Gorillaz illustrator shares one band member was influenced by rock and roll legend’s portrait

Jamie Hewlett, the artist behind the virtual band Gorillaz, says that one member is based on a rock and roll legend.

The Damon Albarn-fronted group uses four digital characters and has included 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs since its inception. Hewlett confirmed that inspirations for the band include Victor Frankenstein and the rap artist Ice Cube. But the artist who drew the characters has also mentioned a member of The Rolling Stones weighed heavily on the creation of Murdoc. A particular photograph of Keith Richards is said to be the inspiration behind the design of Murdoc, who was once called the “unpleasant villain of the band” by Hewlett.

In an interview given in 2017, Hewlett confirmed: “Murdoc was based on Keith Richards, obviously. Keith Richards in the famous David Bailey photograph. 2D is kind of loosely based on a friend of ours who has always worked with Gorillaz, and has always worked with Blur.”

Albarn and Hewlett reunited earlier this year for The Mountain, the band’s first album since 2023’s Cracker Island. It marked the first UK tour for Gorillaz this decade, with a setlist featuring new songs and old favourites. The band will perform a series of shows across Europe, including a headline show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before performing in the United States and Asia.

Gorillaz bassist Seye Adelekan The band performed to crowds across the UK and Ireland, with shows in Manchester, Leeds, and Dublin on their March and April tour. Gorillaz will perform a series of shows across Europe this summer, with further dates in North and South America set to follow at the end of the year. Adelekan, who has served as the band’s bassist on The Mountain tour, issued a statement praising the founding members and extra musicians featured on the Gorillaz tour.

He wrote on Facebook: “Gorillaz UK tour is done. It has been such a joy bringing not only the music of The Mountain and a whole host of other GZ classics but to be a gang of Humanz that represent so many different languages, ages, nationalities, faiths, musical styles, gender expressions and skills. What Damon and Jamie have built both in the music and the art represent something the world sorely needs right now… Unity. An army for peace. I love this family and this music. I can’t wait for the summer.”

The Damon Albarn-fronted group performed two shows at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, to conclude the UK and Ireland leg of the tour. The band featured a song they have performed just twice this year on their final UK and Ireland date.

The Mountain was performed almost entirely on this tour, with hits and deep cuts from Gorillaz‘s discography also added to the setlist. The band’s performance at the 3Arena tonight marks the last UK and Ireland tour date until a show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this year. A North American and South American leg is scheduled for the end of the year, with European festival dates also scheduled.

A full setlist for the 3Arena show can be found below.

• The Mountain
• The Happy Dictator
• Tranz
• Tomorrow Comes Today
• 19-2000
• Rhinestone Eyes
• The God of Lying (with Joe Talbot)
• The Moon Cave
• El Mañana
• On Melancholy Hill
• The Empty Dream Machine
• Delirium
• Andromeda
• Stylo (with Yasiin Bey)
• Damascus (with Yasiin Bey)
• Kids With Guns
• Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)
• The Shadowy Light
• The Sad God
• The Hardest Thing
• Orange County (with Kara Jackson)
• Feel Good Inc. (with Posdnuos)
• Clint Eastwood
• Don’t Get Lost in Heaven
• Demon Days