Gorillaz have shared their plans for the band to continue forever, saying that they’ll “pass it on to the next generation”.
READ MORE: Gorillaz – ‘The Mountain’ review: a world-building ode to death and starting over
The cartoon band, created by Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, released their new album ‘The Mountain’ last month. It arrived 25 years after their classic, self-titled debut record (2001).
During a recent interview with the Associated Press, the duo discussed their plans for the succession of Gorillaz, which has been a highly collaborative project.
“We’ll pass it on to the next generation,” Albarn explained (via Consequence). “Why not? The cartoon is more important than the people [behind the scenes], although the people are very important.”
Hewlett then said “it would be fun to pass it on to a younger team” at some point in the future. “We’ve talked about that a lot,” he added.
“Bob Clampett passed Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck on to Chuck Jones,” Hewlett shared, though he wasn’t entirely accurate with his comparison.
Clampett and Jones were contemporaries in directing Looney Tunes, but were also rivals who disputed over credit for the popularity of Bugs Bunny. It is noted that there wasn’t a straightforward transition between the two.
Albarn continued: ”It may be interesting to be just there in the background [in Gorillaz] for the next generation to start off, and then [step back]. There is a point of finality in all of this. Maybe the secret is lots of outtakes… I’ve got a lot of those.”
Last year, Albarn hinted that he and Hewlett may de-age the animated group for a later project, before Hewlett shushed him. “They might, next time, just become babies again,” Albarn said.
Last weekend saw Gorillaz make their debut appearance on Saturday Night Live. They marked their 25th anniversary by performing debut single ‘Clint Eastwood’ on the show, as well as airing ‘The Moon Cave’ from ‘The Mountain’ with Asha Puthli, Black Thought and Anoushka Shankar.
Much of Gorillaz’ latest album was recorded in India when both Albarn and Hewlett were travelling to find peace after the passing of their fathers. The record finds their cartoon alter-egos similarly on a journey around the world in pursuit of “mystical music making”.
In keeping with the LP’s themes of death and healing, it features several posthumous guest vocals, including Afrobeat percussion legend Tony Allen, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith, D12 rapper Proof, Dennis Hopper, Bobby Womack and De La Soul’s Dave Jolicoeur.
Gorillaz, 2026. CREDIT: Press
Other collaborators on the project include IDLES, Sparks, Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def), Gruff Rhys, The Clash’s Paul Simonon, and Johnny Marr. Some of their guests joined Gorillaz on stage in Los Angeles recently.
In a four-star review of ‘The Mountain’, NME described it as “an album that celebrates the love you leave behind, the people you touch, the spirit of giving more than you take, how we’re all the same when it’s done”.
An eight-minute short film, The Mountain, The Moon Cave & The Sad God, directed by Hewlett, arrived last month.
Gorillaz are set to play a pair of intimate warm-up shows in Bradford this week, ahead of their 2026 UK and Ireland arena tour.
They’ll also host a massive concert at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, and perform at numerous European festivals such as Electric Picnic, Primavera Sound Barcelona and Porto, and Rock Werchter. Find any remaining tickets for Gorillaz’ UK and Ireland shows here.
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