Editing Damon Albarn (section)

===Gorillaz===
{{Further|Gorillaz}}
Albarn and [[Jamie Hewlett]] met in 1990 when Coxon, a fan of Hewlett's work, asked him to interview Blur.<ref name=Elliot>{{cite journal|last=Elliot|first=Paul|title=Feature: Damon and Jamie Interview. Hey Hey We're the Monkeys!|journal=[[Q magazine|Q]]|date=August 2001}}</ref> The interview was published in ''[[Deadline (magazine)|Deadline]]'' magazine, home of Hewlett's comic strip, ''[[Tank Girl]]''. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey, a wanker", and despite becoming one of the band's acquaintances, Hewlett often did not get on with its members, especially after he started going out with Coxon's ex-girlfriend, Jane Olliver.<ref name=Elliot/> Nonetheless, 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|title=The 21 People Who Changed Music: Damon Albarn|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|page=87}}</ref> Hewlett had recently broken up with Olliver and Albarn was also at the end of his highly publicised relationship with Frischmann.<ref name=Elliot/>

The idea to create Gorillaz came about when the two were watching [[MTV]]: "If you watch MTV for too long, it's a bit like hell—there's nothing of substance there. So we got this idea for a [[virtual band|cartoon band]], something that would be a comment on that," Hewlett said.<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> The band's music is a collaboration between various musicians, Albarn being the only permanent musical contributor, and incorporates influences including alternative rock, Britpop, [[dub music|dub]], [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]], and pop music.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7309415/review/7313456 |title=Demon Days : Gorillaz : Review : Rolling Stone |access-date=10 October 2007 |author=Mar, Alex |date=2 June 2005 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505085851/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7309415/review/7313456 |archive-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://inmusicwetrust.com/articles/42r21.html |title=In Music We Trust – Gorillaz: Gorillaz |access-date=10 October 2007 |author=Steininger, Alex |date=November 2001 |publisher=In Music We Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404195331/http://inmusicwetrust.com/articles/42r21.html |archive-date=4 April 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In 2001, the band's [[Gorillaz (album)|eponymous debut album]] sold over seven million copies, and featured hits such as the songs "[[19-2000]]" and "[[Clint Eastwood (song)|Clint Eastwood]]," earning them an entry in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the Most Successful Virtual Band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/reviews/music/r-n-b-rap/gorillaz-d-sides-$1170827.htm |title=Gorillaz: D-Sides |access-date=11 February 2009 |author=Cooper, James |date=19 November 2007 |publisher=inthenews.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418193200/http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/reviews/music/r-n-b-rap/gorillaz-d-sides-$1170827.htm |archive-date=18 April 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
[[File:Gorillaz, Brixton Academy, London (35187100075).jpg|thumb|left|Albarn on stage with Gorillaz at the [[Brixton Academy]] in London, June 2017]]
The second Gorillaz studio album, ''[[Demon Days]]'', was released in 2005 and included the singles "[[Feel Good Inc.]]", "[[Dare (song)|Dare]]", "[[Dirty Harry (song)|Dirty Harry]]", "[[Kids with Guns]]" and "[[El Mañana (song)|El Mañana]]". ''Demon Days'' went five times platinum in the UK,<ref name="Platinum UK">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32542|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411081059/http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32542|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2016|title=Platinum Awards Content – Demon Days|access-date=7 December 2008|date=24 February 2006|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]}}</ref> [[Music recording sales certification|double platinum]] in the United States<ref name="Platinum US">{{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 earned five [[Grammy Award]] nominations for 2006<ref name="2006grammynomination">{{cite web|url=http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2005/Press35.htm|title=EMI Music earns 54 Grammy nominations|access-date=1 June 2007|date=8 December 2005|publisher=[[EMI]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234841/http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2005/Press35.htm|archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> and won one of them in the [[Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]] category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emimusicpub.com/news/index_2006.php |title=EMI Music Publishing Wins Big at the Grammys! |access-date=1 June 2007 |date=14 February 2006 |publisher=[[EMI]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010034217/http://www.emimusicpub.com/news/index_2006.php |archive-date=10 October 2009 }}</ref> The combined sales of ''Gorillaz'' and ''Demon Days'' had, by 2007, exceeded 15 million albums.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0125/mus2.htm |title=Living in a Virtual World |access-date=25 October 2008 |author=Marchetto, Sean |date=25 January 2007 |work=[[Fast Forward Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416104658/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0125/mus2.htm |archive-date=16 April 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Gorillaz released their third studio album, ''[[Plastic Beach]]'', in early 2010, which was received with high praise. In December 2010, the group released ''[[The Fall (Gorillaz album)|The Fall]],'' recorded over 32 days during their North American tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/micro-chop/the-gorillaz-made-an-entire-album-with-an-ipad-46cfbd78ee01|title=The Gorillaz Made an Entire Album with an iPad|publisher=[[Medium (website)|Medium]]|last=Sorcinelli|first=Gino|date=27 October 2016|access-date=10 November 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20211110142352/https://medium.com/micro-chop/the-gorillaz-made-an-entire-album-with-an-ipad-46cfbd78ee01|archivedate=10 November 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a 2012 interview, Albarn talked about the unlikelihood of any future Gorillaz releases; his relationship with Hewlett had soured when Albarn chose to undercut the role of animation on their ''[[Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=John Harris|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/07/damon-albarn-gorillaz-heroin-blur|title=Damon Albarn: Gorillaz, heroin and the last days of Blur|work=The Guardian|date=7 April 2012|access-date=4 May 2012|location=London|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> Albarn later rescinded this claim, stating "When Jamie [Hewlett] and I have worked out our differences, I'm sure we'll make another record."<ref>{{cite web|author=Mayer Nissim|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a378314/damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished.html|title=Damon Albarn: 'Blur and Gorillaz aren't finished'|website=Digital Spy|date=25 April 2012|access-date=12 February 2013|archive-date=4 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704232604/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a378314/damon-albarn-blur-and-gorillaz-arent-finished.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 March 2017, the fifth Gorillaz studio album, ''[[Humanz]]'', was announced and released worldwide on 28 April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/gorillazs_animated_tv_series_and_clothing_line_are_coming_says_artist_jamie_hewlett|title=Gorillaz's Animated TV Series and Clothing Line Are Coming, Says Artist Jamie Hewlett|last=Lindsay|first=Cam|date=27 April 2017|website=Exclaim!|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-date=1 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501074851/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/gorillazs_animated_tv_series_and_clothing_line_are_coming_says_artist_jamie_hewlett|url-status=live}}</ref> The sixth Gorillaz album, ''[[The Now Now]]'', was announced on 31 May 2018 and released on 29 June 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Serota |first1=Maggie |title=Gorillaz — "Humility" and "Lake Zurich" |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/05/gorillaz-humility-and-lake-zurich/ |access-date=1 June 2018 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=31 May 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> In 2020, Gorillaz began a project called ''[[Song Machine]]'', in which new songs with collaborations would be released as monthly "episodes". The first nine episodes were compiled together along with more songs in Gorillaz's seventh studio album, ''[[Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez]]'', which was released on 23 October 2020 to positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Dolan|first1=Jon|date=2020-10-23|title=20 Years In, Gorillaz Are Still Imagining Pop's Future|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-1080234/|access-date=2021-04-30|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116185454/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-1080234/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez is the finest Gorillaz album in a decade – review|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/gorillaz-review-strange-timez-song-machine-damon-albarn-robert-smith-b1156905.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103231218/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/gorillaz-review-strange-timez-song-machine-damon-albarn-robert-smith-b1156905.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Gorillaz – 'Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez' review: outré pop|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/reviews/album/gorillaz-song-machine-strange-timez-season-one-review-2795456|access-date=2021-04-30|website=NME|language=en-AU|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410152832/https://www.nme.com/en_au/reviews/album/gorillaz-song-machine-strange-timez-season-one-review-2795456|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-15|title=Gorillaz: Song Machine Season One: Strange Timez review – the poignant sound of social distancing|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/15/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-review-the-poignant-sound-of-social-distancing|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429112922/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/15/gorillaz-song-machine-season-one-strange-timez-review-the-poignant-sound-of-social-distancing|url-status=live}}</ref> A second season of Song Machine was planned, though it was later scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parraguez |first=Daniel Seclen |date=2020-10-15 |title=Damon Albarn dice que le gustaría trabajar con Bad Bunny |url=https://garajedelrock.com/noticias/damon-albarn-dice-que-le-gustaria-trabajar-con-bad-bunny/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Garaje del Rock |language=es-PE |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422054630/https://garajedelrock.com/noticias/damon-albarn-dice-que-le-gustaria-trabajar-con-bad-bunny/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrés Del Real |date=2020-10-18 |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=2023-04-22 |website=La Tercera |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 31 August 2022, their eighth studio album, ''[[Cracker Island]]'' was announced, and was later released on 24 February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krol |first=Charlotte |date=2022-08-31 |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=2023-04-22 |website=NME |language=en-GB |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>