Gorillaz Reunion Confirmed By Jamie Hewlett: “Yes. Gorillaz Returns”
In 2012, the future of Gorillaz looked to be uncertain. The cartoon band had just released The Fall and would team with Andre 3000 and James Murphy for “DoYaThing.” However, ringleader Damon Albarn and resident animator Jamie Hewlett just couldn’t agree on a singular vision, then a full decade after Gorillaz’s 2001 debut single “Clint Eastwood.”
“I think we were at cross purposes somewhat on that last record, which is a shame,” Albarn said, adding that they weren’t on speaking terms either.
Now, as Hewlett confirms, Gorillaz is back on. On January 30, he posted a few portraits of bassist Murdoc Niccals (above, voiced by British comedian Phil Cornwell) and lead guitarist Noodle (voiced before by Cibo Matto‘s Miho Hatori and Talking Heads‘ Tina Weymouth) on Instagram. Stereogum points out that in the comments of one, he said, “Yes. Gorillaz Returns.”
Granted, Hewlett didn’t break this news — Albarn did, when he said last year that he was “in the process of reactivating” Gorillaz and aiming for a 2016 release. With Hewlett showing that he’s on board too, though, a Gorillaz reunion now seems all the more real. See his stunning portraits below.
A photo posted by hewll (@hewll) on
