Gorillaz

Gorillaz is a virtual band created by Damon Albarn of Blur and artist Jamie Hewlett. They introduced the concept in 1998 with four animated characters: 2-D on vocals, Murdoc Niccals on bass, Noodle on guitar, and Russel Hobbs on drums. Hewlett's art style, drawing from hip-hop and graffiti culture, gave the band its distinctive visual identity across music videos and album artwork.

Their music blends hip-hop, rock, and electronica, with Albarn's songwriting at the center. Early tracks like "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000" helped define their sound, which often features collaborations with other artists. The band has released several albums, including Gorillaz in 2001, Demon Days in 2005, and Plastic Beach in 2010.

Performing live presented technical challenges, as the animated characters required special projection and animation techniques. The virtual concept sometimes drew criticism about the role of real musicians, but the band maintained its fictional narrative through albums and multimedia projects. Songs like "Tomorrow Comes Today" and "Dirty Harry" continued to explore their mix of styles and storytelling.