Gorillaz

United Kingdom, 1998–now

Virtual band created in 1998 by Blur's Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, fronted by four animated members. Freed from Britpop, Albarn fused hip-hop, dub, trip-hop, electronica and pop with a rotating cast of guests, from the self-titled debut and Demon Days to Plastic Beach.

MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Gorillaz and 0 artists Gorillaz influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Gorillaz?

• Massive Attack — Damon Albarn has said the self-titled Gorillaz debut was meant to be a combination of Massive Attack and The Specials — Massive Attack's trip-hop is the electronic, downtempo half of that formula.
• The Specials — Albarn named The Specials as the other half of the Gorillaz debut's blueprint — their 2 Tone ska and dub feed the project's reggae-tinged, socially aware side.
• Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five — Hip-hop is core to Gorillaz — Grandmaster Flash's pioneering rap and turntablism are among the acts Albarn cites as influences.
• The Human League — The Human League's synth-pop is among the electronic influences Albarn drew on for Gorillaz.