Playstation, March 2001

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

Are you a walking statement - like "pop's all a cartoon anyway" - or is it simpler than that?

Murdoc
I’m not answerable for the conclusions you may draw about popular culture, I just make it.

2D
You’re always so confrontational Murdoc, it’s not a competition you know.

Murdoc
Oh but it is, my simple friend!

Why the name? And why the spelling mistake?

Russel
If the shit fits wear it and I’m a big fella so you had better believe me when I say that.

All your imagery seems dark and violent but the music's actually quite positive - deliberate contradiction?

Russel
It’s more complicated than any mere dualism and I’m not sure that I actually agree. Have you checked our web site? Sure we do dark imagery but we also do some damn funny shit and like wise there’s some twisted sound on our album too.

What's so rock'n'roll about Stoke/Crawley/NY State/Osaka?

Murdoc
It’s not where you're from it’s were your at but I must add that Slash and Lemmy also hail from my fair home town of Stoke and I dare you to get more Rock ‘n’ Roll than that.

Who are your UK music heroes? The sound's very punk/funk and two-tone...

Murdoc
The Clash for starters, Sandanista bloody rules and the Specials are just that: special.

Russel
Phi Life and Cypher are really cool, I love the rap they did for us on their mix of Clint Eastwood and Mark B and Blade are tough. English Hip Hop isn’t given the credit it’s due man, those guys and others to numerous to mention are solid, they don’t get the backing they deserve but they’ve been in to it since time. Now that Hip Hop from my home land is the dominant global art form I hope that they can get some much needed record company support.

2D
I love the whole West Country music scene, Massive Attack are consistant and for real and Smith and Mighty are just smashing.

Where does the zombie obsession come from?

2D
I saw Zombies Dawn of the Dead when I was eleven and it well shit me up. I’m from creepy Crawley and the film just seemed to much like a busy Saturday afternoon in town for me to handle.

That means you must have played the Resident Evil games...?

2D
I’m totally gutted! Noodle and I have been playing Code Name Veronica for months and we’ve got to the bit in Antarctica where you need the fire extinguisher to get the magnum and I bloody left it in the box next to the metal detection devise, all the way back in the beginning of the game on the island. I can’t face going all the way back to get it so that’s that buggered.

Being cultural sponges, you must have bought/blagged/stolen a PlayStation 2?

Murdoc
Funny you should mention that because the only reason I’m doing this is for the free console. So cough up or no more answers and I’m not bloody joking!

What games are you playing?

Murdoc
Conkers and hide the sausage.

2D
Is that like Burger Time on the Spectrum?

And what games generally fit into the Gorillaz psyche?

2D
Everything is just filler in between instalments of Resident Evil. We have Soul Blade tournaments, I like Li Long, Murdoc plays that weirdo Voldo character, Russel likes Rock but Noodle is always Taki the demon hunter and kicks our arses every time.

So when's the Gorillaz videogame coming out?

2D
We’ve done some stuff for a PlayStation game that I’m not sure if I’m allowed to talk about it. Athough you are PlayStation 2 magazine so why don’t you know about it?

Murdoc
More like you don’t know what you’re on about numb nuts!

What would the Gorillaz videogame be like?

2D
We’ve got a wicked Flash game based on our video for Clint Eastwood. Noodle stars in it and it’s a classic platform style thing with a kung Fu flavoured twist. I suppose our internet site is like one massive game really too

Noodle - what are you favourite Japanese gadgets and toys?

Russel
I’ll answer that, my little sister here is only ten and her English is not too sharp but I think I can safely say that here MP3 hat and her remote control Gorilla are pretty high on the list.

2D
I like the mobile phone camera that she’s got.

Murdoc - you're a bit of a sinister svengali - do you have a hidden agenda? Are you more Malcolm Maclaren or Gary Barlow?

Murdoc
I’m always getting asked about Blobby Williams and now your going on about Gary "sad lonely man" Barlow, do I look like I give a be-shitted pigs arse piece?

Russel - What's it like having Del Tha Funkee Homosapien living as a demon in your head?

Russel
Del is the phantom spirit of my brutally slaughtered high school pal and I’m just glad that he’s with me in a tangible form and that his rhymes are so damn hard.

2-D - do you ever feel manipulated by Murdoc? Was it really the car crash that damaged your brain or was it over-exposure to cheap horror flicks and videogames?

2D
Is there a difference?

Murdoc
I think gentlemen you might be aiming a bit high with your line of questioning.

2D
Thanks Murdoc.

Murdoc
Hmmmmmm!

Being urban, er, guerillaz, what do you think of pretty boys Blur?

Noodle
Graham Coxan san!

Murdoc
We have a great relationship with Damon but I’m not so sure that he’s all that pretty any more.

Who's better: Dr Octagon, Handsome Boy Modelling School or Deltron 3030?

Murdoc
Ozzy Osbourne and Dr Octopus are far better and I’m not interest in handsome boys thank you very much.

Russel
Man, don’t dis’ my homes!

Murdoc
Oh you love it you big gruff sod you! Hail Satan! Right Russ?

Are Gorillaz the new UNKLE? Or even the new Senseless Things? Oh, and are you going to be around for five albums or do you bow out in a blaze of glory?

Noodle
"Gunned in a blaze of glory!" Richie Sambora san!

Russel
She can’t help loving the old wrinkly sod, she’s only a little girl, so we let her off!