Dotmusic Webchat, March 2001

This interview was originally transcribed on the old official Gorillaz fansite. I have pasted it here for preservation.

dotmusic: The Gorillaz are in the dotmusic studio - an odd sight! - fire away with your questions...

Simon Lacey from Wolverhampton (Next door to Smoggy- damon) asks: will the Gorillaz tour and what do they genuinly think about the new album?

Murdoc: yeah I'd love to tour man...the stage is my turf, you know what I mean? And I genuinely think that our album is the bollocks of the gods

2D: I don't think you can say 'b***ocks Murdoc !!!

Veikko from Mikkeli, Finland asks: Who is the boss in your band?

Murdoc: The thing that you all have to remember is that this is my band, my band!

Murdoc: I saved 2-D's life, he owes me his soul!

stumbo from bristol asks: Murdoc :which model of winnebago is thats been nicked ? (i've sent email to manufactures to get a replacement for you, but they refused as you worship satan!)

Murdoc: I don't know what kind of model it is man, I just drive the mother. But now we're on to the most pressing subject I want to know which one of you little gits has taken it. I can't get on to my own message board 'cos my internet connection was in my van

Russel: You're a damn fool to give away a free copy of the keys with every album. It shows you ain't from the hood

Murdoc: What do you know about the hood...you're circumcised

2D: Is that how you spell 'circumcised'?

Murdoc: Shut up face ache. Stick to showing your self up and as for you Russel you're always such a right on brother if you don't watch out I'll get you exorcised

Nas from Cuckoo land asks: Penelope pitstop opr Lisa simpson?

Russel: What have you done? Swallowed a post modern manual?

Noodle: Meowth-san!

Stephen from Staines asks: Why is Murdock the only member of the band that has pupils in his eyes? And which other artist would you say influenced you the most?

2D: I've got two eight-ball fractures from the car hitting me in the head from the ram-raid on Uncle Norm's organ emporium

Russel: My eyes have been white ever since I became host to the soul of my ever-living hip-hop pal Del, and in answer to the second part of the question our influences are many and widespread

Murdoc: Yeah man, Chuck Jones, Augustus Pablo, John Cassavettes, Otis Redding, Peter Faulk, George Romero, Ozzy Osbourne, you with me?

Murdoc: Hail Satan!

LUDO from denmark asks: Do Gorillaz like Pokemon?

Russel: Little Noodle, she loves Pokemon, power puff girls and Dexter's Lab. The rest of us are a bit old to be watching cartoons although I'm a big fan of Marvel comics

2D: I loved Scooby Doo's Zombie Island

Francesca from Milan asks: Would it be fair to say Gorillaz are the Specials for the 21st century?

Murdoc: Ta very much. Terry and Jerry are great influences on us and I got to speak to Terry last week at our gig but I was drunk

Russel: Check out the gig at gorillaz.com/live

andy from london bridge asks: how about a kid's tv series? You're big with 7-year-olds

Murdoc: Are you calling me Gary Glitter? No we're not interested. We're not the Monkees and I don't want to hear anyone banging on about Josie and The Pussycats

stumbo from bristol asks: russ .. have you seen a doctor to get that ghost exorcised?

Russel: You obviously don't know the facts - let me put you straight. Del is the spirit of my dear departed high school pal who was gunned down when we were caught in the cross fire of a drive-by. It's like this. He's the genie and I'm the bottle...

Russel: You better not be rubbing me up the wrong way?

stumbo from bristol asks: zombie hip-hop = hop-hop that zombifies the listener ? are you trying to 'kill' your audiennce?

2D: Every dead body that's not exterminated gets up and kills. The people it kills get up and kill

Murdoc: Bravo brainache, the world is now enlightened

2D: Ta very much Murdoc. You just can't help being nice to me sometimes

Chris from Birmingham asks: Which version do you prefer, Dance or Normal of Clint Eastwood?

2D: There's an interesting story to go with the Middle Row mix. Murdoc got drunk out of his mind on rum punch at last year's Notting Hill carnival and forced his way on to the Middle Row sound system and gave an impromptu PA...

2D: He completely forgot that he left the dub plates with Ed Case and went off to get some goat curry and before we knew it, the garage scene was pumping to the Ed Case sweetie Irie re-fix

Murdoc: I thought I told you to keep your gob shut! Don't forget it was me who nursed you out of your coma in the loony bin

Russel: Damn Murdoc you're one twisted individual. Stop it, you'll upset Noodle. I like both mixes and I really like the Phi-Life Cypher mix on the 12". I wanna give you a big up to all the English hip-hop crews out there

bLurillaz from Canada asks: any plans for the third single is there a chance for a second album??

Russel: Yup. We're doing a shoot for our third single right now and we've been brewing up some phat ideas for the next album. You're gonna' love it. Peace.

stumbo from bristol asks: russ: please 4give me for lack of knowledge!

Russel: PEACE!

Murdoc: Urgh, crawly bum lick man

Tom(mo) from Liverpool! asks: do you feel that your alter ego's shall be carrying on with other things whilst the gorillaz are in progress?

Murdoc: AS far as I see it, I gave those two tired old farts Hewlett and Damon a break with their flaggin' careers and no they are clinging hopelessly to my coat tails

Russel: You won't say that to their face Murdoc. Stop showing off. This isn't a competition you know?

Murdoc: Oh but it is

Megan from Croydon asks: Whats your favourite album at the moment - other that your own!!

Russel: I've been listening to Mark B and Blade. Those guys have got it goin' on

Murdoc: If you don't own a copy of the Clash's 'Sandanista' I feel for you - it sounds fresher than ever today,. that whole punky reggae party vibe is an inspiration for me. A cool sound for anyone...black, white, yellow, blue. You name it

2D: I've been listening to the new Tortoise album and I can't make my mind up about it

Murdoc: Nothing new there then

Benji Giberto from Essex asks: What was it like working with the legendary Ibrahim Ferrer?

Murdoc: Man, that old guy rocks! We got him over, got in the J&B and off he went. It's disgusting that someone with a great talent can spend 20 years shining shoes when a bunch of gits with floppy hairdos and the ability to do a back flip on command like...

Murdoc: a trained monkey can straddle the world pumping their vile concoctions into the minds of children. Hail Satan!

sam from uk asks: where does 2d get his hair dye from, or is it natural?

2D: It's been like that ever since I came to in the Nottingham Tescos car park

Noodle: Kon-ichi-wa dotmusic san!

stumbo from bristol asks: murdie .. my garden - your band, secret gig?

Murdoc: Alright Stundo - own up. It's you who's got my Winnebago. If you don't give it back. I'm going to put a hex on the pathetic remnant you call a soul. And until such time they'll be no tea and cucumber on the lawn for you sunshine!

ludo from denmark asks: Murdoc: Do you like Jazz?

Russel: Be careful what you say here Murdoc, I'm not having you shouting your mouth off about the roots of hip-hop...

Murdoc: Russel you're doing me an injustice man - I love Bitches Brew!

tim from stoke asks: what's with the sheet at the Scala last week? Scared or what?

Murdoc: Scared of what? I've read some very funny things regarding our gig - some idiot on a broadsheet called us racist, I think he needs to take a quick trip to the shrink to sort out his problems..

Murdoc: Everybody else thought we weren't there. Were you there BTW?

wakey from grimsby asks: how did 2D lose a few of his front teeth?

Murdoc: He had a little accident, it was very unfortunate.

Russel: No Murdoc, you punched him 'cause he wanted to come along to the radio interview...

2D: What's the difference??

Kenana from Hawaii asks: What's with the two kids on the website with their sacks hanging out?

2D: I'm glad you've mentioned them, they really freak me out to. I knew when we opened the doors to our studio that we were asking for trouble but I didn't know it would stop me getting to the toilet to have a poo...

Tony from London Bridge asks: What do Noodles parents think about her being in the band?

Russel: To tell you the truth - Noodle's whole history is as much of an enigma to us as it is to you. She turned up in a crate in answer to our newspaper ad.

Russel: We ask no questions because she's a kick arse little riff meister - and yes all her papers are in order

Petur Sigurdsson from Reykjavik, Iceland asks: In your band, who is collecting the biggest pie of the royalties?

Murdoc: As I said before. It's my band....

Russel: Yeah but don't forget its you and 2D that have the writing credits...

Murdoc: Everybody knows that frontmen are brain-dead sociopathic parasites who crumble at the though of their faces no longer adorning teenage girls' bedroom walls. And can't even pick up their own laundry

2D: They're not my pants on the floor. I think they're yours Murdoc and I'm not picking them up 'cause they're too grubby

mikee cee from Swansea (home of rock) asks: How do you rate yourself alongside other cartoon bands such as The Wombles, or The Reynolds Girls monkeyface?

Murdoc: How do you rate yourself being put 10' under smart-arse

Nomad from Notting Hill asks: who gets the most groupies - 2d or Murdoc?

Russel: Face it Murdoc, the only reason you put 2D up front was 'cause you knew he'd pack the chicks in. Now you're just bitter 'cause you were right.

Murdoc: He might be a big hit with the pre-pubescents but ladies want a real maaan

Russel: Yeah and that's me...

sam from uk asks: How far would Murdoc go to hurt 2D?I know he's violent towards him but I worry for 2D

Russel: Don't you worry - there's 330 pounds of hip hop NY hard man between that walking embodiment of the black plague and our frontman. You dig?

Chris from nowhere asks: What's your fave album track?

Murdoc: I love 'M1A1' 'cause it's all mine! I came up with that whilst I was driving up to see my Granny on Christmas Day, the motorway was completely empty and I was listening to Howard Devote and it reminded me of Romero's Day Of The Dead. I stuck it all togther...

Murdoc: ...2D and Russel didn't get their hands on that one and turn it into Snoop Diggedy Dogg Poo

Russel: 'Rock The House' is one I'm really proud of. I was listening to them all again the other day on the PC in our studio and I can truthfully say I love the whole album

2D: I'm really proud of 'Gravity'. I recorded the vocal for that on the roof of the studio in JA and when I listen to it it takes me back. That was my perfect moment when I knew it was all cool or something...

Noodle: New Genious - New Genious - New Genious - New Genious

Russel: She likes that one, obviously....

sarah from pop central asks: Murdoc is it true you were turned down by Nigel Lithgoe coz your Simon & Garfunkel is dire?

Murdoc: If I ever hear my music on in the background of Popstars again I'm going to begin a campaign of psychological terror on Davina McCall

2D: How come you were watching Popstars Murdoc?

Russel: That's was me actually...

Murdoc: Next question?

Chris Keeen from High Wycombe asks: How will you celebrate if the album goes to number 1 guys?

Murdoc: I visualise a smorgasbord of sexual liaisons with young lovelies from every nation. I would then make smoking, lovebites and porn compulsory on the National curriculum...

Murdoc: Hail Satan!

2D: I'd phone my Mum, cause she'd be really chuffed..

Murdoc: Your Mum is a foul chuff

Russel: Don't be dissin' a man's mother, you're way out of line..

Murdoc: Mmmm, right on!

dotmusic: Gorillaz have to head off now, Murdoc's been up all night and hasn't got anywhere to sleep. After he's been to the police station to report the theft of his winnebago he's heading to the Dorchester. Noodle and 2D are going back to Kong Studios to watch Dawn Of The Dead. Russel is going to get a present for Damon's birthday - he didn't have time last week because of the gig.

Russel: Thanks to everyone that's been supporting the band both on and off line. It makes it worthwhile to see what a great community we've got and what a great vibe was created at the gig last week.

Russel: Peace we out of here!