The Show Is Going On (27/2)

Contrary to rumours on- and off-line, the world tour planned for 2008 has not been cancelled. The Gorillaz team are even now in the planning stages for the greatest show the world has ever seen. Over to Russel: "To do what we do takes a team of two-hundred scientists in lab coats just to get the chemical balances of technology, light and sound just right." So sit tight and watch this space for more news...

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NME Innovation Award (24/2)

Gorillaz have picked up the John Peel Innovation award at last night's NME Awards! The award was presented by Pete Shelley from the Buzzcocks and collected on stage by Gorillaz collaborator Shaun Ryder from the #1 single DARE!

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Demon Days Live DVD (21/2)

Gorillaz: Demon Days Live DVD will be released by Parlophone in the UK on 27th March 2006.

Over five nights last November the musical collaborators behind Gorillaz' smash hit second album Demon Days assembled in Manchester to take on the task of recreating the album live onstage. This was the very first live rendition of the record, as sanctioned by band members 2D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle themselves.

Murdoc and 2D were in the audience as some of the finest musicians in the world took to the stage to perform Demon Days from start to finish. Gorillaz: Demon Days Live DVD brings the whole huge experience to the small screen for the first time.

This unique event featured appearances from Gorillaz collaborators Damon Albarn, Neneh Cherry, Bootie Brown, De La Soul, Ike Turner, Shaun Ryder, Roots Manuva, Martina Topley-Bird and pre-recorded contributions from MF Doom, Dennis Hopper and Ibrahim Ferrer.

The band and guests were accompanied by an orchestra, a children's choir and the Manchester Community Gospel choir. The entire performance was set to a backdrop of specially designed visuals and animation by Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett.

The tracklisting is as follows:

Intro
Last Living Souls
Kids With Guns
O Green World
Dirty Harry
Feel Good Inc.
El Mañana
Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
November Has Come
All Alone
White Light
DARE
Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
Don't Get Lost In Heaven
Demon Days
Latin Simone
Hong Kong

The DVD will also carry a unique full-screen visuals version of the show.

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Real Gorillaz Games (17/2)

Gorillaz have announced another first, the debut of Gorillaz Entertainment System. The game is a new exclusive arcade title from RealNetworks and will be available on phones in April 2006.

Capturing the irreverent nature and irresistible charm of the platinum band, the new title features four easy-to-grasp, mini-games based on each of Gorillaz' band members; 2D, Noodle, Murdoc and Russel. The graphic elements are a unique blend of retro 'arcade style' games and the utterly contemporary Gorillaz artwork.

Juha Ruskola, General Manager of Mobile Games EMEA for RealNetworks said: "The adventurous title captures the unique, spirited personality of the band and we're looking forward to bringing Gorillaz' greatness to both new and existing fans."

Gorillaz Entertainment System will be available from April 2006 onwards. More information about Gorillaz mobile game will be found at www.mrgoodliving.com/Gorillaz. They already have a teaser video up for you to watch.

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The Big Update (16/2)

Fans.gorillaz.com has been missing in action for the last couple of weeks but here's your catch-me-up on the latest news and a little treat for you as well...

First off, as you may well know by now, Gorillaz performed with Madonna (view it! click here) at last week's Grammy Awards and triumphed in the category Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Here's what Murdoc had to say on the matter...

Murdoc: "You know, I've always maintained that awards are ultimately of no real importance and certainly shouldn't be used as a validation of your work. But hey, the whole thing changes once you win an award. Fantastic, can't get enough of them. This proves without a shadow of doubt that Gorillaz are the best. It says so on the bottom of my trophy. We won one!! Amazing - makes the whole thing worthwhile. Actually we've won so many of these now that I'm thinking of hiring someone to write my speeches for me. But until then, let me just say - cheers! Big ears! Hey, I've had a great time. The whole performance with whatsherface, hanging out with Dennis Hopper...and now this award. I'm almost glad I bothered coming."

In other news the Brits were last night and unfortunately the band continued their record of having not won, with nothing to show for 2 nominations this year and now 8 total.

The band will be looking to do better at the MTV Australia Video Music Awards, on 12 April at the Sydney Superdome. They are nominated in the categories Best Group and Video of the Year (Feel Good Inc). You should vote at www.mtv.com.au/avma.

Gorillaz.com is getting updates as well! Looks like they're putting some new boxes in the lobby. Keep an eye out for what happens with those. Also check out the MEL for downloads and screensavers - it's all on Gorillaz.com.

As a reminder, Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett is nominated for Designer of the Year - check it out online at www.designmuseum.org.

Finally, since you've waited this long for an update here's a treat - SEA have done a cover version of Dirty Harry for the Chinese New Year. Click here to download it! We'll be providing you with full artwork you can print out and put in your own CD case to make your own single very soon, so watch for that.

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Easy Does It (25/1)

The powers that be have confirmed with us today that Gorillaz' new single will be El Manana/Kids With Guns and will be released in the UK on April 10.

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Murdoc Carroll? (24/1)

No, not the Christmas kind - he wouldn't be having anything to do with that would he? Instead, the Daily Star has published a piece on Football stars who look like other famous figures... and they reckon Murdoc bears a strong resemblance to West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll! What do you all think? Leave a comment!

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Design Award & Exhibition (20/1)

Gorillaz' longtime collaborator, photographer, design and style consultant Jamie Hewlett has been nominated for the Design Museum's annual Designer of the Year award for his work with the band.

Designer of the Year is the annual award for the UK designer or design team whose work made the biggest contribution to design in the past year. Past winners have included Apple’s head of design Jonathan Ive and the pioneering multimedia designer Daniel Brown.

The public can judge the work of the four nominees in an exhibition at the Design Museum from 4 March to 18 June 2006 and can vote for their favourite to win the prize at the exhibition and on the Designer of the Year website at www.designmuseum.org. The outcome of the public vote will count towards the choice of the winner together with the votes of the four jurors: Christopher Bailey, creative director of Burberry; Emily Campbell, head of design at the British Council; Hilary Cottam, the public sector design reformer and last year’s Designer of the Year; and the television presenter Kevin McCloud. The jury is chaired by Alice Rawsthorn, director of the Design Museum. The winner will be announced at a prize giving event at the Design Museum in late May.

Stay tuned to the fans.gorillaz.com for more news on the outcome of this award!

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Brits Nominations (11/1)

Gorillaz have been nominated for two awards in this years Brit Awards, for Best British Group and Best British Album. The band will take on Coldplay, Hard-Fi, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand in the former category, and will be battling for the prestigious album award against Coldplay, James Blunt, Kate Bush and Kaiser Chiefs.

The February 15 awards will see the band hoping to improve on four years ago, when Gorillaz famously earned six nominations and stole the show with an incredible live performance only to go home empty handed.

Demon Days has also been confirmed as the 5th best selling artist album of 2005.

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Henson Award (5/1)

The Jim Henson company has announced Gorillaz as winners at their inaugural awards ceremony. Gorillaz have been selected as winners of the Jim Henson Creativity Award. More information about this award, from henson.com:

"The Creativity Honor acknowledges a new creative voice or unique expression of an idea. Gorillaz, named the world’s most successful virtual band by the Guinness Book of World records, was selected for this honor for the revolutionary way the band was created as well as the innovative expression of their music."

Other winners of these prestigious and selective awards included Harry Potter author JK Rowling.