info-gorillaz

[info-gorillaz]

Gorillaz Questionnaire, Crossbeat, February 2001 (Summary and Main Points)

Interview #2

Interview Main Points:

Murdoc

-Murdoc mentions the first Gorillaz gig was at Camden Brown House which turned into a riot. After that gig Gorillaz got signed to EMI at London Zoo

-Murdoc says since 2D went through the windshield of his Vauxhall Astra he knew they were gonna make it big

-When 2D says “I love you Murdoc” in response to a question, Murdoc reminds him that 2D owes his soul to him after Murdoc saved his life

-When asked what he did before Gorillaz, Murdoc compares himself to Michael Canes, saying he has more experience musically and sexually than Micheal

-Murdoc asks 2D to explain his gold thong and glitter he has under his clothes. 

-Murdoc mentions they formed as a band in 1998, it took awhile for them to ‘gel together’

-Murdoc says ‘Sigue Sigue Sputnik’ is a constant inspiration to them

-Murdoc says to stay away from ‘The Perverts’ a band, he says they're their arch enemies

-The target of Gorillaz is to wean the kids off crap

-Gorillaz defines their genre they’re pursuing as Dark Pop, Zombie Hip Hop and Lo Fi-Thriller

-Murdoc says they knew Damon Albarn from a long time ago, they were enemies but are now close. They found Damon walking around Leicester Square, he seem confused so they invited him in for a coffee and a donut

-Murdoc says they invited Ibrahim over and gave him some J-B

-Murdoc wants to remind people what they’ve been missing out on with Gorillaz

-Murdoc says he's been listening to Dinosaur Junior, Freak Scene on Bug , Buckcherry, Lit Up, and Raging Speedhorn

-Murdoc says beach buggies, Chuck Jones, sweets, and dead arm competitions are holding the band together

-Murdoc likes Saki, Soprano Beer and likes an issue of Studio Voice Magazine from February 1996, when asked about his favorite items made in Japan

-The next Gorillaz gig is in the Scala Club in Kings Cross

-Murdoc wants to be as big as Mighty Joe Young

2D

-When asked about how they knew what direction to take the band 2D says they’ve got their mixing desk, and Todd, their tech guy

-When asked what 2D sees charming in Murdoc, he says “i love you Murdoc” 

-When mentioned 2D looks like Damon Albarn from Blur the interviewer adds “or is it our imagination?” 2D misinterpreted the question asking if Damon has anything to do with the band Imagination as he doesnt like the band.

-2D responds to Murdoc’s comment about a gold thong and glitter saying “my pants and socks aren't gold Murdoc they're cotton”

-2D agrees with Russel that an ideal band need to care about the music

-2D talks about how he came up with ‘Sound Check (Gravity)’, he was in Jamaica on the roof of the studio singing and looking up to the stars, a giant vulture, called ‘Johnny’ by the locals swooped down, took 2D into the mountains. He was left with a Rastafarian medicine man, 2D stayed there for a week and was fed a vegan diet and was educated on the ways of Jah

-2Ds been watching Rockers,  Augusts Pablo’s King; Tubby Meet Rockers Uptown, and Tom Tom Club and Simian; Watch it Glow

-When talking about what holds the band together 2D agrees with Murdoc and adds watching George Romeo’s Zombie Movies together to the list

-2D says when he makes a sandwich he only makes it using ingredients he likes, that's the same with making music

-When asked about the source of Gorillaz, 2D misinterpreted this question, he talks about how he likes tomato sauce and Noodle gave him wasabi, he said it made his chips taste interesting

-2D likes his Suzuki OmniChord when asked about his favorite items made in Japan

-2D got sent an email with a picture of Leonardo Di Caprio with no pants on

Russel

-When asked what Russel sees charming in Murdoc, he mentions he believes Murdoc is a troubled man and he is in Gorillaz to keep Murdoc from imploding

-Russel’s ideal idea of a band is that they just need to care about the music

-When asked about dark themes in the album, Russel says the music doesn't brainwash people, but rather is an expression

-Russel says he met Dan on the Million Man Left Hand March they found out they both love hip hop and are both left-handed, Del keeps playing the album on repeat in his head

-Russel says he cant stop listening to Deltron 3030 and Gang Starr Full Clip

-Russel talks about how Noodle doesn't lose her cool in situations and is always able to handle every situation

-Russel loves everything made by Beat Takashi, The Playstation and comic books from Katsuhiro Otomo, when asked about his favorite items made in Japan

Noodle

-Noodle says she met Miho in a dream, she was waiting for a bullet train to take her to Jamaica and Miho was there for the same trip

-When asked about how they see the British music scene, Noodle says ‘ we are .com not .co.uk’

-Noodle’s been listening to Cornelius and Graham Coxon; The Big D,

-Shes in love with Graham and Takashi Murakami

[info-gorillaz]

Monkey Business, Dazed and Confused, January 2001 (summary and main points)

Interview #1

Intro: The interview starts off with 2D knocked out, high on drugs, and nodding off into his sandwich. Murdoc wedges a lit cigarette into 2D’s ear. Dialogue is exchanged between Russel and Murdoc. Noodle’s Toy rams into Murdoc, resulting in Murdoc swearing at Noodle. The interviewer then details the origins of Gorillaz, explaining Murdoc’s, 2D’s, Russel’s, and Noodle’s backgrounds. Murdoc puts on a Black Sabbath album on a turntable, Russel then cuts it short by damaging his record. Murdoc and Russel sneer at each other, exchanging dialogue. Finally, playing the Self-titled, debut album ready to answer questions.

Interview main points:

Murdoc

-Murdoc states that music is all that counts, and that Gorillaz has no competition. 

-Murdoc explains that due to him saving 2Ds life, 2D owes him his soul. 

-Murdoc knew from the beginning 2D would get teenager’s attention, but Murdoc gets the women. 

-He explains the charts have been full of ‘turdy music for children’s parties’. 

-Murdoc recalls difficult memories from childhood, losing his virginity at 9 years old to a lunch lady. 

-Murdoc denies the accusations that he stalked Damon Albarn. 

-Murdoc came up with M1A1 when driving down an empty road going to his grandma’s house for Christmas, reminding him of ‘Day of The Dead’ by Romero. 

-Murdoc mentions he used to work at SuperDrug in the Elephant Castle supercenter because he thought he could steal drugs. 

-Murdoc tells a story of 2D throwing up on the back of neck after choking on a cigarette in his drink. 

-Murdoc states Gorillaz is not manufactured. 

-Murdoc recalls a time when he was held in a cell after going through customs.

2D

-2D left school when he was 11 to watch ‘American Werewolf in London’, ‘Fang Face’, and ‘Zombies Day of the Dead’, he was so scared he rode his bike home crying. 

-2D says if the pressure of fame gets overwhelming he’ll tell everyone to ‘fuck off’. 

-2D says ‘I’m not badly drawn’ in response to Badly Drawn Boy’s name. 

-2D doesn't doubt that he is real. 

-2D brings up Paula Cracker, Murdoc tells him to shut up.

Russel

-Russel states that even though he is possessed by his best friend Del, he cannot speak to dead rappers, and that it's just him and Del. 

-In response to what rapper he would battle he says ‘Dougie Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew’.

Noodle

[Noodle does not talk throughout this entire interview]

Outro: The interviewer leaves, later that night standing in a queue at a party Murdoc shoves in front of the interviewer saying “beauty before scum” the interviewer punches Murdoc. The interviewer explains his reasonings “sorry mate, didn't think you were real” Murdoc responds “larger than life pal and getting more real by the column inch”