25 Years of Gorillaz - Night One Brings the Debut Album to Life

Alan Bryce
9 hours ago
3 min read

Copper Box Arena London - 29th August 2025

WORDS ALAN BRYCE / IMAGES PROVIDED BY ELEVEN MANAGEMENT

25 Years of Gorillaz - Night One Brings the Debut Album to Life — Photo Credit Phoebe Fox

Gorillaz is the creation of two geniuses: one a musician (Damon Albarn, from Britpop legends Blur) and the other an artist (Jamie Hewlett, best known for the comic Tank Girl). Together, they built something the world hadn’t seen before—a virtual band. Thus, Gorillaz was born.

The band is made up of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Russel Hobbs (drums). Their universe is explored through music videos, interviews, comic strips, and short films. While Gorillaz’s music often features collaborations with a wide range of artists, Albarn remains the only permanent musical contributor.

2025 marks 25 years since the release of their debut EP Tomorrow Comes Today. To celebrate, Damon and his team staged a month-long exhibition at the Copper Box in East London, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s beginnings and creative process. Sadly, the exhibition quickly sold out, but for those who attended, it promised interactive displays and song demos complete with commentary.

Photos Credit Blair Brown

The celebrations culminated in four shows at the Copper Box arena. Each night was unique: the first three featured full performances of the first three albums (Gorillaz, Demon Days, and Plastic Beach), while the fourth was billed as a “Mystery Show.”

I was fortunate enough to attend the first night, dedicated to the self-titled debut. Bringing Gorillaz to the live stage 25 years later was both a challenge and a triumph. A massive screen behind the band projected animations synchronized with the songs, creating an immersive experience. The show opened with M1 A1, following a chilling “Hello” that echoed through the darkened arena and built anticipation for Damon and his band’s return.

The lineup featured four backing singers, two drummers, and an onstage DJ. Damon moved effortlessly between guitar, piano, and melodica—the latter now a Gorillaz trademark. At first, he spoke little between songs, but he didn’t need to; the energy of the performance carried the crowd. As the night progressed, he relaxed, engaging more with the audience, and the timelessness of the music was clear. Some songs were literally older than members of the crowd singing along.

Clint Eastwood, the band’s most iconic track, drew the loudest reaction, with the audience chanting every word. Singer Miho joined for several numbers, while trumpeters Chris Storr and James Coppus brought bursts of energy to the stage. During 19-2000, Damon halted the performance after slipping on a lyric—insisting on restarting to align perfectly with the visuals. It was a small but telling moment of his dedication to quality.

Photo Credit Bethan Miller

The encore featured Dracula and Ghost Train, with Sweetie Irie joining for a remixed Clint Eastwood. The synchronization of visuals and music was flawless, and the atmosphere electric. This debut-album performance proved not only Gorillaz’s enduring popularity but also their ongoing relevance.

As Gorillaz celebrates 25 years, I can only hope this milestone is the first of many more to come.

GUEST MUSICIANS

MIHO HATORI

SWEETIE IRIE

TRUMPET PLAYERS - CHRIS STORR & JAMES COPUS

DJ - KID KOALA – ON STAGE FOR FULL SHOW