Gorillaz

Gorillaz is a musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of Britpop band Blur and British cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl. In the mainstream and commercial outlets it is known as a "virtual band" because for their image and promotion, instead of displaying the musicians of the band, it has used a group of comic book characters. The "virtual band" is composed of four animated members: 2D (lead vocalist, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar and occasional vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). The music is a collaboration between various musicians, Albarn being the only permanent musical contributor. Their style is a composition of multiple musical genres, with a large number of their influences including: dub, hip hop, alternative rock, electronic and pop music.

The band's 2001 debut album Gorillaz sold over seven million copies and earned them an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Successful Virtual Band. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize 2001, but the nomination was later withdrawn at the band's request. Their second studio album, Demon Days, was released in 2005 and included the singles "Feel Good Inc.", "Dare", "Dirty Harry" and "Kids with Guns"/"El Mañana". Demon Days went five times platinum in the UK, double platinum in the United States and earned five Grammy Award nominations for 2006Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category. Gorillaz have also released two B-sides compilations and a remix album. The combined sales of Gorillaz and Demon Days had, by 2010, exceeded 20 million albums. The band's third studio album, titled Plastic Beach, was released in 2010. On 26th May 2010, it was announced that the band would replace U2 as Glastonbury Festival headliners. and won one of them in the

Gorillaz is a character

The story of Gorillaz is a characteristally messy one. Saturday Boy Stu-Pot, a keyboard obsessive and nice kid dullard, is the star employee at Uncle Norm's Organ Emporium, on course to make regional manager. But then comes a Saturday to end all weeks (just like a Sunday, but with shopping).

Murdoc, with his nasty bad boy crew, ramraids the shop in a tatty Vauxhall Astra. His plan: to seize the synths and form a chart topping band with the booty. He drives... SMASH!... through the shop window and... SMASH!... into Stu-Pot's head, fracturing his eyeball. Result: 30,000 hours of community service for Murdoc, plus 10 hours every week of caring for the vegetabilised Stu-Pot.

Soon, Murdoc's rotten driving skills again force life to take a different turn. While attempting a 360 doughnut spin in Nottingham's Tesco carpark, he catapults Stu-Pot through the windscreen and into a kerb. Stu-Pot's other eye is fractured, his mind is revived and he stands a young, black eyed god, with hedgehog hair and a vacant stare. Not only that, but his synth playing takes a serious turn for the weird.

Perfect pop material. Stu-Pot is renamed 2D (because he's got two dents in his head). Now Murdoc needs a drummer.

Rewind a few years. In New York State, Russel, a middle-class kid, is forced out of his posh private school due to his being possessed by a demon. He lies in a coma for four years, until an elaborate exorcism sets him free. Russel joins Brooklyn High, where he falls in with a group of talented street musicians, rappers and DJs. Hip-Hop saves his soul. For a time. A random drive-by shooting kills all of his friends and as Russel, the lone survivor, lies in a state of shock, the spirits of his chums invade his body, turning Russel's eyes a spooky white and giving him amazing drumming, rapping and general hip-hop skills.

His parents move him to England, where they hope he'll have the chance of a quieter life. They hadn't reckoned on Murdoc, who tracks Russel down in a Soho Rap Record Store. Now, all the fledgling group need is a guitarist. They place an ad in the NME. The day the ad is published, a Fed-Ex'd freight container is delivered to their door. Out jumps a small Japanese person carrying a Les Paul. She jabbers at them incomprehensibly, before launching into a riff to end all riffs, rounding it off with a hi-karate jump. The boys are speechless. Noodle has one word for them. It is Noodle.

Gorillaz are born, and signed amidst the mayhem of their very first gig. Such is the way legends are created

About Woodstock Logo

The original Woodstock poster is undeniably one of the most famous pieces of music art. The legendary image of the dove perched on the neck of a guitar has become one of the works of art that defined the entire Woodstock Nation. A recent article in the Woodstock Times raised some interesting points and a question involving the work of art. Woodstock Story got the privilege to speak with creator Arnold Skolnick and get some insight on the artist and the legendary work. He was contracted to create the visual representation of Woodstock 1969. Woodstock Ventures asked Skolnick for a poster for a music and art fair lasting 3 days that was to be peaceful. His approach and inspiration comes from the philosophy that "the solution is the problem". Many accounts of the piece site his two sons (or daughter that is nonexistent) as the inspiration for his work, which he states is not the case.

The Woodstock Times article states that in Michael Lang's book The Road to Woodstock, Lang claims the idea for the poster design as his own. "They asked for a poster for a music and art fair which would last for 3 days and wanted it to be peaceful. I was given the problem on a Thursday and I delivered it on Monday at about 11am. Mr. Lang never gave me any idea for the poster; he never saw it until it was finished. I don't believe he and I have ever talked," said Skolnick. After the Woodstock poster deal, Skolnick started a company that designed, produced, and published art books and limited editions after in the late 1970s. Many of the publications won awards for design and typography. Skolnick doesn't define his career as being the guy who designed the Woodstock 1969 poster. Skolnick, now a resident of Chesterfield, MA is thankful that he was able to set the right tone for the festival with his work of art, but saw very little in return. Despite the rampant replication of his original catbird/dove design perched on the guitar, he has received only one check for royalties amounting to about $15. He continues to run Chameleon Books and works on his paintings, photography, and drawings holding various exhibitions in New York and Massachusetts. "The Woodstock poster has not changed my life or had any real effect on my career. It was just another design solution that became famous," he said.