Editing Gorillaz (section)

==History==
===Creation (1998–2000)===
{{multiple image
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| image1            = Damon Albarn Performing.jpg
| image2            = Jamie Hewlett in 2014 signing copies of "The Cream of Tank Girl" at a Tank Girl lecture at the British Library- 2014-07-03 08-13.jpg
| footer            = Musician [[Damon Albarn]] and artist [[Jamie Hewlett]], the co-creators of Gorillaz
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Musician [[Damon Albarn]] and comic artist [[Jamie Hewlett]] met in 1990 when guitarist [[Graham Coxon]], a fan of Hewlett's work, asked him to interview [[Blur (band)|Blur]], which Albarn and Coxon had recently formed.<ref name="Elliot">{{cite journal|last=Elliot|first=Paul|date=August 2001|title=FEATURE: Damon and Jamie Interview. HEY HEY WE'RE THE MONKEYS!|url=http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/11140.html|journal=[[Q magazine|Q]]|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606151746/http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/11140.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The interview was published in [[Deadline (magazine)|''Deadline'']], home of Hewlett's comic strip ''[[Tank Girl]]''. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey, a wanker". Though Hewlett became acquaintances with the band, he and Albarn often clashed, especially after Hewlett began seeing Coxon's ex-girlfriend Jane Oliver.<ref name=Elliot /> Despite this, Albarn and Hewlett started sharing a flat on [[Westbourne Grove]] in London in 1997.<ref>{{cite journal |first = Chris |last = Heath |author-link = Chris Heath |date = November 2007 |url = http://www.vblurpage.com/articles/stories/q_07.htm |title = The 21 People Who Changed Music: Damon Albarn |journal = [[Q (magazine)|Q]] |page = 87 |access-date = 24 April 2017 |archive-date = 25 April 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121737/http://www.vblurpage.com/articles/stories/q_07.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref> Hewlett had recently broken up with Oliver and Albarn was at the end of his highly publicised relationship with [[Justine Frischmann]] of [[Elastica]].<ref name=Elliot />

The idea to create Gorillaz came about when Albarn and Hewlett were watching [[MTV]]. Hewlett said, "If you watch MTV for too long, it's a bit like hell&nbsp;– there's nothing of substance there. So we got this idea for a virtual band, something that would be a comment on that."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html |title=Keeping It (Un)real|access-date=5 October 2008|first=Neil|last=Gaiman|author-link=Neil Gaiman|date=July 2005|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105225835/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html|archive-date=5 January 2010|url-status=live}}<!-- Page 2 archive URL: https://www.webcitation.org/5mqkDI6O2?url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html?pg%3D2%26topic%3Dgorillaz%26topic_set%3D --></ref> Albarn said: "This was the beginning of the boy band sort of explosion... and it just felt so manufactured. And we were like, well let's make a manufactured band but make it kind of interesting."<ref>{{Cite AV media|author=Hot 97|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI|title=Gorillaz Share The Secret Behind Their Animations, Friction & New Album|type=video|via=YouTube|time=1:42|access-date=24 August 2022|date=28 April 2017|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713103845/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s|url-status=live}}</ref>

The band originally identified themselves as "Gorilla" and the first song they recorded was "Ghost Train",<ref>{{cite news|last=Macnie|first=Jim|date=9 June 2005|title=Gorillaz: Who Can It Be Now?|publisher=[[VH1]]|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1503836/060905/gorillaz.jhtml|url-status=dead|access-date=10 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506223813/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1503836/060905/gorillaz.jhtml|archive-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> which was later released as a [[B-side]] on their single "[[Rock the House (Gorillaz song)|Rock the House]]". The band's visual style is thought to have evolved from ''The 16s'', a rejected comic strip Hewlett conceived with ''Tank Girl'' co-creator [[Alan Martin (writer)|Alan Martin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Where Tank Girl meets Snoopy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7529278.stm |access-date=20 December 2021 |agency=BBC |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220141319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7529278.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although not released under the Gorillaz name, Albarn has said that "one of the first ever Gorillaz tunes" was Blur's 1997 single "[[On Your Own (Blur song)|On Your Own]]", which was released for their fifth studio album ''[[Blur (Blur album)|Blur]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2854145.htm|last1=McDougall|first1=Lindsay|title=Gorillaz's Damon Albarn interview (part 2)|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518214436/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2854145.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Gorillaz''  (2001–2002)===
From 1998 to 2000, Albarn recorded Gorillaz' [[Gorillaz (album)|self-titled debut album]] at his newly opened [[Studio 13]] in London as well as at Geejam Studios in Jamaica.<ref name="Gorillaz">{{cite AV media notes|title=Gorillaz|publisher=[[Parlophone]]|type=CD liner|year=2001|id=7243 531138 1 0}}</ref> The sessions resulted in the first Gorillaz release, the EP ''[[Tomorrow Comes Today]]'', released on 27 November 2000. This EP consisted mostly of tracks which later appeared on the album, and it also included the band's first music video for "Tomorrow Comes Today", which introduced the virtual band members for the first time.

With ''Gorillaz'', Albarn explored genres he had not explored with Blur, such as [[hip-hop]], [[dub music|dub]] and [[Latin music]], a process he described as liberating: "One of the reasons I began Gorillaz is I had a lot of rhythms I never thought I could use with Blur. A lot of that stuff never really seemed to manifest itself in the music we made together as Blur."<ref name="Gorillaz Interview">{{cite journal|year=2001|title=Gorillaz Interview|url=http://damonalbarnunofficial.blogspot.com/2012/01/gorillaz-interview-2001-q-magazine.html|journal=[[Q magazine|Q]]|access-date=12 July 2020|archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314235216/https://damonalbarnunofficial.blogspot.com/2012/01/gorillaz-interview-2001-q-magazine.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Albarn began work on the album by himself, but eventually invited American hip-hop producer [[Dan the Automator|Dan "the Automator" Nakamura]]. He said: "I called Dan the Automator in after I'd done more than half of it and felt it would benefit from having somebody else's focus. So I just rang him and asked whether he was interested in helping me finish it off."<ref name="Gorillaz Interview" /> Nakamura and Albarn had recently collaborated on ''[[Deltron 3030 (album)|Deltron 3030]]'', the debut album by the [[Deltron 3030|hip-hop supergroup of the same name]] featuring rapper [[Del the Funky Homosapien]] and DJ [[Kid Koala]], both of whom Nakamura recruited to assist in finishing Gorillaz material. Del featured on two tracks on the album, including the lead single "[[Clint Eastwood (song)|Clint Eastwood]]", while Kid Koala contributed turntables to various tracks.<ref name="Gorillaz" /> 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]], representing a pattern of collaboration with a wide range of artists which later became a staple of Gorillaz.

[[File:Dan the Automator 2015.jpg|thumb|left|upright|American hip-hop producer [[Dan the Automator|Dan "the Automator" Nakamura]] produced the band's [[Gorillaz (album)|debut album.]]]]''Gorillaz'' was released on 26 March 2001 and was a major commercial success, debuting at No. 3 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and No. 14 on the US [[Billboard 200]], going on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide, powered by the success of the "Clint Eastwood" single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/artists/gorillaz/|title=Artists|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418103625/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/artists/gorillaz/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gorillaz/chart-history/tlp/|title=Gorillaz|magazine=Billboard|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109150704/https://www.billboard.com/artist/gorillaz/chart-history/tlp/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vblurpage.com/info/chartography/sales_albums.htm|title=Blur Album Sales|website=vblurpage.com|access-date=1 July 2019|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915023814/http://www.vblurpage.com/info/chartography/sales_albums.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ |title=BPI Awards – bpi |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074620/https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was promoted with the singles "Clint Eastwood", "[[19-2000]]" and "Rock the House", in addition to the previously released "Tomorrow Comes Today", with each single featuring a music video directed by Hewlett starring the virtual members. Hewlett also helmed the design of the band's website, which was presented as an interactive tour of the band's fictional "Kong Studios" home and recording studio, featuring interactive games and explorative elements.<ref>{{cite journal|date=16 March 2001|title=Gorillaz in Our Midst|journal=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Following the release of the album, the band embarked on a [[Gorillaz Live|brief tour]] of Europe, Japan and the United States to support the album in which a touring band featuring Albarn played completely obscured behind a giant screen on which Hewlett's accompanying visuals were projected. The virtual band member's voice actors were also present at some shows and spoke live to the audience to give the impression that the fictional band was present on stage. In later interviews, Albarn described the band's first tour as difficult due to the limitations imposed by the band playing behind a screen: "For someone who had just spent the last ten years out front being a frontman [with Blur], it was a really weird experience. And I have to say, some nights I just wanted to get a knife and just cut [the screen] and stick my head through."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=737s |title=Gorillaz Share the Secret Behind Their Animations, Friction & New Album – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803142949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=737s |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was followed by the B-sides compilation ''[[G-Sides]]'' released in December 2001.

On 7 December 2001, the band released the single "[[911 (Gorillaz and D12 song)|911]]", a collaboration with hip hop group [[D12]] (without [[Eminem]]) and singer [[Terry Hall (singer)|Terry Hall]] of [[the Specials]] about the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Cass|author-link=Cass Browne|author2=Gorillaz|title=[[Rise of the Ogre]]|date=2 November 2006|publisher=Penguin|location=United States|isbn=1-59448-931-9|page=99}}</ref> At the [[2002 Brit Awards]] the virtual members of Gorillaz "performed" for the first time, appearing in [[3D animation]] on four large screens along with rap accompaniment by [[Phi Life Cypher]], a production which reportedly cost £300,000 to create.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1830047.stm|title=Brits get underway|access-date=12 July 2020|date=20 February 2002|work=BBC News|archive-date=12 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712170030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1830047.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The band were nominated for four [[Brit Awards]], including [[Brit Award for British Group|Best British Group]], Best British Album and [[Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act|British Breakthrough Act]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1760402.stm|title=Brit Awards 2002: The nominations|access-date=11 February 2009|date=14 January 2002|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111005221/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1760402.stm|archive-date=11 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> but did not win any awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gorillaz/2002/02/23/745445.html|title=Gorillaz come out of the mist|access-date=11 February 2009|first=Kieran|last=Grant|date=23 February 2002|work=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709161655/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gorillaz/2002/02/23/745445.html|archive-date=9 July 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

On 1 July 2002, a [[remix album]] titled ''[[Laika Come Home]]'' was released, containing most of the tracks from ''Gorillaz'' remixed in dub and [[reggae]] style by the DJ group [[Spacemonkeyz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/gorillaz/6476|title=NME Album Reviews – Space Monkeys vs. Gorillaz: Laika Come Home|work=[[NME]]|date=12 September 2005|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531080043/http://www.nme.com/reviews/gorillaz/6476|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 November 2002, the band released the DVD ''[[Phase One: Celebrity Take Down]]'', which contained all of the band's released visual content up to that point along with other extras.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18165-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd|title=Phase One: Celebrity Take Down DVD|access-date=11 February 2009|first=Rob|last=Mitchum|date=5 February 2003|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104010306/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3525-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd/|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the success of the debut album, Albarn and Hewlett briefly explored the possibility of creating a Gorillaz theatrical film, but Hewlett claimed the duo later lost interest: "We lost all interest in doing it as soon as we started meeting with studios and talking to these Hollywood executive types, we just weren't on the same page. We said, fuck it, we'll sit on the idea until we can do it ourselves, and maybe even raise the money ourselves."<ref name="Big Issue">{{cite journal|last=Joseph|first=Michael|date=2 November 2006|title=Gorillaz in the Midst|journal=The Big Issue in Scotland|issue=604|page=13}}</ref>

===''Demon Days'' (2005–2006)===
Albarn spent the majority of 2003 on tour with Blur in support of their newly released album ''[[Think Tank (Blur album)|Think Tank]]''; however, upon completion of the tour, he decided to return to Gorillaz, reuniting with Hewlett to prepare for a second album. Hewlett explained that the duo chose to continue Gorillaz to prove that the project was not "a gimmick": "If you do it again, it's no longer a gimmick, and if it works then we've proved a point."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/article/both.html |title=Website Suspended – Pickaweb |publisher=Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318041813/http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/article/both.html |archive-date= 18 March 2012}}</ref> The result was ''[[Demon Days]]'', released on 11 May 2005. The album was another major commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the UK Albums Charts and No. 6 on the US Billboard 200, and has since gone six times platinum in the UK,<ref name="Platinum UK"/> double platinum in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Gorillaz&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |title=Gorillaz RIAA certifications |access-date=7 December 2008 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903230335/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Gorillaz&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and triple platinum in Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |title=ARIA Charts&nbsp;– Accreditations&nbsp;– 2006 Albums |access-date=3 April 2007 |year=2006 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102034739/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |archive-date=2 January 2010}}</ref> outperforming sales of the first album and becoming the band's most successful album to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/gorillaz_profile.html |title=Artist Profile&nbsp;– Gorillaz |access-date=7 December 2008 |year=2006 |publisher=[[EMI]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115114738/http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/gorillaz_profile.html |archive-date=15 November 2008 }}</ref> The album's success was partially driven by the success of the lead single "[[Feel Good Inc.]]"<ref>{{Citation |last=Rambarran |first=Shara |title="Feel Good" with Gorillaz and "Reject False Icons": The Fantasy Worlds of the Virtual Group and Their Creators |date=2016-03-01 |work=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Virtuality |pages=148–166 |editor-last=Whiteley |editor-first=Sheila |url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28035/chapter-abstract/211921711?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2025-02-16 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199321285.013.15 |isbn=978-0-19-932128-5 |editor2-last=Rambarran |editor2-first=Shara}}</ref> featuring hip-hop group [[De La Soul]] (who had released an album a year prior to Demon Days), which topped ''Billboard'''s [[Alternative Songs]] chart in the U.S. for eight consecutive weeks and was featured in a commercial for [[Apple Inc|Apple]]'s [[iPod]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYhyCZWZtA |title=Gorillaz Feel Good Inc. Apple iPod + iTunes – mai 2005 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904172217/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYhyCZWZtA |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was also supported by the later singles "[[Dare (song)|Dare]]", "[[Dirty Harry (song)|Dirty Harry]]", and the [[double A-side]] "[[Kids with Guns]]" / "[[El Mañana (song)|El Mañana]]".

[[File:Danger Mouse with Broken Bells 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Albarn asked [[Danger Mouse (musician)|Danger Mouse]] to produce the band's second album ''[[Demon Days]]'' after hearing his [[mashup (music)|mashup]] album ''[[The Grey Album]]''.]]''Demon Days'' found the band taking a darker tone, partially influenced by a train journey Albarn had taken with his family through impoverished rural China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/96999.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709034459/http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/96999.html|url-status=dead|title=New Damon interview in Notion magazine – talks Gorillaz|website=Gorillaz-news.livejournal.com|archive-date=9 July 2012|access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref> Albarn described the album as a [[concept album]]: "The whole album kind of tells the story of the night — staying up during the night — but it's also an allegory. It's what we're living in basically, the world in a state of night."<ref name="MTV News">{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=5 April 2005|title=Cartoon Gorillaz put a muzzle on Danger Mouse, Damon Albarn|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1499626/cartoon-gorillaz-put-a-muzzle-on-danger-mouse-damon-albarn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214101011/http://www.mtv.com/news/1499626/cartoon-gorillaz-put-a-muzzle-on-danger-mouse-damon-albarn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2016|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref> 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 name [[Danger Mouse (musician)|Danger Mouse]], to produce the album, whom Albarn praised as "one of the best young producers in the world" after hearing his 2004 [[mashup (music)|mashup]] album ''[[The Grey Album]]''.<ref name="MTV News"/> Burton felt he and Albarn had a high degree of affinity with each other, stating in an interview on the creation of the album: "We never had any arguments. We even have that finish-each-other's-sentences thing happening. There are a lot of the same influences between us, like Ennio Morricone and psychedelic pop-rock, but he has 10 years on me, so I have some catching up to do. Where he can school me on new wave and punk of the late '70s/early '80s, I can school him on a lot of hip-hop. We're very competitive and pushed each other."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/106200.html|title=New Danger Mouse interview (talks about working with Gorillaz) in LA Weekly|website=Gorillaz-news.livejournal.com|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801045424/https://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/106200.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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) and [[Martina Topley-Bird]], among others.<ref name="Demon Days">{{cite AV media notes|title=Demon Days |publisher=[[Parlophone]]|type=CD liner|year=2005|id=07243 873838 1 4 }}</ref>

[[File:De La Soul Demon Days Live.jpg|thumb|left|The band performed in silhouette during the [[Demon Days Live]] performances (pictured here with [[De La Soul]] on stage).]] The band chose to forgo traditional live touring in support of ''Demon Days'', instead limiting live performance during the album cycle to a five night residency in November 2005 at the [[Manchester Opera House]] billed as [[Demon Days Live]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spin.com/2005/09/gorillaz-take-manchester-prep-holographic-live-show/|title=Gorillaz Take Manchester, Prep Holographic Live Show|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=22 September 2005|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427061509/http://www.spin.com/2005/09/gorillaz-take-manchester-prep-holographic-live-show/|url-status=live}}</ref> The concerts saw the band performing the album in full each night with most featured artists from the album present. Unlike the debut album's tour, the touring band was visible on stage in view of the audience but obscured by lighting in such a way that only their [[silhouettes]] were visible, with a screen above the band displaying Hewlett's visuals alongside each song.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-127-1366821|title=Gorillaz live secrets revealed|magazine=[[NME]]|date=29 October 2005|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427194536/http://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-127-1366821|url-status=live}}</ref> The residency was later repeated in April 2006 at New York City's [[Apollo Theater]] and the Manchester performances were later released on DVD as ''[[Demon Days Live (film)|Demon Days: Live at the Manchester Opera House]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1525131/gorillaz-taking-up-residency-at-new-yorks-apollo-theater/|title=GORILLAZ TAKING UP RESIDENCY AT NEW YORK'S APOLLO THEATER|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=1 March 2006|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427192609/http://www.mtv.com/news/1525131/gorillaz-taking-up-residency-at-new-yorks-apollo-theater/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-134-1353123|title=Gorillaz to release DVD|magazine=[[NME]]|date=24 February 2006|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427060559/http://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-134-1353123|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of their promotion of the album in Latin America, the band was interviewed in September 2005 on the live-action Mexican show ''[[Rebelde]]''.<ref name="Canche">{{cite web |last1=Canche Alvarez |first1=Eduardo |title=¿Recuerdas Rebelde? RBD entrevistó a Gorillaz para el estreno de DARE en 2005 |url=https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/rebelde-rbd-gorillaz-dare-telenovela-mexicana-entrevista.html |website=México Desconocido |access-date=10 June 2023 |language=es |date=7 June 2022 |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610171341/https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/rebelde-rbd-gorillaz-dare-telenovela-mexicana-entrevista.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This episode also included the Latin American premiere of the music video for "[[Dare (song)|Dare]]".<ref name="Canche" />

The virtual Gorillaz members "performed" at the [[2005 MTV Europe Music Awards]] in November 2005<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eyeliner3d.com/gorillaz_case_study.html |title=Gorillaz at the MTV Awards 2005 |access-date=9 September 2007 |year=2006 |publisher=Dimensional Studios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329154828/http://www.eyeliner3d.com/gorillaz_case_study.html |archive-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and again at the [[48th Annual Grammy Awards]] in February 2006, appearing to perform on stage via [[Musion Eyeliner]] technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1522950/madonnas-oddest-collab-yet-singer-to-perform-at-grammys-with-gorillaz/|title=Madonna's Oddest Collab Yet: Singer To Perform At Grammys With Gorillaz|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|publisher=MTV|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928070931/http://www.mtv.com/news/1522950/madonnas-oddest-collab-yet-singer-to-perform-at-grammys-with-gorillaz/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Albarn later expressed disappointment at the execution of the performance, citing the low volume level required so as to not disturb the technology: "That was tough... They started and it was so quiet cause they've got this piece of film that you've got to pull over the stage so any bass frequencies would just mess up the illusion completely."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s |title=YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713103845/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gogOkQ2GsuI&t=132s |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the Grammys, the band won [[Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]] for "Feel Good Inc.", which was also nominated for [[Record of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards|title=48th Annual GRAMMY Awards|date=28 November 2017|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321022554/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> Albarn and Hewlett explored the idea of producing a full "live holographic tour" featuring the virtual Gorillaz appearing on stage with Musion Eyeliner technology after the Grammys performance, but the tour was ultimately never realised due to the tremendous expense and logistical issues that would have resulted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/gorillaz-playin/|title=Gorillaz playing Apollo Theater &#124; Demon Days Live|website=BrooklynVegan.com|date=March 2006|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204044639/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/gorillaz-playin/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2006, the band released the book ''[[Rise of the Ogre]]''. Presented as an autobiography of the band ostensibly written by the fictional members and expanding on the band's fictional backstory and universe, the book was actually written by official Gorillaz script writer and live drummer [[Cass Browne]] and featured new artwork by Hewlett.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Jo |title=Gorillaz face the music |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |date=3 December 2010}}</ref> Later the same month, the band released another DVD, ''[[Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades]]'', compiling much of the band's visual content from the album cycle. A second B-sides compilation, ''[[D-Sides]]'' was released in November 2007, featuring B-sides and remixes associated with ''Demon Days'' as well as unreleased tracks from the sessions for the album.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#070918|title=D-Sides Confirmed|access-date=19 September 2007|date=18 September 2007|work=fans.gorillaz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324065333/http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#070918|archive-date=24 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#071020|title=D-Sides Deluxe Preview|access-date=3 November 2007|date=20 October 2007|work=fans.gorillaz.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324065333/http://fans.gorillaz.com/news0719.php#071020|archive-date=24 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, the documentary film ''[[Bananaz]]'' was released. Directed by Ceri Levy, the film documents the behind-the-scenes history of the band from 2000 to 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bananaz: Dir. Ceri Levy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/damon-albarn-gorillaz|access-date=30 September 2018|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 April 2009|archive-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204131508/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/15/damon-albarn-gorillaz|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Plastic Beach'' and ''The Fall'' (2010–2012)===
Albarn and Hewlett's next project together was the opera ''[[Monkey: Journey to the West]]'' based on the classical Chinese novel ''[[Journey to the West]]'', which premiered at the 2007 [[Manchester International Festival]]. While not officially a Gorillaz project, Albarn mentioned in an interview that the project was "Gorillaz, really but we can't call it that for legal reasons".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/Jamie08/jamie.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327140329/http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/Jamie08/jamie.html|url-status=dead|title=Jamie Hewlett : The Gorillaz-Unofficial 2008 Interview|archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>

After completing work on ''Monkey'' in late 2007, Albarn and Hewlett began working on a new Gorillaz project entitled ''Carousel'', described by Albarn as being about "the mystical aspects of Britain". Hewlett described ''Carousel'' in a 2008 interview as "even bigger and more difficult than ''Monkey''... It's sort of like a film but not with one narrative story. There's many stories, told around a bigger story, set to music, and done in live action, animation, all different styles. Originally it was a film but now we think it's a film and it's a stage thing as well. Damon's written around 70 songs for it, and I've got great plans for the visuals."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://glidemagazine.com/12210/damon-albarn-jamie-hewlett-name-next-project-carousel/ |title=Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett Name Next Project – 'Carousel' – Glide Magazine |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716051720/https://glidemagazine.com/12210/damon-albarn-jamie-hewlett-name-next-project-carousel/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ''Carousel'' concept was eventually dropped with Albarn and Hewlett's work evolving into the third Gorillaz studio album, ''[[Plastic Beach]]''.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2009/nov/28/showing-off-damon-albarn|title=Audio: Paul Morley interviews Blur's Damon Albarn|first=Paul|last=Morley|date=28 November 2009|access-date=23 October 2020|website=The Guardian|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801034629/https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2009/nov/28/showing-off-damon-albarn|url-status=live}}</ref>

Drawing upon environmentalist themes, ''Plastic Beach'' was inspired by the idea of a "secret floating island deep in the South Pacific... made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity" inspired by [[marine pollution]] such as plastic that Albarn had found in a beach near one of his homes in [[Devon]] as well as the [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/37638-gorillaz-reveal-full-album-details/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123125020/http://pitchfork.com/news/37638-gorillaz-reveal-full-album-details/|url-status=live|title=Gorillaz Reveal Full Album Details|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=23 January 2010|date=20 January 2010}}</ref> Unlike previous Gorillaz albums, Albarn made the decision to produce ''Plastic Beach'' by himself, with no co-producer.<ref name="Plastic Beach">{{cite AV media notes |title=Plastic Beach |type=Experience Edition liner notes |publisher=[[Parlophone]] |year=2010 |id=5099962616720}}</ref> The album was recorded throughout 2008 and 2009 in London, New York City and [[Syria]] although production of the album was briefly interrupted so that Albarn could join Blur for a reunion tour in the summer of 2009, with Albarn explaining "there's no way you can do that and that [Blur and Gorillaz] at the same time."<ref name="theguardian.com"/> ''Plastic Beach'' saw Gorillaz move into a more [[electronic pop]] sound, with Albarn describing the album as "the most pop record I've ever made" and saying that he took special care to make the album's lyrics and melodies clear and focused compared to previous albums.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> ''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"<ref name="theguardian.com"/> including artists such as [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Mos Def]], [[Bobby Womack]], [[Little Dragon]], former Velvet Underground frontman [[Lou Reed]] and [[Gruff Rhys]] among others, and also included orchestral contributions from [[Sinfonia Viva]] and the [[Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music]].<ref name="Plastic Beach"/> Albarn explained the expanded roster of featured artists represented his and Hewlett's new vision of Gorillaz as a project, explaining in a July 2008 interview that "Gorillaz now to us is not like four animated characters any more – it's more like an organisation of people doing new projects... That's my ideal model."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://subjecto.com/the-production-of-gorillaz-album-plastic-beach/|title=The Production Of Gorillaz Album Plastic Beach Music Essay|website=Subjecto.com|date=4 April 2020|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801030521/https://subjecto.com/the-production-of-gorillaz-album-plastic-beach/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Gorillaz live 2010.jpg|thumb|left|The 2010 live shows supporting ''[[Plastic Beach]]'' saw the touring band performing in full view of the audience for the first time.]]Released on 3 March 2010, ''Plastic Beach'' debuted at No. 2 on both the UK Albums Chart and the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, the band's highest placing debut chart position. The album was supported by the lead single "[[Stylo (song)|Stylo]]" featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack (with Bruce Willis appearing in the music video) released in January 2010 and the later singles "[[On Melancholy Hill]]" and "[[Rhinestone Eyes]]". To promote the album, the band embarked on the [[Escape to Plastic Beach Tour]], the band's first world tour and also their first live performances in which the touring band performed fully in view of the audience on stage with no visual obstructions. The tour, which featured many of the collaborative artists from ''Plastic Beach'' and saw the touring band wearing naval attire, was later described by Albarn as having been extremely costly to produce, with the band barely breaking even on the shows, saying "I loved doing it, but economically it was a fucking disaster."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-damon-albarn-on-the-future-of-blur-his-first-ever-solo-album-and-why-he-doesnt-hate-oasis-anymore-20130528|title=Q&A: Damon Albarn on the Future of Blur, His First Ever Solo Album and Why He Doesn't Hate Oasis Anymore|first=Jonathan|last=Tingen|date=28 May 2013|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611121009/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-damon-albarn-on-the-future-of-blur-his-first-ever-solo-album-and-why-he-doesnt-hate-oasis-anymore-20130528|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tour was preceded by headline performances at several international music festivals, including the [[Coachella]] and [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury]] festivals. On 21 November 2010, while still on tour, the band released the non-album single "[[Doncamatic]]" featuring British singer [[Daley (musician)|Daley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gorillaz.com/news/news/breaking-news-brand-new-gorillaz-single-to-be-played-on-zane-lowe-show-youtube-tonight |title=News – BREAKING NEWS! Brand new Gorillaz single to be played on Zane Lowe show & Youtube tonight! |publisher=Gorillaz.com |date=5 October 2010 |access-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711113046/http://gorillaz.com/news/news/breaking-news-brand-new-gorillaz-single-to-be-played-on-zane-lowe-show-youtube-tonight |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}</ref>

During the North American leg of the Escape to Plastic Beach tour in the fall of 2010, Albarn continued recording Gorillaz songs entirely on his [[iPad]]. The recordings were later released as the album ''[[The Fall (Gorillaz album)|The Fall]]'', first released digitally on Christmas Day 2010 and later given a physical release on 19 April 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Damon Albarn reveals Gorillaz' free Christmas album details|url=http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/54286|work=NME News|access-date=26 December 2010|date=16 December 2010|archive-date=19 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219135842/http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/54286|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Gorillaz/dp/B00EMKV55S | title=The Fall: Amazon.co.uk: Music | website=Amazon UK | access-date=7 February 2019 | archive-date=9 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124536/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Gorillaz/dp/B00EMKV55S | url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Fall'' is also co-produced by [[Stephen Sedgwick (mix engineer)|Stephen Sedgwick]], the mixer engineer of the band.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Fall |publisher=[[Parlophone]]|type=CD liner|year=2011|id=5099909758827}}</ref> Albarn said the album served as a diary of the American leg of the tour, explaining that the tracks were presented exactly as they were on the day they were written and recorded with no additional production or overdubs: "I literally made it on the road. I didn't write it before, I didn't prepare it. I just did it day by day as a kind of diary of my experience in America. If I left it until the New Year to release it then the cynics out there would say, 'Oh well, it's been tampered with', but if I put it out now they'd know that I haven't done anything because I've been on tour ever since."<ref>{{cite news|title=Gorillaz to release new album free on Christmas Day|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/10/gorillaz-new-album-free-christmas|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited 2010|access-date=26 December 2010|first=Sean|last=Michaels|date=10 December 2010|location=London|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182306/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/10/gorillaz-new-album-free-christmas|url-status=live}}</ref> The band later released a "Gorillaz edition" of the [[Korg]] iElectribe music production app for iPad, featuring many of the same samples and sounds used by Albarn to create ''The Fall''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/index.htm |title = GorillazUnofficial 100% unofficial. 100% Gorillaz |publisher = Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date = 18 July 2011 |archive-date = 30 December 2005 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051230165840/http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/index.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ielectribe-gorillaz-edition/id430288460 |title = KORG iELECTRIBE Gorillaz Edition for iPad on the iTunes App Store |publisher = iTunes Store |date = 26 May 2011 |access-date = 18 July 2011 |archive-date = 3 December 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111203010728/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/korg-ielectribe-gorillaz-edition/id430288460?mt=8 |url-status = live }}</ref>

On 23 February 2012, Gorillaz released "[[DoYaThing]]", a single to promote a Gorillaz-branded collection of [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]] shoes which were released shortly after. The song was a part of Converse's "Three Artists, One Song" project, with the two additional collaborators being [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] of [[LCD Soundsystem]] and [[André 3000]] of [[Outkast]]. Two different edits of the song were released: a four-and-a-half minute radio edit released on Converse's website and the full 13-minute version of the song released on the Gorillaz website. Hewlett returned to direct the single's music video, featuring fictionalized animated versions of Murphy and André interacting with the Gorillaz' virtual members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/ |title=GorillazUnofficial 100% unofficial. 100% Gorillaz |publisher=Gorillaz-unofficial.com |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326063451/http://gorillaz-unofficial.com/news/ |archive-date=26 March 2012 }}</ref> The song received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise given to André 3000's contributions to the track.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/doyathing-gorillaz-andre-3000-james-murphy_n_1295056.html |title='DoYaThing': Gorillaz, Andre 3000 and James Murphy Release Collaboration For Converse (AUDIO) |date=23 February 2012 |work=HuffPost |access-date=5 March 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303104936/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/doyathing-gorillaz-andre-3000-james-murphy_n_1295056.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beatsperminute.com/reviews/track-review-gorillaz-doyathing-feat-andre-3000-and-james-murphy |title=Track review Gorillaz DoYaThing feat. Andre 3000 and James Murphy |publisher=[[Beats Per Minute (website)|Beats Per Minute]] |first=Brendan |last=Frank |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012 |archive-date=2 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302053531/http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/track-review-gorillaz-doyathing-feat-andre-3000-and-james-murphy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2012, Albarn told ''[[The Guardian]]'' that he and Hewlett had fallen out and that future Gorillaz projects were "unlikely".<ref name="harris1">{{cite news |title=Damon Albarn: Gorillaz, heroin and the last days of Blur |author=Harris, John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-blur? |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian News and Media]] |location=London/Manchester |date=7 April 2012 |page=1 |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031122252/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-blur |url-status=live }}</ref> Tension between the two had been building, partly due to a belief held by Hewlett that his contributions to Gorillaz were being minimised. Speaking to ''The Guardian'' in April 2017, Hewlett explained: "Damon had half the Clash on stage, and Bobby Womack and Mos Def and De La Soul, and fucking Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Bashy and everyone else. It was the greatest band ever. And the screen on stage behind them seemed to get smaller every day. I'd say, 'Have we got a new screen?' and the tour manager was like, 'No, it's the same screen.' Because it seemed to me like it was getting smaller."<ref>{{cite news |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett: 'We fight over everything' |author=Sawyer, Miranda |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/30/damon-albarn-and-jamie-hewlett-we-fight-over-everything-gorillaz-humanz-interview |work=The Guardian |date=30 April 2017 |access-date=30 April 2017 |archive-date=30 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430071547/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/30/damon-albarn-and-jamie-hewlett-we-fight-over-everything-gorillaz-humanz-interview |url-status=live }}</ref> Albarn gave his side of the story in a separate interview, saying "I think we were at a cross purposes somewhat on that last record [''Plastic Beach''], which is a shame. It was one of those things, the music and the videos weren't working as well together, but I felt we'd made a really good record and I was into it."<ref name="harris1"/> On 25 April 2012, in an interview with Metro, Albarn was more optimistic about Gorillaz' future, saying that once he had worked out his differences with Hewlett, he was sure that they would make another record.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Andrew |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/music/897126-damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished-yet |title=Damon Albarn: Blur and Gorillaz aren't finished yet &#124; Metro News |work=Metro |location=UK |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=27 December 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129132257/http://www.metro.co.uk/music/897126-damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished-yet |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2013, Hewlett confirmed that he and Albarn planned to someday continue Gorillaz and record a follow-up album to ''Plastic Beach'', saying "We'll come back to it when the time is right."<ref>{{cite web |author=Guardian music |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/24/blur-gorillaz-new-albums-damon-albarn |title=Blur and Gorillaz will both make new albums, says Albarn collaborator |work=The Guardian |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=27 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227180559/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/24/blur-gorillaz-new-albums-damon-albarn |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51295-blur-and-gorillaz-will-release-new-albums-gorillaz-jamie-hewlett-says/ |title=Blur and Gorillaz Will Release New Albums, Gorillaz' Jamie Hewlett Says |work=Pitchfork |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200741/http://pitchfork.com/news/51295-blur-and-gorillaz-will-release-new-albums-gorillaz-jamie-hewlett-says/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Hiatus and return with ''Humanz'' (2012–2018)===
Following the release of ''DoYaThing'' and the publicization of Albarn and Hewlett's fall-out in 2012, Gorillaz entered a multiyear hiatus. During the hiatus, Albarn released a solo album, ''[[Everyday Robots]]'', scored stage productions and continued to record and tour with Blur, while Hewlett held art exhibitions and attempted to create a film project which was ultimately never realized.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=931s |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) interview for M6, May 2017 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803141718/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=931s |url-status=dead }}</ref> While on tour in support of ''Everyday Robots'' in 2014, Albarn signaled openness to returning to Gorillaz, telling ''[[The National Post]]'' that he "wouldn't mind having another stab at a Gorillaz record".<ref>{{cite news |url = http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/04/29/i-dont-take-britpop-seriously-and-no-one-should-damon-albarn-does-a-rare-bit-of-looking-back-on-his-first-solo-record/ |archive-url = https://archive.today/20140501210752/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/04/29/i-dont-take-britpop-seriously-and-no-one-should-damon-albarn-does-a-rare-bit-of-looking-back-on-his-first-solo-record/ |url-status=dead |archive-date = 1 May 2014 |title = 'I don't take Britpop seriously and no one should': Damon Albarn does a rare bit of looking back on his first solo record, Everyday Robots |first = Jonathan |last = Dekel |date = 29 April 2014 |work = National Post }}</ref> Two months later he reported that he had "been writing quite a lot of songs on the road for Gorillaz".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/06/bonnaroo-2014-damon-albarn-interview|title=Damon Albarn Hypes Up New Gorillaz Tracks|publisher=Fuse|date=15 June 2014|access-date=19 October 2014|author=Xu, Tina|page=1|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026114607/http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/06/bonnaroo-2014-damon-albarn-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> and at the end of 2014 confirmed in an interview with ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' that he was planning to record another Gorillaz album.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/damon-albarn-new-gorillaz-album-coming-in-2016/ | title=Damon Albarn says new Gorillaz album coming in 2016 | magazine=Consequence of Sound | date=19 October 2014 | access-date=19 October 2014 | author=Kaye, Ben | page=1 | archive-date=12 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412142125/https://consequence.net/2014/10/damon-albarn-new-gorillaz-album-coming-in-2016/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Speaking about his relationship with Hewlett, Albarn said that the pair's well-publicised fall-out had helped their relationship in the long term.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/88966 |title=New Gorillaz album will be released in 2016, says Jamie Hewlett |work=NME |date=12 October 2015 |access-date=20 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192502/http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/88966 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hewlett described the moment when he and Albarn agreed to continue Gorillaz at an afterparty after one of Albarn's solo shows in 2014: "We'd had a bit to drink, and he said, 'Do you want to do another one?' And I said, 'Do you?' and he said, 'Do you?' And I said, 'Yeah, sure.' I started work on it straight away, learning to draw the characters again. I played around by myself for eight months while he was performing with Blur in 2015."<ref>{{cite web |first=Lane |last=Brown |url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html |title=Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher on Their Gorillaz Team-Up |website=Vulture.com |date=25 April 2017 |access-date=28 April 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619090300/https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Twilight Tone.jpg|thumb|right|American hip-hop and house producer [[the Twilite Tone]] co-produced the band's fifth album ''[[Humanz]]''.]]Recording sessions for the band's fifth studio album, ''[[Humanz]]'', began in late 2015 and continued through 2016, taking place in London, New York City, Paris and Jamaica.<ref name="Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'">{{cite web|last1=Tingen|first1=Paul|author-link1=Paul Tingen|title=Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/inside-track-gorillaz-charger|website=Sound on Sound|access-date=8 December 2017|date=July 2017|archive-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031701/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/inside-track-gorillaz-charger|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="imgur.com">{{cite web |url=http://imgur.com/a/WwMYH |title=Gorillaz – HUMANZ (2LP Vinyl) – Album on Imgur |website=Imgur.com |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=27 April 2017 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807044444/https://imgur.com/a/WwMYH |url-status=live }}</ref> Albarn enlisted American hip-hop and house producer Anthony Khan, known by his stage name [[the Twilite Tone]], to co-produce the album. Albarn chose Khan from a list of possible producers compiled by [[Parlophone]], the band's record label after Albarn and Khan spoke via Skype. ''Humanz'' was also co-produced by [[Remi Kabaka Jr.]], a friend of Albarn's who had worked with him in the non-profit musical organization [[Africa Express (organization)|Africa Express]] and also has been the voice actor for the Gorillaz virtual band member Russel Hobbs since 2000.<ref name="Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'"/><ref name="imgur.com"/> In conceptualizing the album, Albarn and Khan envisioned ''Humanz'' as being the soundtrack for "a party for the end of the world", with Albarn specifically imagining a future in which [[Donald Trump]] won the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]] as context for the album's narrative (Trump becoming president was still considered an unlikely event at the time of recording), explaining "Let's use that as a kind of dark fantasy for this record, let's imagine the night Donald Trump wins the election and how we're all going to feel that night."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpldsoUROC8&t=1591s |title=Gorillaz Interview (Damon Albarn, Twilite Tone, de la Soul) – Sway in the Morning – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001200018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpldsoUROC8&t=1591s |url-status=dead }}</ref> Khan stated that "The idea of Donald Trump being president allowed us to create a narrative together. I suggested that the album should be about joy, pain and urgency. That was to be our state of mind before we even touched a keyboard or an [[Akai MPC|MPC]]. Especially in American music, dare I say black music, there's a way of communicating joy that at the same time allows you to feel the struggle the person has been through. And the urgency is there because something needs to be done. So that was the mantra. I wanted to blend Damon, a Briton, with the joy and pain and struggle that African-American music can express."<ref name="Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'"/> ''Humanz'' again featured a large cast of featured artists, including [[Popcaan]], [[Vince Staples]], [[DRAM (rapper)|DRAM]], [[Jehnny Beth]], [[Pusha T]], [[Peven Everett]], [[Danny Brown]], [[Grace Jones]] and [[Mavis Staples]], among others. The first track from the album released publicly was "[[Hallelujah Money]]" featuring [[Benjamin Clementine]], released on 20 January 2017 with an accompanying video featuring Clementine. While not an official single, Albarn explained that the band chose to release the track on the day of Trump's [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration]] because "It was meant to be something sung at the imaginary inauguration of Donald Trump, which turned out to be the real inauguration of Donald Trump, so we released it because we had imagined that happening and it did happen."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=109s |title=Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) interview for M6, May 2017 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=3 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903214011/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UfK7818Hg&t=109s |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Gorillaz, Brixton Academy, London (34377484273).jpg|thumb|left|Gorillaz (with Albarn to the left) on stage at the [[Brixton Academy]] in London, June 2017]]''Humanz'' was released on 28 April 2017, the band's first new studio album in 7 years. Featuring a "modern-sounding urban hip-hop/R&B sensibility",<ref name="Inside Track: Gorillaz 'Charger'"/> the album debuted at #2 on both the UK Album charts and the US ''Billboard'' 200. ''Humanz'' received generally positive reviews from critics, although received some criticism from fans and critics for what was perceived as a diminished presence from Albarn in contrast to the abundance of featured artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/gorillaz-new-album-has-moments-of-genius-but-one-too-many-collaborators|title='Humanz' review: Gorillaz new album has moments of genius, but one too many collaborators|website=Mixmag|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190739/https://mixmag.net/feature/gorillaz-new-album-has-moments-of-genius-but-one-too-many-collaborators|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Doherty|first=Niall|title=Looney Tunes: Virtual Band's Frenzied Fifth Revels In The Chaos|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|issue=372|date=June 2017|page=113}}</ref> The album was released in both standard and deluxe editions, with the deluxe edition featuring an additional 6 bonus tracks and was promoted by the lead single "[[Saturnz Barz]]" featuring Popcaan and the later single "[[Strobelite]]" featuring Peven Everett. The Hewlett-directed music video for "Saturnz Barz" made use of YouTube's [[360-degree video]] format and reportedly cost $800,000 to create.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html|title=Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher on the Making of Gorillaz's 'We Got the Power'|first=Lane|last=Brown|website=Vulture.com|date=25 April 2017|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429020434/http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/damon-albarn-and-noel-gallagher-on-gorillazs-we-got-the-power.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The band embarked on the [[Humanz Tour]] to support the album from the summer of 2017 to early 2018. Like the band's previous tour, the Humanz Tour featured the touring band in full view of the audience with a large screen behind them displaying Hewlett-created visuals and featured several of the different collaborative artists from the band's history. The tour was preceded by a handful of European warm-up shows, including the first Demon Dayz Festival held on 10 June 2017 at the [[Dreamland Margate]] theme park, a Gorillaz curated music festival which was later repeated in Los Angeles in October 2018. On 8 June 2017 the band released the non-album single "[[Sleeping Powder]]" with an accompanying music video and on 3 November 2017 a "Super Deluxe" version of ''Humanz'', featuring an additional 14 unreleased tracks from the album's sessions, including alternative versions of previously released songs as well as the single "[[Garage Palace]]" featuring [[Little Simz]].

===''The Now Now'' (2018–2019)===
Albarn continued recording while on the road during the Humanz Tour, and mentioned in an interview with ''[[Q Magazine]]'' in September 2017 that he was planning on releasing the material as a future Gorillaz album. Comparing the production of the album to ''The Fall'', which was also recorded while the band was on tour, Albarn mentioned that "It will be a more complete record than ''The Fall'', but hopefully have that spontaneity."<ref name="mixmag.net">{{cite web|title=The Gorillaz might drop a surprise album on us|url=http://mixmag.net/read/the-gorillaz-might-drop-a-surprise-new-album-on-us-news|website=Mixmag|access-date=20 December 2017|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616114157/http://mixmag.net/read/the-gorillaz-might-drop-a-surprise-new-album-on-us-news|url-status=live|author-first1=Valerie|author-last1=Lee|date=29 September 2017}}</ref> Albarn signaled his desire to complete and release the album quickly, adding that "I really like the idea of making new music and playing it live almost simultaneously" and "If we're going to do more Gorillaz we don't want to wait seven years because, y'know, we're getting on a bit now.<ref name="mixmag.net"/> During a September 2017 concert in Seattle, the band debuted a new song "Ode to Idaho", which was later included on the album as "Idaho". During the performance, Albarn stated it had been written in the days prior.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blanchard |first1=Nicole |title=Jam to a new ode to Idaho, thanks to this Grammy-winning band — and Bruce Willis |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/article176791296.html |access-date=16 October 2023 |work=[[Idaho Statesman]] |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]] |date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231016150148/https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/article176791296.html |archive-date=16 October 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During a break in the Humanz Tour in February 2018, Albarn returned to London where he worked with producer [[James Ford (musician)|James Ford]], known for his work with [[Arctic Monkeys]] and [[Florence and the Machine]], and Kabaka Jr. to finish the newly written material, resulting in the band's sixth studio album, ''[[The Now Now]]'', released on 29 June 2018. Featuring "simple, mostly upbeat songs" and 1980s [[new wave music|new wave]] influences,<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-now-now-mw0003183127|title=The Now Now – Gorillaz|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-now-now-mw0003183127|url-status=live}}</ref> the album was noted for its distinctly small list of featured artists compared to previous Gorillaz work, with only two tracks featuring any outside artists (the album's lead single "[[Humility (song)|Humility]]" featuring [[George Benson]] and "[[Hollywood (Gorillaz song)|Hollywood]]" featuring Snoop Dogg and [[Jamie Principle]]). Albarn mentioned that the few numbers of featured artists was partially due to the album's quick production, which in turn was a result of Albarn wanting to finish the album before the band's touring schedule resumed: "We've been very lucky to be offered all the festivals this year on the back of the last record [''Humanz'']... but I didn't want to do that unless I had something new to work with, so the only option was to make another record really quickly and not have lots of guests on it, because that takes a long time to organize; just do it all myself, really."<ref>{{cite interview|last=Albarn|first=Damon|subject-link=Damon Albarn|interviewer=[[Gordon Smart]]|title=Why Damon Albarn Shunned A Collaboration With Prince|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/gorillaz/damon-albarn-shunned-prince-collaboration|access-date=11 June 2018|publisher=Radio X|location=London|date=31 May 2018|quote=We've been very lucky to be offered all the festivals this year on the back of the last record&nbsp;... but I didn't want to do that unless I had something new to work with, so the only option was to make another record really quickly and not have lots of guests on it, because that takes a long time to organise; just do it all myself, really.|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731080213/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/gorillaz/damon-albarn-shunned-prince-collaboration/|url-status=live}}</ref> Albarn also explained that with ''The Now Now'' he sought to make a Gorillaz album "where I'm just singing for once" and that the album is "pretty much just me singing, very sort of in the world of [[2-D (character)|2-D]]."<ref>{{cite news|last=Serota|first=Maggie|date=31 May 2018|title=Gorillaz {{em dash}} "Humility" and "Lake Zurich"|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/05/gorillaz-humility-and-lake-zurich/|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142830/https://www.spin.com/2018/05/gorillaz-humility-and-lake-zurich/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Gorillaz @ Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 10-13-2018.jpg|thumb|right|Gorillaz performing at [[Barclays Center]], New York City on [[The Now Now Tour]] in October 2018]] In the fictional Gorillaz storyline, the band introduced [[Ace (The Powerpuff Girls)|Ace]] from [[Cartoon Network]]'s animated series ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' as a temporary bassist of the band during ''The Now Now'' album cycle, filling in for the imprisoned Murdoc Niccals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/|title=The Gorillaz's New Band Member is a Powerpuff Girls Character|date=31 May 2018|website=Cbr.com|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801042230/https://www.cbr.com/the-gorillaz-ace-powerpuff-girls/|url-status=live}}</ref> Explaining the crossover in an interview with the BBC, Albarn said "We were massive fans of ''The Powerpuff Girls'' when they came out, the energy of that cartoon was really cool, and we kind of know the creator of it ([[Craig McCracken]]). It was a very organic thing."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mt0hELiP4g |title=Damon Albarn interview with Matt Everitt – BBC Radio 6, 2018 – YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904013328/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mt0hELiP4g&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The band's remaining 2018 live dates were billed as [[The Now Now Tour]] to support the album, and included a performance in Tokyo on 22 June 2018 billed as "The Now Now World Premiere" in which the band played the full album live for the first and only time, a performance which was later broadcast by [[Boiler Room (music project)|Boiler Room]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boilerroom.tv/session/gorillaz|title=Gorillaz|website=Boilerroom.tv|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109024502/https://boilerroom.tv/session/gorillaz|url-status=live}}</ref> On 16 December 2019, the documentary ''Gorillaz: Reject False Icons'' was screened worldwide on a one-day theatrical release. Filmed and directed by Hewlett's son Denholm, the documentary showcases a behind-the-scenes look at the production of ''Humanz'' and ''The Now Now'' as well as the album's associated tours.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |title=Gorillaz Announce New Movie Reject False Icons |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-new-movie-reject-false-icons/ |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=21 November 2019 |date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122193936/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-new-movie-reject-false-icons/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="clash">{{cite web |author1=Clash Music |title=Five Things We Learned From New Gorillaz Film Reject False Icons |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/five-things-we-learned-from-new-gorillaz-film-reject-false-icons |work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |access-date=16 December 2019 |date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216124241/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/five-things-we-learned-from-new-gorillaz-film-reject-false-icons |url-status=live }}</ref> One week after the film's theatrical release, a "Director's Cut" version of the film featuring additional footage was released on the official Gorillaz YouTube channel in three parts. In the credits for ''Reject False Icons'', Kabaka Jr. was listed as an official member of the band (labeled as "A&R/Producer") alongside Albarn and Hewlett for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vccKwyv4qxE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/vccKwyv4qxE| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act One – Humanz (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWlP1MeRkN8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zWlP1MeRkN8| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act Two – Humanz World Tour (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKgMuYKqf4|title=GORILLAZ: REJECT FALSE ICONS {{!}} Act Three – The Now Now (Director's Cut)|via=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=24 December 2019|access-date=24 December 2019|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225024522/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKgMuYKqf4|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Song Machine'' project and ''Meanwhile EP'' (2020–2021)===

On 29 January 2020, the band announced its new project ''[[Song Machine]]''. Eschewing the typical album format of releasing music, Song Machine is instead a web series that sees the band releasing one new song a month as "episodes" to the series, with 11 episodes releasing to comprise the first "season".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Helman|first=Peter|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2071709/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-tease/news/|title=Gorillaz Are Teasing Something Called 'Song Machine'|date=28 January 2020|website=[[Stereogum]]|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=28 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128234922/https://www.stereogum.com/2071709/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-tease/news/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-new-music-video-series-song-machine-details-944519/|title=Gorillaz Detail New Music, Video Series 'Song Machine'|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=29 January 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217032213/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-new-music-video-series-song-machine-details-944519/|url-status=live}}</ref> Elaborating on the idea behind ''Song Machine'' in a radio interview shortly after the announcement of the project, Albarn explained that "We no longer kind of see ourselves as constrained to making albums. We can now make episodes and seasons."<ref>{{cite AV media|date=31 January 2020|title=Gorillaz Interview 2020 – BBC Radio 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KESXPd6wsBg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/KESXPd6wsBg| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=30 June 2020|publisher=[[BBC]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Each episode features previously unannounced guest musicians on new Gorillaz material, with the first being "[[Momentary Bliss]]", which was released on 31 January and features both British rapper [[Slowthai]] and the [[Kent]]-based punk rock duo [[Soft Play|Slaves]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nastylittleman.com/artists/gorillaz/|title=GORILLAZ {{!}} Nasty Little Man|website=Nasty Little Man|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129181644/https://www.nastylittleman.com/artists/gorillaz/|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon the premiere of "Momentary Bliss", Albarn revealed that the group had been in the studio with [[Schoolboy Q]] and [[Sampa the Great]] among others, although he did say that these songs were likely to be saved for future episodes of ''Song Machine''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drwj|title=Radio 1's Future Sounds with Annie Mac – Gorillaz, slowthai and Slaves – BBC Sounds|date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131091345/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drwj|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=31 January 2020}}</ref> The group also teased a possible collaboration with Australian band [[Tame Impala]] on [[Instagram]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Richards|first=Will|date=1 February 2020|title=Gorillaz tease Tame Impala collaboration as 'Song Machine' project continues|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-tease-tame-impala-collaboration-as-song-machine-project-continues-2603985|access-date=14 June 2020|website=[[NME]]|archive-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201190026/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-tease-tame-impala-collaboration-as-song-machine-project-continues-2603985|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 February, the band released the second episode of ''Song Machine'' entitled "[[Désolé (Gorillaz song)|Désolé]]". The song features Malian singer [[Fatoumata Diawara]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Gorillaz Team With Malian Star Fatoumata Diawara for New Song 'Désolé'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-fatoumata-diawara-new-song-desole-song-machine-958067/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=27 February 2020|date=27 February 2020|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227171824/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-fatoumata-diawara-new-song-desole-song-machine-958067/|url-status=live}}</ref> The third episode, "[[Aries (song)|Aries]]", released on 9 April and featured [[Peter Hook]] and [[Georgia (musician)|Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-peter-hook-new-song-aries-980372/|title=Gorillaz Recruit Peter Hook for New Order-Inspired 'Aries'|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=9 April 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=10 April 2020|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410050630/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-peter-hook-new-song-aries-980372/|url-status=live}}</ref> The fourth track "[[How Far?]]" featuring [[Tony Allen (musician)|Tony Allen]] and [[Skepta]] was released 2 May. This song was released without an accompanying music video as a tribute to Allen, who died on 30 April.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=2 May 2020|title=Gorillaz Share New Song "How Far?" With Tony Allen and Skepta: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-share-new-song-how-far-with-tony-allen-and-skepta-listen/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502180549/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-share-new-song-how-far-with-tony-allen-and-skepta-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 May, Gorillaz announced the release of a new book titled ''Gorillaz Almanac''. The book comes in three editions: standard, deluxe and super deluxe, all of which were set to release on 23 October but has since been delayed to 22 December{{Update inline|date=December 2020}} with a physical release of season one of ''Song Machine'' included with each copy.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=26 May 2020|title=Gorillaz Celebrate 20-Year Visual History With Expansive 'Almanac' Book|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-almanac-1004653/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922095704/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-almanac-1004653/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 June, the band released "[[Friday 13th (song)|Friday 13th]]", the fourth episode of ''Song Machine''. The track features French-British rapper [[Octavian (rapper)|Octavian]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Gorillaz Team Up With Octavian for Woozy New Track 'Friday 13th'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-octavian-new-song-video-friday-13th-song-machine-1011792/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=9 June 2020|date=9 June 2020|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609173538/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-octavian-new-song-video-friday-13th-song-machine-1011792/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 July, the band released "[[Pac-Man (Gorillaz song)|Pac-Man]]", the fifth episode of ''Song Machine'', in honour of [[Pac-Man]]'s 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 July 2020|title=GORILLAZ: SONG MACHINE SEASON 1 EPISODE 5 'PAC-MAN' FT SCHOOLBOY Q|url=https://www.nastylittleman.com/2020/07/20/gorillaz-song-machine-season-1-episode-5-pac-man-ft-schoolboy-q/|website=Nasty Little Man|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722072050/https://www.nastylittleman.com/2020/07/20/gorillaz-song-machine-season-1-episode-5-pac-man-ft-schoolboy-q/|url-status=live}}</ref> The track features American rapper [[Schoolboy Q]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Gorillaz, Schoolboy Q Honor Arcade Classic Pac-Man on New Song|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-schoolboy-q-honor-arcade-classic-pac-man-on-new-song-1030712/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=20 July 2020|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803122349/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gorillaz-schoolboy-q-honor-arcade-classic-pac-man-on-new-song-1030712/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 9 September, the band released "[[Strange Timez]]", the sixth episode of ''Song Machine''. The track features [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]], from [[the Cure]]. Gorillaz also announced the title and tracklist for ''[[Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez]]'', released on 23 October 2020, featuring further guest appearances from [[Elton John]], [[6lack]], [[JPEGMafia]], [[Kano (rapper)|Kano]], Roxani Arias, [[Moonchild Sanelly]] and [[Chai (band)|Chai]], among others.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Skinner|first=Tom|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-album-tracklist-robert-smith-2749027|title=Gorillaz team up with Robert Smith on 'Strange Timez' and share star-studded 'Song Machine' tracklist|website=[[NME]]|date=9 September 2020|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021030159/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-album-tracklist-robert-smith-2749027|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 October, the band released "[[The Pink Phantom]]", the seventh episode of ''Song Machine''. The track features Elton John and American R&B recording artist 6lack.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=1 October 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9458395/elton-john-gorillaz-the-pink-phantom-6lack|title=Elton John Tickles the Ivories and Steals Our Hearts With Gorillaz Collab 'The Pink Phantom'|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008175206/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9458395/elton-john-gorillaz-the-pink-phantom-6lack|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the release of ''Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez'', Gorillaz started a radio show on [[Apple Music]] called ''Song Machine Radio'' where each virtual character has a turn to invite special guests and play some of their favourite tunes. A few days ahead of the release of ''Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez'', Albarn revealed that he had written a song for the project's second season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Del Real |first=Andrés |date=18 October 2020 |title=Damon Albarn: "Nuestra mayor crisis existencial es nuestra relación con internet" |url=https://www.latercera.com/culto/2020/10/18/damon-albarn-nuestra-mayor-crisis-existencial-es-nuestra-relacion-con-internet/ |access-date=23 October 2020 |website=[[La Tercera]] |language=es |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031022016/https://www.latercera.com/culto/2020/10/18/damon-albarn-nuestra-mayor-crisis-existencial-es-nuestra-relacion-con-internet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 November, the band released "[[The Valley of the Pagans]]", the eighth episode of ''Song Machine''. The track features American singer [[Beck]]. The music video is somewhat notorious for being the first major studio production filmed in ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''. The video ends with a reference to previous album, ''Plastic Beach''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 November 2020|title=Gorillaz – The Valley of the Pagans ft. Beck (Episode Eight) – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4Lwt5-ZM0&feature=youtu.be| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104173948/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4Lwt5-ZM0&feature=youtu.be| archive-date=4 November 2020 | url-status=dead|access-date=7 November 2020|via=YouTube}}</ref> For unknown reasons, the music video on the official Gorillaz YouTube channel was set to private just a few days after its initial premiere. On 9 March 2021, Gorillaz uploaded an alternative version of the music video to their official YouTube channel, which does not feature any gameplay from ''Grand Theft Auto V''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 March 2021|title=Gorillaz – The Valley of the Pagans ft. Beck (Episode Eight) – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNGA90mUJds| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/aNGA90mUJds| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=9 March 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 24 December, the band released "The Lost Chord", the ninth and final episode of the first season of ''Song Machine''. The track features British musician [[Leee John]].

On 26 March 2021, the band celebrated its debut album's 20th anniversary with oncoming reissues of their catalog and teases of [[non-fungible token]]s;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Eoin|date=26 March 2021|title=Gorillaz Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Debut Album with Reissue and NFT Teases|url=https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-celebrate-20th-anniversary-debut-album-reissue-and-nft-teasers|access-date=29 March 2021|website=[[DJ Mag]]|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330054537/https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-celebrate-20th-anniversary-debut-album-reissue-and-nft-teasers|url-status=live}}</ref> due to its impact on climate change, the latter was met with criticism by various sources and fans—some noting that the act contradicts the environmental themes of ''Plastic Beach''. No non-fungible tokens have since released.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=27 March 2021|title=Fans criticize Gorillaz for selling NFT after impact on climate change revealed|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fans-criticise-gorillaz-selling-nft-impact-climate-change-revealed-2909226?amp|access-date=29 March 2021|website=[[NME]]|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505014753/https://www.nme.com/news/music/fans-criticise-gorillaz-selling-nft-impact-climate-change-revealed-2909226?amp|url-status=live}}</ref> The band also announced a boxset, the ''G Collection,'' containing six of their studio albums—excluding ''The Fall''—for [[Record Store Day]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Middleton|first=Ryan|date=7 April 2021|title=Record Store Day Unveils 2021 Exclusives & Drops: MF Doom, Gorillaz, Tangerine Dream|url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2021/04/record-store-day-unveils-2021-exclusives-drops-mf-doom-gorillaz-tangerine-dream/|access-date=18 May 2021|website=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519020319/https://www.magneticmag.com/2021/04/record-store-day-unveils-2021-exclusives-drops-mf-doom-gorillaz-tangerine-dream/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 August 2021, Gorillaz debuted three new songs, "Meanwhile" (featuring British rapper Jelani Blackman), "Jimmy Jimmy" (featuring British rapper [[AJ Tracey]]), and "Déjà Vu" (featuring Jamaican-British singer Alicaì Harley), during a free concert at [[The O2 Arena|The O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London, England exclusively for [[National Health Service]] employees and their families. They then performed them again at the subsequent concert open to the public the next day (both of which served as the first live audience concerts of the [[Song Machine Tour]]).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Guttridge-Hewitt|first=Martin|date=11 August 2021|title=Gorillaz debut three new songs at free concert for NHS workers|url=https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-debut-three-new-songs-free-concert-nhs-workers|access-date=25 August 2021|website=[[DJ Mag]]|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825234731/https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-debut-three-new-songs-free-concert-nhs-workers|url-status=live}}</ref> These three songs were announced to be tracks from a new EP entitled ''[[Meanwhile EP|Meanwhile]]'', with the cover originally published on [[TikTok]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gorillaz {{!}} ♬ Jimmy Jimmy (feat. AJ Tracey) {{!}} on TikTok|url=https://www.tiktok.com/music/Jimmy-Jimmy-feat-AJ-Tracey-6997843045823580162?_r=1|access-date=24 August 2021|website=[[TikTok]]|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824171326/https://www.tiktok.com/music/Jimmy-Jimmy-feat-AJ-Tracey-6997843045823580162?_r=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== World Tour and ''Cracker Island'' (2022–present) ===
On 17 September 2021, Albarn revealed that he had recorded a new Gorillaz song with [[Bad Bunny]] while in [[Jamaica]], and, at the time, said it would be the first single for a new album, influenced by Latin America, releasing in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hale|first=Lyra|date=17 September 2021|title=Bad Bunny and Gorillaz Collaboration Has Been Confirmed — & Fans Are Here for It|url=https://remezcla.com/music/bad-bunny-gorillaz-collaboration-confirmed/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=[[Remezcla]]|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918191418/https://remezcla.com/music/bad-bunny-gorillaz-collaboration-confirmed/|url-status=live}}</ref> The concept for the album would later change, with the song being announced at a later date. On 31 August 2022, the name of this song was revealed to be "Tormenta".<ref>{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Katie|title=Gorillaz announce new album ''Cracker Island'', out in February|url=https://www.avclub.com/gorillaz-cracker-island-february-2023-tame-impala-beck-1849479238|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=31 August 2022|access-date=23 June 2024|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028055418/https://www.avclub.com/gorillaz-cracker-island-february-2023-tame-impala-beck-1849479238|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2021, Albarn announced that an animated film based on the band was in the works at [[Netflix]], but by February 2023, it had been cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz Animated Feature Out at Netflix, Says Co-Creator |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/02/gorillaz-animated-feature-out-at-netflix-says-co-creator/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=[[Animation Magazine]] |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223011328/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/02/gorillaz-animated-feature-out-at-netflix-says-co-creator/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout 2022, Gorillaz went on a world tour in South America, Europe, Australia, and North America, where they debuted new material.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=1 May 2022|title=Watch Gorillaz perform new Thundercat collab as they kick off 2022 world tour|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-gorillaz-perform-new-thundercat-collab-as-they-kick-off-2022-world-tour-3216214|access-date=17 August 2022|website=[[NME]]|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223105216/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-gorillaz-perform-new-thundercat-collab-as-they-kick-off-2022-world-tour-3216214|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisband|first=Sami|date=25 May 2022|title=Gorillaz plot first North American tour in four years for this fall|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2022/05/gorillaz-plot-first-north-american-tour-in-four-years-for-this-fall/|access-date=17 August 2022|website=[[Dancing Astronaut]]|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702050815/https://dancingastronaut.com/2022/05/gorillaz-plot-first-north-american-tour-in-four-years-for-this-fall/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, the band began teasing the release of new material, with promotional displays and websites surfacing encouraging fans to sign up to be a part of "The Last Cult". The band released a new single (regularly performed on tour) called "[[Cracker Island (song)|Cracker Island]]", featuring [[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]] and produced with [[Greg Kurstin]], on 22 June,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=22 June 2022|title=Gorillaz and Thundercat Share New Song "Cracker Island"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-and-thundercat-share-new-song-cracker-island-listen/|access-date=17 August 2022|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|archive-date=29 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629105544/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-and-thundercat-share-new-song-cracker-island-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> with the music video being released on 28 July.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/shorts/cracker-island-music-video-ushers-in-new-era-for-gorillaz/|title='Cracker Island' Music Video Ushers in New Era for Gorillaz|website=[[Animation Magazine]]|date=28 July 2022|access-date=17 August 2022|archive-date=17 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817092905/https://www.animationmagazine.net/shorts/cracker-island-music-video-ushers-in-new-era-for-gorillaz/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their scheduled performance at the first [[Splendour in the Grass]] festival in [[Queensland]], Australia on 22 July was cancelled owing to torrential rain.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=After Three Years Away, Splendour In The Grass Festival Cancels Day One Because Of Weather|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=22 July 2022|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2193981/after-three-years-away-splendour-in-the-grass-festival-cancels-day-one-because-of-weather/news/|access-date=5 August 2022|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016145415/https://www.stereogum.com/2193981/after-three-years-away-splendour-in-the-grass-festival-cancels-day-one-because-of-weather/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2022, they played at the [[Adelaide Entertainment Centre]] as part of [[Illuminate Adelaide]], supported by Moonchild Sanelly.<ref>{{cite web|title=Illuminate Adelaide review: Gorillaz|first=Heather Taylor|last=Johnson|website=[[InDaily]]|date=29 July 2022|url=https://indaily.com.au/inreview/music/2022/07/29/illuminate-adelaide-review-gorillaz/|access-date=5 August 2022|archive-date=5 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805104610/https://indaily.com.au/inreview/music/2022/07/29/illuminate-adelaide-review-gorillaz/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2022, the band performed the new song "[[New Gold (song)|New Gold]]" (featuring [[Tame Impala]] and [[Bootie Brown]]) at All Points East in London,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|date=20 August 2022|title=Gorillaz Debut Tame Impala & Bootie Brown Collab "New Gold" At All Points East|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2196937/gorillaz-debut-tame-impala-bootie-brown-collab-new-gold-at-all-points-east/news/|access-date=6 November 2022|website=[[Stereogum]]|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105162947/https://www.stereogum.com/2196937/gorillaz-debut-tame-impala-bootie-brown-collab-new-gold-at-all-points-east/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> and released it as their second single for their eighth studio album, announced on the same day to be titled ''[[Cracker Island]]'' (released on 24 February 2023).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=31 August 2022|title=Gorillaz announce new album 'Cracker Island', release 'New Gold' with Tame Impala and Bootie Brown|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-announce-new-album-cracker-island-release-new-gold-with-tame-impala-and-bootie-brown-3301856|access-date=31 August 2022|website=[[NME]]|archive-date=31 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831192632/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-announce-new-album-cracker-island-release-new-gold-with-tame-impala-and-bootie-brown-3301856|url-status=live}}</ref> The album, produced with Kurstin, also features appearances from [[Stevie Nicks]], Bad Bunny, Beck, and Adeleye Omotayo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=31 August 2022|title=Gorillaz Announce Album, Share New Song Featuring Tame Impala|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-album-share-new-song-featuring-tame-impala-listen/|access-date=1 September 2022|website=[[Pitchfork (magazine)|Pitchfork]]|archive-date=31 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831192632/https://pitchfork.com/news/gorillaz-announce-album-share-new-song-featuring-tame-impala-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 November, the band released the third single from ''Cracker Island'', "[[Baby Queen (song)|Baby Queen]]" (previously released on the ''[[FIFA 23]]'' soundtrack).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kenneally|first=Cerys|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/gorillaz-release-fifa-23-song-baby-queen|title=Gorillaz release FIFA 23 song "Baby Queen"|website=[[The Line of Best Fit]]|date=4 November 2022|access-date=6 November 2022|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105150126/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/gorillaz-release-fifa-23-song-baby-queen|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Uitti|first=Jack|url=https://americansongwriter.com/gorillaz-release-new-song-inspired-by-meeting-with-thai-princess-baby-queen/|title=Gorillaz Release New Song Inspired by Meeting with Thai Princess, "Baby Queen"|website=American Songwriter|publisher=Savage Media Holdings|date=5 November 2022|access-date=6 November 2022|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105223526/https://americansongwriter.com/gorillaz-release-new-song-inspired-by-meeting-with-thai-princess-baby-queen/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 8 December, the band released the album's fourth single, "Skinny Ape", alongside the announcement of two virtual shows in [[Times Square]] and [[Piccadilly Circus]] on 17 and 18 December, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Damian|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-upbeat-new-single-skinny-ape-and-announce-virtual-shows-in-london-and-new-york-3363411|title=Gorillaz share upbeat new single 'Skinny Ape' and announce virtual shows in London and New York|website=[[NME]]|date=8 December 2022|access-date=8 December 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208194622/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-upbeat-new-single-skinny-ape-and-announce-virtual-shows-in-london-and-new-york-3363411|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 January 2023, the album's fifth single, "Silent Running" featuring Adeleye Omotayo, was released, with a music video following on 8 February.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2211834/gorillaz-silent-running-feat-adeleye-omotayo/music/|title=Gorillaz – "Silent Running" (Feat. Adeleye Omotayo)|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=26 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127014315/https://www.stereogum.com/2211834/gorillaz-silent-running-feat-adeleye-omotayo/music/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Damian|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-new-animated-video-silent-running-adeleye-omotayo-3394797|title=Gorillaz share new animated video for 'Silent Running' with Adeleye Omotayo|website=[[NME]]|date=8 February 2023|access-date=12 February 2023|archive-date=12 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212141229/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-new-animated-video-silent-running-adeleye-omotayo-3394797|url-status=live}}</ref> The album received mostly positive reviews, with [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] describing it as "less an exploration of new sonic territory so much as it is a reaffirmation of [Albarn's] strengths" with "a clean, efficient energy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/cracker-island/gorillaz|title=Cracker Island by Gorillaz Reviews and Tracks|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=23 February 2023|archive-date=18 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218202722/https://www.metacritic.com/music/cracker-island/gorillaz|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |date=24 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz – 'Cracker Island' Album Reviews, Somgs & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cracker-island-mw0003801095 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=[[AllMusic]] |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216160347/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cracker-island-mw0003801095 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 27 February 2023, a deluxe version of ''Cracker Island'' was released with five bonus tracks. Previous collaborators Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul appeared on the deluxe version, as well as Brazilian artist [[MC Bin Laden]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=27 February 2023 |title=Gorillaz share five new songs on 'Cracker Island' deluxe edition |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-five-new-songs-on-cracker-island-deluxe-edition-3404833 |access-date=2 March 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306203326/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gorillaz-share-five-new-songs-on-cracker-island-deluxe-edition-3404833 |url-status=live }}</ref> The album was nominated for [[Best Alternative Music Album]] for the [[66th Annual Grammy Awards]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/2024-grammys-arctic-monkeys-lana-del-rey-boygenius-nominated-for-best-alternative-music-album/ |title=2024 Grammys: Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, Boygenius, and More Nominated for Best Alternative Music Album |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=10 November 2023 |access-date=23 November 2023}}</ref>

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Gorillaz released a video on 29 January 2025 titled ''NOSTALGIAZ'', featuring clips from their music videos set to "Pirate's Progress" from ''Plastic Beach''.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQBlt1sfUhY|title=Gorillaz presents: NOSTALGIAZ|website=YouTube|publisher=Gorillaz|date=29 January 2025|access-date=29 January 2025}}</ref>