There’s no band quite like the Gorillaz. They’re more of a concept than a group, but we don’t say that to take any credit away from their musicality. They make great music – but they’ve managed to make it an experience of multiple senses, not just your ears.

They’re the first band that has ever taken full advantage of modern technologies, like graphic design and animation. Sure, other bands have created music videos, but have they created full-range animated versions of themselves? Not that we know of. But their cool personas aren’t the only thing we love about them. It’s also their blended sound that’s part funk, part electronica, and part rock and roll that we love. There’s a song for everybody!

Becoming Gorillaz

Have you ever wondered how they got their band name? It has to do with the Chinese Zodiac. If you’ve ever been to China or a Chinese restaurant that prints the zodiac on their placemats, you know that each year has a different animal.

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were both born in the Year of the Monkey, which was the inspiration behind calling themselves the “Gorillaz.” Chinese culture is an interest of theirs, and you can find Chinese themes within their music and their content. For proof, see “Monkey: Journey to the West.”

Tomorrow Comes Today

The band first got together in the late ’90s and ended up putting out their EP in 2000. They called it Tomorrow Comes Today, and it gave the public a glimpse into their weirdly alluring cartoonish world.

Their next success was their Self Titled official debut album, Gorillaz, which came out the following year. It went platinum and sold just under eight million copies. And though each member of the Gorillaz has their projects that they frequently take breaks from the band to accomplish, they’ve been good about putting out music every few years for their fans.