User:Jimmers98/sandbox

Origin
Gorillaz are a British virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The band consists of four animated members: 2D (lead vocals, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar, vocals), Noodle (guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). These members are fictional and are not personas of any "real life" musicians involved in the project. Their fictional universe is explored through the band's website and music videos, as well as a number of other media, such as short cartoons. In reality, Albarn is the only permanent musical contributor, and the music is often a collaboration between various musicians. The band's 2001 debut album Gorillaz sold over seven million copies and earned them an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Successful Virtual Band. The idea to create Gorillaz came about when Albarn and Hewlett were watching MTV. Hewlett said, "If you watch MTV for too long, it's a bit like hell – there's nothing of substance there. So we got this idea for a cartoon band, something that would be a comment on that.

History
Musician Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett met in 1990 when guitarist Graham Coxon, a fan of Hewlett's work, asked him to interview Blur, a band Albarn and Coxon had recently formed. The interview was published in Deadline magazine, home of Hewlett's comic strip, Tank Girl. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey, a wanker"; despite becoming acquaintances with the band, they often did not get on, especially after Hewlett began seeing Coxon's ex-girlfriend Jane Olliver. Despite this, Albarn and Hewlett started sharing a flat on Westbourne Grove in London in 1997. Hewlett had recently broken up with Olliver and Albarn was at the end of his highly publicised relationship with Justine Frischmann of Elastica. Although not released under the Gorillaz name, Albarn has said that 'one of the first ever Gorillaz tunes' was Blur's 1997 single "On Your Own", which was released for their self-titled studio album Blur.

Band Members
2D – vocals, keyboards, melodica (1998–present) Murdoc Niccals – bass guitar, drum machine (1998–present) Russel Hobbs – drums, percussion (1998–2006, 2012–present) Og Noodle – guitars, keyboards, vocals (1998–2006, 2010–present)

Albums
Gorillaz (2001) Demon Days (2005) Plastic Beach (2010) The Fall (2011) TBA (2017)

World Tours
Phase One Tour (2001–02) Demon Days Live (2005–06) Escape to Plastic Beach Tour (2010)

Awards and Nominations
2001 "Clint Eastwood" Maximum Vision Award (Won) Best Modern Rock New Artist Clip (Won) Best Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist Clip (Won) Director Of The Year (for "Clint Eastwood") (Nominated)

2002 Gorillaz Best British Group	Nominated Best British Newcomer	Nominated Best British Dance Act	Nominated Best British Album	Nominated Best British Single	Nominated 2006 Best British Video	Nominated Best British Album	Nominated 2011 Best British Group	Nominated