Gorillaz to release Best Of collection - Oct 2011

GORILLAZ CELEBRATE A DECADE WITH NEW SINGLES COLLECTION

The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 the career-spanning best of from Gorillaz, will be released on November 28th 2011 by Parlophone Records. 

A 15-track collection of the band’s singles, videos and remixes, The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 celebrates 10 years of audio visual innovation and three studio albums from the most successful virtual band in the world ever. The Singles Collection will be released as a standard CD, CD and DVD and 140 gram vinyl. A special edition 7” box set will also be made available.

Formed in 1998, the band released their revolutionary debut album Gorillaz in 2001. The launch had many industry detractors who saw the idea of an animated pop group as merely folly and gimmick – but the album went on to sell 6 million copies around the world. The hugely successful campaign took its toll on Gorillaz. As guitar-playing wunderkind Noodle noted sadly “Every great band is destroyed by their success. Cartoon bands are no exception". Despite this, she wrestled the band back together for the release of second album Demon Days in 2005 and a run of groundbreaking animated live shows at Manchester International Festival and Harlem’s Apollo Theater. In early 2010 Gorillaz resurfaced again – this time from an island in the South Pacific with the album Plastic Beach. The lead single Stylo featured a bad ass Bruce Willis chasing down our intrepid Gorillaz who made a clean escape and headed out on their first World Tour with a crack team of musicians including Clash greats Paul Simonon and Mick Jones.

In ten years, Gorillaz didn’t just top charts around the world, hit number 1 in more than a dozen countries and garner sales in excess of 13 million, they received influential awards and recognition that represented the band’s significance beyond their music. Alongside a Grammy and an Ivor Novello, Gorillaz were nominated for four CAD awards and took home the coveted Webby Award for Artist of The Year 2006, plus the Jim Henson Award for Creativity. In 2006 Jamie Hewlett was awarded Designer of the Year for his work on Gorillaz; four years later the band graced the cover of tech bible Wired Magazine.

Always open to an interesting collaboration, Gorillaz have worked with numerous artists including Dangermouse, Ibrahim Ferrer, Del the Funkee Homosapien, De La Soul, Kano, Bobby Womack, Ike Turner, Lou Reed, Mark E Smith, Bootie Brown, Tina Weymouth, Bashy, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Snoop Dogg, Dan The Automator, Mos Def, D12, Phi Life Cypher, MF Doom, Rosie Wilson, Shaun Ryder and Neneh Cherry.

Gorillaz are Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, 2D and Russel Hobbs.

1. Tomorrow Comes Today
2. Clint Eastwood
3. 19-2000
4. Rock The House
5. Feel Good Inc
6. DARE
7. Dirty Harry
8. Kids With Guns
9. El Manana
10. Stylo
11. Superfast Jellyfish
12. On Melancholy Hill
13. Doncamatic
14. Clint Eastwood (Ed Case & Sweetie Irie Refix)
15. 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)


From Gorillaz Unofficial:


It will be available on CD, CD+DVD and double vinyl formats, and a 7" box set will also be released with the same 15 tracks spread over 8 7" vinyls all in a clamshell box. The standard 15-track tracklisting - used for the CD (both versions) and both the vinyl formats - is entirely previously released material. The DVD contents are unknown at this time.

For the cover, see here on Amazon. For the full tracklisting and the full official press release, click 'Read More' below.

More features including a slightly interactive version of the album cover, over on www.gorillaz.com.

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Damon Albarn to revive The Good, The Bad and The Queen for Greenpeace charity gig

Lifted from the Greenpeace blog:

We’ve got some really exciting news for you, Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon and Simon Tong will come together for a special one-off The Good, The Bad and The Queen gig celebrating 40 years of Greenpeace and the arrival of the new Rainbow Warrior III in London.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen are big supporters of Greenpeace. Bassist Paul Simonon said, “We've always supported Greenpeace and their amazing work. It should be a great night, we're really looking forward to it."

Our Executive Director John Sauven added "I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 40th Anniversary than with The Good, the Bad and the Queen. What makes it really special is that this show will coincide with the arrival of Greenpeace's brand new Rainbow Warrior to its new mooring on the Thames.”

The gig will be on Thursday 10 November at London’s Coronet, New Kent Road. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9am. So we’ll see you there right?

Tickets are available from this Friday 7th October at 9am from the usual outlets and on 0844 249 1000 / 0844 811 0051 / 020 7734 8932 / 0844 844 0444 / coronettheatre.co.uk /gigsandtours.com / ticketline.co.uk

Blur plays an alternate version of Song 2

This is the most amazing Blur video I've watched in a long time - Blur performs their song "Song 2" in a completely different style, essentially a "cover of" their own original song. It's brilliant, totally chilled out and Damon's voice just vibrates and forms awesome rhythms. Watch below and comment on what you think - Yay or Nay ?

Alex James to judge Ambition AXA Awards

AXA, in association with Arts Council England, have recently launched the Ambition AXA Awards, making available £200,000 to 5 talented 11-18 year olds in the UK.


Each winner will receive up to £40,000 worth of personalised mentoring, to help develop their ambitions in their chosen field of arts, enterprise, science, community or sport. The prize will be judged by an expert panel, which includes Laura Gander Howe, ACE Director of Learning and Skills Strategy as well as celebrity musician Alex James from Blur.


He also had a little interview that talked about his life, bio and achievements so far. 

Alex James - How to aim for a career in the arts and get the most out of it 

I’ve always loved music, but I never thought it was a career option.

My dad bought a piano when I was 13 and showed me how to play boogie woogie. Not much later I got a bass and joined a band. I went to London to study French, but spent all my time playing music. I dropped my studies because I wanted to be in Blur.

It’s very hard to know what you want to do with your life – in fact it’s the hardest thing there is. I’ve never had a master plan, but I’ve always followed what has interested me most.

Do what you love

I don’t think you can help following interests. And it’s vital, even if it makes you look ridiculous – there was a time when leaving university to be in a band that had songs that all went very, very fast and were very, very loud seemed ridiculous, but that was what I cared about.

I’ve always loved music, but journalism and even inventing cheese are equally creative. I really love cheese so I always find it interesting.

Get into a band

Whenever you find something that interests you, you’ve got to go after it with everything you’ve got even if it makes you look stupid. If it’s music, get involved in a band. If it’s writing, write. If it’s cheese, er, give me a call. Whatever it is, the important thing is doing it, not dreaming about it.

Don’t fret about music lessons/training/not having enough money

I didn’t have any training when I was younger. I just played every day and eventually I could do it. Pop music is great, as you don’t have to know loads -  it’s just a way to express yourself. But I don’t think I’ve ever stopped learning. I’ve had loads of music lessons recently, and I wish I'd done it years ago.

Enjoy yourself

I like playing the guitar on my own. I love making records, I love playing music, I like talking about it – always have, always will. So I was drawn to music.

If you dedicate yourself to something you like, it is surprising what will come out of it. I still find it amazing that what I enjoyed messing about at as a teenager has led me. Who’d have thought when I formed my first band in my bedroom all those years ago that I’d be playing to thousands at Glastonbury? (Apart from me, I mean – I knew it was going to happen).

Read about Alex James from AXA's official website HERE.