Gorillaz: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Gorillaz began as a cartoon joke between Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett in a Westbourne Grove flat — a critique of manufactured pop that became the most successful virtual band ever. The map runs through 2 Tone ska, Jamaican dub mixing-desk science, hip-hop crate-digging and manga line art, with a London scene backdrop and a collaborator roster that was always the project's real engine.

The Kynda mix for Gorillaz

• Key Influence · The Specials (1979). Albarn has repeatedly named 2 Tone as the formative music of his childhood, and the Coventry band's fusion of Jamaican rhythm with English pop melancholy is audible in Gorillaz from the off — the loping offbeat of "Clint Eastwood," the dub-wise bass, the multiracial collective idea of a band as a shifting cast rather than four fixed faces. Terry Hall later sang with Gorillaz on "Hong Kong," closing the loop between influence and participation.
• Influencia Obscura · Sugar, Sugar by The Archies (1969). The Archies were the original cartoon chart-toppers: a Filmation band with no bodies, voiced by session singer Ron Dante, outselling real groups. Gorillaz is unthinkable without this precedent of pop as pure animated artifice — a band whose members cannot be interviewed except in character. Albarn and Hewlett's satire of manufactured MTV pop works precisely because the cartoon-band model already existed and had already won.
• Local Roots · Blue Lines by Massive Attack (1991). The British template for a producer-led collective with rotating vocalists — reggae soundsystem culture filtered through hip-hop tempo and studio atmosphere. Gorillaz inherited the structure wholesale: one architect, many guests, dub space as mood. Albarn's circle and Massive Attack's overlapped across 1990s and 2000s London–Bristol sessions, and both projects treated the featured vocalist as the central compositional choice.
• Beyond the Medium · Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo (1982). Hewlett's visual world — kinetic linework, dystopian cityscapes, the child-warrior Noodle arriving in a FedEx crate from Osaka — is steeped in Japanese manga and anime. Otomo's epic established the look of post-apocalyptic urban decay that Gorillaz videos and comic strips recycle, and gave Hewlett the vocabulary for a band whose biography unfolds in panels and animated shorts rather than press releases.
• Peer · Odelay by Beck (1996). Beck and the Dust Brothers made genre-promiscuity a pop language: folk-blues, hip-hop beats, junk-shop samples and absurdist lyricism in one record. Gorillaz's debut operates on the same premise a few years later from the English side. Both artists reframed the singer as a shape-shifting persona, and both proved a chart-pop audience would follow collage music if the hooks were strong enough.
• From the Canon · Demon Days by Gorillaz (2005). The album where the cartoon joke became a serious artistic vehicle: Danger Mouse's production tightened the collage, the London Community Gospel Choir and children's choir gave it scale, and guests from De La Soul to Shaun Ryder to Ike Turner's piano made the guest-list method the composition itself. Its apocalyptic-but-danceable mood set the template every later Gorillaz record negotiates with.
• Key Collaborator · The Grey Album by Danger Mouse (2004). The mashup of Jay-Z's Black Album with the Beatles' White Album made Brian Burton notorious, and it was this record that brought him to Albarn, who hired him to produce Demon Days. His sample-first, cinematic approach gave Gorillaz their second-album coherence and launched a career running through Gnarls Barkley and Broken Bells — the collaboration that proved Gorillaz worked best with an outside producer.
• Legacy · IGOR by Tyler, the Creator (2019). Tyler has long named Gorillaz among his formative loves, and the lineage is plain: a rapper-producer building albums as character-driven concept pieces, singing as much as rapping, designing the visual persona and wig as carefully as the beats. IGOR's keyboard-led, guest-woven construction — Solange, Playboi Carti, Kanye West buried in the mix — follows the Albarn model of the auteur as host.

What influenced Gorillaz

• Massive Attack. Massive Attack is listed as a principal musical influence. (also via Blue Lines) “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• The Archies. The Archies is named as an inspiration for the band's concept. (also via Sugar, Sugar) “The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits , the Archies , Josie and the Pussycats , and Alvin and the Chipmunks” (Wikipedia)
• The Specials by The Specials (1979). The Specials is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• Fishmans. Fishmans is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• Josie and the Pussycats. Josie and the Pussycats is named as an inspiration for the band's concept. “The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits , the Archies , Josie and the Pussycats , and Alvin and the Chipmunks” (Wikipedia)
• Big Audio Dynamite. Big Audio Dynamite is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• The Simpsons by Matt Groening (1989). The Simpsons is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• Unkle. Unkle is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• Tom Tom Club. Tom Tom Club is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• The Banana Splits. The Banana Splits is named as an inspiration for the band's concept. “The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits , the Archies , Josie and the Pussycats , and Alvin and the Chipmunks” (Wikipedia)
• Métal Hurlant. Métal hurlant is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• Hanna-Barbera. Hanna-Barbera is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• 2000 AD. 2000 AD is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• Looney Tunes. Looney Tunes is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• Public Image Ltd. Public Image Ltd is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• MAD by Harvey Kurtzman (1952). Mad magazine is identified as a visual influence. “Gorillaz' primary visual influences include Hanna-Barbera , Looney Tunes , [ 122 ] Mad magazine , [ 191 ] [ 192 ] The Simpsons , [ 193 ] 2000 AD [ 194 ] and Métal hurlant ( Heavy Metal ).” (Wikipedia)
• A Tribe Called Quest. A Tribe Called Quest is listed as a principal musical influence. “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans , Massive Attack , the Specials , Big Audio Dynamite , Public Image Ltd , Tom Tom Club , Fun Boy Three , Unkle , A Tribe Called Quest , and their fellow collaborators De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• The 16s by Jamie Hewlett. The 16s is proposed as a source of Gorillaz's visual style. “The band's visual style is thought to have evolved from The 16s , a rejected comic strip Hewlett conceived with the Tank Girl co-creator Alan Martin .” (Wikipedia)
• Sugar, Sugar by The Archies (1969). Sugar, Sugar (The Archies) — ghost for Gorillaz “The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits, the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, and real bands with fictional stage personas li…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks. Alvin and the Chipmunks is named as an inspiration for the band's concept. “The idea for Gorillaz was inspired by the many cartoon bands that came before them in the 1960s such as the Banana Splits , the Archies , Josie and the Pussycats , and Alvin and the Chipmunks” (Wikipedia)
• Psyché Rock by Pierre Henry (1967). Psyché Rock (Pierre Henry) — ghost for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé (1929). The Adventures of Tintin (Hergé) — culture for Gorillaz (wikidata.org)
• Yellow Submarine by George Dunning (1968). Yellow Submarine (George Dunning) — culture for Gorillaz (themoviedb.org)
• Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys (1989). Paul's Boutique (Beastie Boys) — titan for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo (1988). Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo) — culture for Gorillaz
• Super Ape by Lee "Scratch" Perry (1976). Super Ape (Lee "Scratch" Perry) — titan for Gorillaz

Peers and kindred spirits

• Yasiin Bey. Bey featured on Gorillaz’s single Stylo. “I based the lyrics on a character who runs the arcades on Plastic Beach. Bobby Womack (who also contributes to 'Stylo') listened to it while I was there.” (Songfacts)
• Grace Jones. Jones appeared on Gorillaz's song “Charger.” “She later continued to collaborate with contemporary artists such as Gorillaz and Janelle Monáe , and received another Grammy nomination for her work as a featured artist on Renaissance (2022) by Beyoncé .” (Wikipedia)
• De La Soul. De La Soul featured on Feel Good Inc. (also via 3 Feet High and Rising) “The album's success was partially driven by the success of the lead single " Feel Good Inc. " [ 44 ] featuring the hip-hop group De La Soul” (Wikipedia)
• Tank Girl by Jamie Hewlett (1988). Tank Girl (Jamie Hewlett) — collaborator for Gorillaz “Gorillaz are an English virtual alternative rock band formed in 1998 by the musician Damon Albarn and the artist Jamie Hewlett.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• MF Doom. MF Doom collaborated on Demon Days. “Similar to the first album, Demon Days features collaborations with several different artists, including Bootie Brown , Shaun Ryder , Ike Turner , MF Doom (who was recording with Danger Mouse as Danger Doom at the time)” (Wikipedia)
• Tina Weymouth (1950). Weymouth collaborated on Gorillaz's debut album. “The album featured additional collaborations with Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club , Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club” (Wikipedia)
• Matt Berry. Berry performed narration in a Gorillaz concert. “In December 2020, he appeared in Gorillaz 's live-streamed concert Song Machine Live , performing the narration for the spoken-word song "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head" from the album Demon Days .” (Wikipedia)
• D12. D12 collaborated with Gorillaz on 911. “On 7 December 2001 the band released the single " 911 ", a collaboration with the hip-hop group D12 (without Eminem ) and the singer Terry Hall of the Specials about the September 11 attacks .” (Wikipedia)
• Terry Hall. Hall collaborated with Gorillaz on 911. “On 7 December 2001 the band released the single " 911 ", a collaboration with the hip-hop group D12 (without Eminem ) and the singer Terry Hall of the Specials about the September 11 attacks .” (Wikipedia)
• Miho Hatori. Hatori collaborated on Gorillaz's debut album. “The album featured additional collaborations with Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club , Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club” (Wikipedia)
• The Grey Album by Danger Mouse (2004). The Grey Album (Danger Mouse) — collaborator for Gorillaz “It's what we're living in basically, the world in a state of night." Believing that the album needed "a slightly different approach" compared to the first album, Albarn enlisted American producer Brian Burton, better known by his stage n…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Del the Funky Homosapien. Del performed on two tracks on Gorillaz's debut album. “Del featured on two tracks on the album, including the lead single " Clint Eastwood ", while Kid Koala contributed turntables to various tracks.” (Wikipedia)
• Kid Koala. Kid Koala contributed turntables to the debut album. “Del featured on two tracks on the album, including the lead single " Clint Eastwood ", while Kid Koala contributed turntables to various tracks.” (Wikipedia)
• Dan the Automator. Nakamura produced Gorillaz's debut album. “American hip-hop producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura produced the band's debut album.” (Wikipedia)
• Bobby Womack. Womack featured on Stylo. “The album was supported by the lead single " Stylo " featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack (with Bruce Willis appearing in the music video)” (Wikipedia)
• 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989). 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) — collaborator for Gorillaz “The album's success was partially driven by the success of the lead single "Feel Good Inc." featuring the hip-hop group De La Soul, which topped Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in the US for eight consecutive weeks and was featured i…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Mos Def. Mos Def featured on Stylo. “The album was supported by the lead single " Stylo " featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack (with Bruce Willis appearing in the music video)” (Wikipedia)
• André 3000. André 3000 collaborated with Gorillaz on DoYaThing. “The song was a part of Converse's "Three Artists, One Song" project, with the two additional collaborators being James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and André 3000 of Outkast .” (Wikipedia)
• Lou Reed. Reed was among the collaborators on Plastic Beach. “Plastic Beach also featured the largest cast of collaborators featured yet on a Gorillaz album, fulfilling Albarn's goal of "work[ing] with an incredibly eclectic, surprising cast of people" [ 65 ] including artists such as Snoop Dogg , …” (Wikipedia)
• Odelay by Beck (1996). Odelay (Beck) — peer for Gorillaz “The track features the American singer Beck.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ibrahim Ferrer. Ferrer collaborated on Gorillaz's debut album. “The album featured additional collaborations with Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club , Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club” (Wikipedia)
• Blue Lines by Massive Attack (1991). Blue Lines (Massive Attack) — geography for Gorillaz “Gorillaz' main musical influences include Fishmans, Massive Attack, the Specials, Big Audio Dynamite, Public Image Ltd, Tom Tom Club, Fun Boy Three, Unkle, A Tribe Called Quest, and their fellow collaborators De La Soul, as well as the H…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Kali Uchis (1994). Uchis featured on Gorillaz's album Humanz. (via Humanz) “the fifth studio album by Gorillaz , Humanz , was released and included songs featuring Uchis” (Wikipedia)
• Pusha T (1977). Pusha T collaborated with Gorillaz. (via Let Me Out) “Pusha T collaborated with the virtual band Gorillaz on the song " Let Me Out " from their studio album Humanz .” (Wikipedia)
• the Twilite Tone. The Twilite Tone co-produced Humanz. (via Humanz) “Albarn enlisted the American hip-hop and house producer Anthony Khan, known by his stage name the Twilite Tone , to co-produce the album.” (Wikipedia)
• Remi Kabaka Jr. Kabaka co-produced Humanz. (via Humanz) “Humanz was also co-produced by Remi Kabaka Jr , a friend of Albarn who had worked with him in the non-profit musical organisation Africa Express” (Wikipedia)
• Moon Safari by Air (1998). Moon Safari (Air) — peer for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal (2003). Boy in da Corner (Dizzee Rascal) — geography for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• Original Pirate Material by The Streets (2002). Original Pirate Material (The Streets) — geography for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• Discovery by Daft Punk (2001). Discovery (Daft Punk) — peer for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)

Who Gorillaz influenced

• SATURATION by Brockhampton (2017). SATURATION (Brockhampton) — legacy for Gorillaz “Cook, Finneas, Oliver Tree, Flatbush Zombies, Vic Mensa, IDK, Trippie Redd, the Internet, ASAP Rocky, Lupe Fiasco, Brockhampton, Odd Future, Machine Gun Kelly and Billie Eilish, who was joined by Albarn to sing her song, "Getting Older",…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• POP/STARS by K/DA (2018). POP/STARS (K/DA) — legacy for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)
• IGOR by Tyler, the Creator. IGOR (Tyler, the Creator) — legacy for Gorillaz (musicbrainz.org)