The Gorillaz Publish an Autobiography

Posted on November 11, 2006

Gorillaz, the virtual rock band that has sold millions of albums, is publishing an autobiography that is called Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre(Riverhead Books). The book features 296 pages of full-color illustrations detailing the band members' lives. The Gorillaz have been named the world most successful virtual band by the Guiness Book of World Records. They were created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of the band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the Tank Girl comic book.

Their 2001 eponymous debut album sold 5 million copies worldwide, and their critically acclaimed 2005 studio follow- up, Demon Days, racked up close to 6 million. Awards followed, including a Grammy for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" (they opened the show, in hologram form, alongside Madonna). They've recorded with a who's who of pop music legends: Danger Mouse, De La Soul, Ike Turner, Shaun Ryder, Neneh Cherry and Dennis Hopper. And when they announced a week-long stint at Harlem's historic Apollo Theatre in April 2006, the $75 tickets sold out in less than an hour.

While it's tempting to think of Gorillaz as a tongue-in-cheek side project for Albarn and Hewlett, it's important to realize (or suspend disbelief, as the case may be) that the four ape-like cartoons that make up the band are an entity unto themselves. In many ways, it's this coexistence of real and unreal elements that makes them so hugely appealing.

The Wikipedia entry for Gorillaz offers a short fictional band history. The Gorillaz website also provides some character biographies but for the full origins of the Gorillaz you will have to read the new official autobiography.



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