When Gorillaz burst onto the scene in 2001, the music world didn’t know what hit it. Created by Damon Albarn (of Blur fame) and Jamie Hewlett (co-creator of Tank Girl), the band was marketed as a virtual outfit featuring four cartoon members: 2-D (vocals, keys), Murdoc Niccals (bass), Noodle (guitar, vocals), and Russel Hobbs (drums). But behind the postmodern, animated facade was a groundbreaking musical project that effortlessly fused alternative rock, hip-hop, electronic, dub, and world music.
Between 2000 and 2010 Gorillaz — the virtual band created by Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett — released six studio albums, issued 14 singles, and featured approximately 136 distinct recordings and alternate versions across albums, singles, B-sides, remixes and soundtrack contributions. Below is a concise, structured summary of that decade: major releases, stylistic notes, key singles and notable non-album tracks or versions that contribute to the ~136-song total. The Virtual Odyssey: A Complete Guide to Gorillaz
The Fall (2010)
Prologue: The Plastic Beach of the Mind