider politics. To be political, you needn’t wear a suit or change the way people think
Noodle: The ability to understand a situation and to comment on it modifies that which you observe, As a consequence, our existence as cultural commentators is purely political
Murdoc: What you’re talking about is basic show business. The political parties are the villains: people who have power get crushed by the ones who want to replace them. But they’re just the puppets. The puppetmasters are the big fat companies, the pharmaceutical groups, the petrol industries, etc... There’s an old saying: ‘For whom you vote is of no importance, there will always be a government’. It’s the people that have the true power, but they’re so bamboozled that all they do is vote. Voting is just as important as watching a soap opera. What a load of crap.
The fact of you being drawn characters contributes to destroy the popstar image. Do you think they’re overrated?
Murdoc: Popstars are the parasites of society. They feed a fantasy world. I actually feel sorry for them because they’re victims of their success. It wouldn’t be as bad if they cale up with better tunes...
Noodle: We live in a society that gives respect to those who don’t deserve it. They make you believe that self image is more important than that what you say or think.
This album is more melancholic. Does it reflect on your vision of the world?
Russel: As a whole, Demon Days is more serious than the self-titled.
2-D: Kong Studios was built on the site of a cemetery. We ended up with some weird sounds and smells: you can hear moaning and growling in some tracks. Some of ‘em sounded so sick that we nearly got rid of them.
Murdoc has bad breath, an old outdated rocker, he’s pushing 40 but he remains the greatest sex symbol of the London suburbs, what’s your secret?
Murdoc: Thanks bootlicker. It’s all down to the pheromones mate. To get this authentic ‘Eau de Murdoc’ smell, I recommend alcohol, roll ups and a bog dose of cigarillos... No fashion designer couls dream up my looks:tight jeans, clean shiny shows, hair cut with a knife and a designers cape made out of overpriced fabric. It’s wicked! It gives me a mixed look of a Victorian opium smoker and an East End yobbo, with a slight Marvin the Martian look.
Do you think Damon should be sending you out to do all the dirty promo work?
Murdoc: You read my mind mate. I can’t see myself promoting Blur’s ‘Think Tank’. Why would Damon take care of our album? He has nothing to do with it.
What do you think of the animated band created by Matsumoto and Daft Punk for Interstella 5555?
Murdoc: Ask my lawyer. I think plagiarism is the worst way of ruining music, if they stepped on my copyright, I’d stick a trial up their ass and they’d be begging in the streets for money with their silly little robot helmets.
Are Gorillaz the new Monkees? More celebrated and hairy?
Murdoc: Listen sweetheart. We write our own music, that’s the major difference. We don’t ask Neil Diamond to write our tracks. We’re artists.