How did Gorillaz come about?
HEWLETT: We were flatmates. One day, we were home watching MTV with our eyes just kind of glazed. Because 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. ALBARN: We’re the generation whose stars come from Pop Idol and celebrity-wrestling shows. And it’s all a bit like a cartoon, really. One of the delights of Gorillaz is that it grabs ideas from everywhere. What’s the motivation for that? ALBARN: More and more, cultural groups are cross-pollinating, and we’re getting much more interesting art as a result. Being in Blur has allowed me to travel and hear the music that’s being made all over the world. On one song on Demon Days, you can hear that I pulled in some reggae elements and added a touch of Latin music. Then at the end, a Glen Campbell-style orchestra comes in. HEWLETT: The coolest thing is that kids are catching the references we put in the music and the v
