Editing Massive Attack (section)

===''Mezzanine'', "Teardrop", Vowles's departure and Marshall's absence (1997–2001)===
{{Main|Mezzanine (album)}}
In 1997, 3D became the band's main producer in the recording sessions that made ''Mezzanine'', Massive Attack's most commercially successful album,<ref name="dazeddigital.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40387/1/massive-attack-mezzanine-20th-birthday-retrospective|title=Massive Attack's Mezzanine and the death of the multicultural dream|date=16 June 2018|website=Dazeddigital.com|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref> selling nearly four million copies. It featured Neil Davidge as a sound engineer and co-producer, and Horace Andy and [[Elizabeth Fraser]] as the main guest vocalists. During recording, [[Angelo Bruschini]] became their permanent lead guitarist both in a session capacity and live.<ref name="AllMusic-mezzanine" />

The lead single, after "Risingson", was "[[Teardrop (song)|Teardrop]]", sung by Fraser of [[Cocteau Twins]]. The song was accompanied by a video directed by [[Walter Stern (director)|Walter Stern]], of an [[animatronic]] singing fetus. Horace Andy sang on three songs, including "[[Angel (Massive Attack song)|Angel]]". A track the band made for the film ''[[The Jackal (1997 film)|The Jackal]],'' "Dissolved Girl", sung by Sarah Jay, was remixed for inclusion on the record.

''Mezzanine'' went on to win a [[Q Awards|Q Award]] for Best Album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/awardq.html|title=The Q Awards|website=Everyhit.com|access-date=22 May 2009}}</ref> as well as being nominated for a [[Mercury Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=NME|access-date=17 February 2019|title=MERCURY RISING: GOMEZ WIN '98 ALBUM PRIZE|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gomez-46-1385994|date=17 August 1998|website=NME}}</ref>

Touring extensively, friction between Mushroom and the other band members came to a head. Mushroom was unhappy with the direction of the group and having to appear on tour. In 1999, Mushroom left the band.<ref name="sawyer">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/11/urbanmusic.culture|title=Massive Attack talk to Miranda Sawyer|work=The Observer|date=11 May 2008|access-date=20 May 2009|last=Sawyer|first=Miranda| location=London}}</ref>

Around this time, 3D, with Davidge decamped into Ridge Farm studio with friends and band members of [[Lupine Howl]] (made up of former members of the band [[Spiritualized]], including Damon Reece, who went on to be Massive Attack's permanent session drummer and one of two live drummers) towards a fourth Massive Attack LP, taking things even further into a rock direction.<ref name="brandplayson" /> 2001 also saw the release of ''Eleven Promos,'' a DVD of Massive Attack's 11 music videos thus far, including "Angel", a £100,000+ promo.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1215456|pure_url=yes}}|title=AllMusic ((( Collected/Rarities/Eleven Promos > Overview )))|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=22 May 2009|last=Jurek|first=Thom}}</ref>

Despite having taken 3D's side after Mushroom's departure and participating in a webcast as a duo in 2000, Daddy G took a personal break from the band in 2001.