Gorillaz
Location: OVO Hydro
The Gorillaz are the virtual band that can’t be constrained by boundaries. Coming to Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on 24th March 2026.
Gorillaz was created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998. They saw it as a way of breaking free from the lack of substance they saw in the music industry. Their animated band was designed to deliver fresh and different sounds. Whilst also telling dark and twisted stories through music videos, online games, fictional radio programmes, and short stories. Ultimately, Gorillaz has encompassed a whole fictional universe and been named by Guinness World Records as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act. The band consists of four animated members: singer Stuart “2D” Pot, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle and drummer Russel Hobbs.
Their eponymous debut album came out in 2001 featuring ‘Clint Eastwood’. For which Gorillaz received the 2001 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song. Their 2005 follow-up, Demon Days, with the lead single ‘Feel Good Inc’ was also critically acclaimed and landed them a slew of awards. From the Danish Music Award for International Album to the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
Gorillaz released the albums Plastic Beach in 2010 and The Fall in 2011. As well as Humanz in 2017 and The Now Now in 2018. All continuing their effortless fusion of styles and influences ranging from hip hop beats, Britpop and indie rock to electronic and orchestral sounds. Their songs also feature an array of vocals thanks to collaborations with a range of artists. This includes Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Lou Reed, Grace Jones, Bobby Womack, and Little Simz.
Becoming a Global Sensation
Along with groundbreaking music, stunning comic book visuals and 3D animation. Not to mention live action footage, Gorillaz have become a global sensation over the years. Touring the world and playing shows from San Diego to Damascus, Syria. Although Albarn is the main musical contributor, Remi Kabaka Jr became the producer and third permanent member of Gorillaz in 2016. After providing the voice of Hobbs for several years.
In early 2020, they unveiled the audiovisual series Song Machine, consisting of singles and music videos that came out monthly as episodes. This led to the release of their seventh album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, on 23 October 2020. The band celebrated the release of Song Machine, with a global live stream – three performances across three different time zones – direct from London in December of that year.
In 2025, Gorillaz announced House of Kong, an exhibition and four shows celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band. The exhibition and live shows will take place at the Copper Box Arena, London, with each live performance showcasing a different album.
