who are the gorillaz

The Gorillaz are an English virtual band created in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. The band consists of four fictional animated members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Russel Hobbs (drums). The band is known for its unique concept of being a "virtual" band with its members represented as cartoon characters, appearing in music videos, comic strips, and other media. Musically, Gorillaz mixes various styles including pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronica, and features collaborations with a wide range of artists, with Albarn as the only permanent musical contributor. The band debuted with their self-titled album in 2001 and has released several albums since then, gaining critical and commercial success.