GORILLAZ
SALUTE 2020 WITH THREE MASSIVE LIVE SHOWS
AND THE EPIC SONG MACHINE SEASON ONE FINALE
‘THE LOST CHORD ft Leee John’
COMING ON CHRISTMAS EVE
WATCH TRAILER HERE
“Damon Albarn and his mob shine in this virtual rave.” – 4/5 stars, THE TIMES
“The bonkers virtual extravaganza was the perfect home for Damon Albarn’s animated band and their roster of glitzy special guests.” – 4/5 stars, THE TELEGRAPH
“Virtual party is like a AAA pass to the glitziest celebrity shindig” – 4/5 stars, NME
“A blistering live set live from Kong with an all-star cast + a career spanning setlist” – Gigwise
“a magnificent event… the lengths to which Albarn, Hewlett, and company went to embody the band’s entire aesthetic (sound, look, and feel) was breathtaking.” —CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND
“… one of the best albums of the year, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, the perfectly titled soundtrack for 2020 — sounded even more perfect live… this was a transporting experience.” —YAHOO ENTERTAINMENT
2020 that’s a wrap… Gorillaz closed out a year that no one will forget with three massive live shows beamed around the world from the basement of Kong Studios. Song Machine Live From Kong saw viewers in excess of 1 Million in 120 countries, from Albania to Vietnam by way of the Faroe Islands, tune in to join Damon Albarn and a 14 piece live band, with 2D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals and Russel Hobbs, plus special guests including Kano, slowthai, Leee John, Matt Berry, Sweetie Irie, Slaves (Isaac & Laurie), Georgia and Peter Hook all live in the room, and virtually by Beck, Fatoumata Diawara, Elton John, JPEGMAFIA, ScHoolboy Q and 6Black. The full-scale production brought together a 180-strong Gorillaz family of artists, musicians and crew joining a COVID-compliant bubble to deliver a live experience like no other. Available to View On Demand here.
On Christmas Eve, the band will release the epic Season One finale episode of Song Machine, The Lost Chord (ft. Leee John), with another brand new video from Jamie Hewlett, a glorious homage to Cinecolor which sees our band of survivors 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle make a return visit to Plastic Beach because, as 2D sings “At this time of year I’m always in need of the silent waves…”. Watch here. Gorillaz started the year with the first episode of Song Machine, ‘Momentary Bliss’ (ft. slowthai and Slaves), released on 30th January and they haven’t stopped since… Here are the highlights:
17 New Songs
24 Collaborations with Featured Artists
1 New Album
9 Episodes of Song Machine
1 x 8-bit Aries Driving Game
18 Machine Bitez
3 Live Streamed Concerts
1 x 210+ page Annual
4 new Vinyl Figures
13 Lyric Videos
8 Art Prints
1 range of Hot Sauce by Russel Hobbs
1 Song Machine Radio Series with Apple Music (x4 episodes)
1 animated Elton John
2 Lockdown Performances
1 Gorillaz Christmas Pazuzu Jumper
Plus a whole range of Gorillaz gear
And much more…
2021, get ready… the band will be back on the road with the SONG MACHINE TOUR with shows scheduled for Köln, Berlin and Luxembourg next summer, plus a massive homecoming show at The O2, London on 11th August 2021. Ticket info here. Out now and twenty years in the making, the Gorillaz ALMANAC is the very first annual by Gorillaz, in partnership with the renowned Z2 Comics. Inspired by the great British tradition of the hardback annual, the Gorillaz ALMANAC is a full color, one-of-a-kind, fun-packed, 120+ page, sideways homage to two glorious decades of Gorillaz. Jammed with exclusive new artwork, including the first ever strip to star 2D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals and Russel Hobbs; puzzles, games and more; plus a raft of special guest appearances from Gorillaz collaborators past and present, the Gorillaz ALMANAC is a compendium of delights which finally puts the most real band around on the printed page. Order here.
Download high res press shot here: https://we.tl/t-S2oukgYXYp
Praise for Song Machine:
“…a fluent, brilliant whole” – THE GUARDIAN“Song Machine… is the most cohesive Gorillaz album since Demon Dayz… sparkling with energy and invention…” – 4/5 stars – MOJO
FURTHER INFORMATION:
SONG MACHINE TOUR 2021 – full itinerary:
2021
16 June – KÖLN, Germany – Tanzbrunnen
18 June – BERLIN, Germany –Parkbühne Wuhlheide
1 July – LUXEMBOURG – Rockhal
11 August – LONDON, UK – The O2
For tickets and information, visit www.gorillaz.com/tour
Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez:
The ongoing and ever-evolving process resulted in an expansive 17-track collection featuring Beck, Elton John, Fatoumata Diawara, Georgia, Kano, Leee John, Octavian, Peter Hook, Robert Smith, Roxani Arias, ScHoolboy Q, Slaves, Slowthai, St Vincent and 6LACK, CHAI, EARTHGANG, Goldlink, Joan As Police Woman, JPEGMAFIA, Moonchild Sanelly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Skepta and of course Tony Allen captured live in Kong Studios and beyond.
Watch Momentary Bliss (ft. slowthai and Slaves) – here
Watch Désolé (ft. Fatoumata Diawara) – here
Watch Aries (ft. Peter Hook and Georgia) – here
Watch Friday 13th (ft. Octavian) – here
Watch Pac-Man (ft. Schoolboy Q) – here
Watch Strange Timez (ft. Robert Smith) – here
Watch The Pink Phantom (ft. Elton John & 6LACK) – here
Available on standard CD, vinyl and cassette; plus the 17-track Deluxe and Super Deluxe box sets. Not forgetting the bulging full-colour, one-of-a-kind 210-page Almanac, the very first annual from Gorillaz. Order here.
Virtual band Gorillaz is singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle and drummer Russel Hobbs. Created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, their acclaimed eponymous debut album was released in 2001. The BRIT and Grammy Award winning band’s subsequent albums are Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017) and The Now Now (2018). A truly global phenomenon, Gorillaz have achieved success in entirely ground-breaking ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor.
- The band are recognised by The Guinness Book Of World Records as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act.
