The original and best virtual-concept band has returned to the real world to drop their long anticipated album ‘Demon Days’ on our collective doorstep. It’s been three years since the release of the critically acclaimed self-titled debut, and if the rumours are to be believed then that time has been filled with hazy rock and roll nightmares unheard of since the conception/ illustration of the animated b-boys.
Word on the street says that bass-player Murdoc got thrown into a Mexican clink and was nearly subjected to some arse-bandito style prison lovin’. His saving grace came in the form of feathered friend ‘Cortez the Raven’, a shit-scary ‘Jailbird’ with enough reputation to calm the arousal of any parole-starved senor. Meanwhile, the blue-barneted 2D got friendly with Britt Ekland and some guy who used to be in Boyzone before earning a few mockney bob down at his dad’s local funfair and maintaining both a greasy quiff and a throbbing ego. Breakbeat master Russel Hobbs narrowly avoided a variety of burnt-out cliché’s by funding a retreat for sensitive rappers and living on a diet of wheatgrass, mung beans and crazy pills whilst recording the (now shelved) hip-hop equivalent of Brian Wilson’s ‘Smile’. Last but not least, Noodle was briefly reunited with her mentor and trainer Mr. Kyuzo in her Japanese homeland. Kyuzo was the man responsible for moulding her talent for every martial art - including sonic warfare - as well as lip-reading, the art of the Gameboy, and, most importantly, the guitar, in scenes reminiscent of Mr Mayagi-style tutoring. This meeting reminded her of her true mission in life and she returned to the Gorillaz own Kong Studios to complete her unfinished business and launch another killer album.
Are you aware that there is a band called Demon Days?
Murdoc: Never heard of them. Can’t be much good then. And I bet you their record sales skyrocketed when our album came out. Although there were probably a lot of returns pretty soon after. I must speak to my manager about them, sound like a bunch of bandwagon jumpers.
I understand the number 23 is very important to you. How did it figure in the making of Demon Days?
Russel: The number 23 for us has always been of significance. It crops up in various interesting areas. It’s commonly considered to be the number of mankind. The victory sign on your hand is two finger’s up and three pointing down.
Noodle: Apparently blood takes 23 seconds to flow around the human body.
Russel: U2 must know it too U is the 21st letter of the alphabet. If you then add the 2 you get 23.
Murdoc: I think you’re winging it Russ. They’re a big bunch of Christians too.
2D: And…the number 23 bus used to stop outside my house when I was growing up. So there’s, like, loads of reasons why it’s significant.
You were produced by Danger Mouse, that’s not the same Danger Mouse that used to hang out with Penfold is it?
2D: Yeah right. We got a great big white mouse with an eyepatch to produce our album. D’you think we’re crazy?’…It’s not the same bloke, is it? The guy who turned up at our place wasn’t a mouse… was he?
How did the collaboration come about?
Noodle: I called EMI and left specific instructions: 'I want Danger Mouse to produce next Gorillaz album.’
Russel: However, Danger Mouse had other plans. Firstly, spending all the big bucks he made off 'The Gray Album', commuting via Lear jet between his Hi-tech Beverly Hills Playboy Palace and his new monogrammed DM Island. Secondly, he was also busy planning his next big production escapade. 'The 23 Album' was set to be a full-colour fusion of Pearl Jam's 'Ten' and Blur's 'Thirteen'.
Noodle: But eventually we managed to persuade him, through a long and persistent process of blackmail, midnight phone calls and sincere pledges of artistic intent.
Are other cartoon characters jealous of your successful music career?
Murdoc: Yeah, Foghorn Leghorn phoned up Warner Brothers the other day. Apparently he did some album for them back in the Sixties, but the deal he signed was really bad. He’s now a massively overweight down-and-out alcoholic rooster. He looks like a feathered version of Mickey Rourke. Just really sad.
2D: You serious?
Murdoc: Yup. Absolutely. What’s not to believe?
What are the pressures of being a cartoon band as opposed to a real-life one?
Murdoc: People think that they can get away with asking dumber questions.
2D: Well, no-one likes a smartarse. Especially a cartoon one.
Murdoc: Well they should be fine with you then.
Russel: Also it means our tour manager thinks that that he can book us into thirty venues at the same time.
2D: We get paid by the ACME banking company. There’s a fine line between a bunch of cartoons and a load of comedians.
What are the benefits?
Murdoc: I don’t feel pain, and I need less sleep than Keith Richards.
2D: It’s harder to match DNA for paternity issues. So I can pretty much get away with anything.
Russel: I can eat what I want and never gain a pound.
Murdoc: Er…Well that’s patently untrue.
You collaborated with Dennis Hopper. Did he live up to his reputation?
Murdoc: He left tyre tracks all over the studio floor. I love the guy but y’know his social etiquette does leave something to be desired. He rode his big filthy motorbike right into the heart of our studio. He spent about half an hour doing donuts round the mic stand, whooping and a hollering and throwing his hat into the air.
Russel: But after that he settled down, had a camomile tea, and did the take. Nailed it in one too.
What do you think about illegal music downloading?
Murdoc: For me a very good thing. For other people very bad. If I catch people downloading my Gorillaz tunes without paying I’ll sue them until their eyes pop out.
What was your biggest realization in between this album and the last?
Murdoc: That success doesn’t necessarily make you happy. Only material possessions, like cars and money can do that.
What went wrong with the Gorillaz film?
Noodle: With most great works you need to have an element of vision and planning. A clear strong vision of the path that would need to be forged in order to reach the destination you wish to arrive at. However the people we worked with in Los Angeles were making everything up as they went along.
Russel: It became a romantic horror adventure comedy.
2D: On Ice.
Russel: No-one was focused enough. 2D couldn't understand the difference between film and reality. Murdoc’s partying was relentless. He even got himself kicked out of the Playboy Mansions for stealing ashtrays.
Murdoc: And Russel got a big fat ego and then changed his name to ‘R Diddy’
Russel: We would have persevered if we thought the outcome would have been worth it, but it felt like it would have been sub-standard. So, eventually we decided to cut our losses and take time off to recuperate.
Noodle: We still have a plan to make a Gorillaz film. But as is in keeping with Gorillaz sensibility it will be something that is instigated from an original Gorillaz idea and not something dreamed up in a film studio office. It must have a purpose and reflect something of value in the Gorillaz world.
Russel: Not just a ‘girl meets toy’ cartoon caper film.
Tell us about working with Shaun Ryder on 'DARE'.
Russel: As a lyricist he was one of the only true voices and documenters of that late 80’s/early 90’s period. You can tell he's an original because he spawned so many imitators. Not just musically but in his lifestyle and the way he spoke, right down to his sense of humour and taste in clothes.
Murdoc: Balls. When he came to the studio he was all like, "Oh I say! What time’s tea then? Do I have time to lay down some of my singing before we retire to the drawing room? Marvellous! Super!" All that Manc street talk just a big put on for the cameras. Shaun's really a just a big posh kid.
Demon Days in out now.