Gorillaz is the English virtual band created in 1998 by Blur's Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett — four animated members and one endlessly collaborative catalog featuring De La Soul, MF DOOM, Bobby Womack, and more. Demon Days (2005) and Plastic Beach (2010) are the peaks. Shop Gorillaz vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Gorillaz was conceived by Damon Albarn (frontman of Blur) and visual artist Jamie Hewlett (co-creator of the Tank Girl comics) in 1998. The project presents an animated band of four fictional members designed by Hewlett, with Albarn writing and performing most of the music alongside an extensive rotating cast of collaborators. Their debut Gorillaz (2001) became a commercial and critical success, with the singles Clint Eastwood and 19/2000. Demon Days (2005) and Plastic Beach (2010) expanded both the audience and the collaborative roster. They have continued releasing material across multiple decades with collaborators including De La Soul, MF DOOM, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Tame Impala, Beck, and many others.
Gorillaz's sound combines alternative rock, hip hop, electronic, art pop, trip hop, and dub with extensive genre experimentation across their catalog. Their work bridges Albarn's broader stylistic range with hip hop, electronic, and global music traditions, with the band's animated visual identity allowing for sonic exploration.
Parlophone and Warner pressings of the Gorillaz catalog have been issued in extensive color variant editions and retailer-exclusive pressings. Multiple anniversary editions have been released, including the 20th anniversary editions of the self-titled debut.
Listeners new to Gorillaz typically start with Demon Days (2005) or Plastic Beach (2010).
