The idea to create Gorillaz came about when Albarn and Hewlett were watching MTV. Hewlett had recently broken up with Olliver and Albarn was at the end of his highly publicised relationship with Justine Frischmann of Elastica. Despite this, Albarn and Hewlett started sharing a flat on Westbourne Grove in London in 1997. 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. The interview was published in Deadline magazine, home of Hewlett's comic strip, Tank Girl. They have also been nominated for 11 Brit Awards and won Best British Group at the 2018 Brit Awards.Musician Damon Albarn and comic book creator 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. They have won a Grammy Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, an NME Award and three MTV Europe Music Awards. The band have sold over 25 million records worldwide and are cited by Guinness World Records as the world's "Most Successful Virtual Band".
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Gorillaz' latest project is Song Machine, a music-based web series with episodes that consist of standalone singles and accompanying music videos featuring different guests each episode, resulting in their seventh album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020).Gorillaz has presented itself live in a variety of different ways throughout the band's history, such as hiding the live band from the audience's view in the early years of the project, projecting animated band members on stage via computer graphics and traditional live touring featuring a fully visible live band. Their sixth album, The Now Now (2018), featured stripped-down production and a greater musical focus on Albarn. The band's fifth album, Humanz, was released after a seven-year hiatus on 28 April 2017. Their fourth album, The Fall (2010), was recorded on the road during the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour and released on 25 December 2010. Their second studio album, Demon Days (2005), went six times platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US and spawned the successful lead single "Feel Good Inc.".The band's third album, Plastic Beach (2010), featured environmentalist themes, an electropop approach and an expanded roster of featured artists. The band's 2001 debut album Gorillaz, which featured dub, Latin and punk influences, went triple platinum in the UK and double platinum in Europe, with sales driven by the success of the album's lead single "Clint Eastwood". became the producer for the band after several years of providing the voice of Russel, John Davis became the mastering engineer, and Samuel Egglenton the assistant engineer.With Gorillaz, Albarn departed from the distinct Britpop of his band Blur, exploring a variety of musical styles including hip hop, electronic music and world music through an "eccentrically postmodern" approach. Stephen Sedgwick has been the mixing engineer for the band since 2005. In reality, Albarn is the only permanent musical contributor, and Gorillaz' music often features collaborations with a wide range of featured artists. Their fictional universe is presented in music videos, interviews and short cartoons. The band primarily consists of four animated members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Russel Hobbs (drums). Gorillaz are an English virtual band created in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett.