CRACKER ISLAND

2022-Present

As Gorillaz returned to making concept albums, they decided to take their next record in a more daring direction with cult-themed marketing; this began with a newsletter for the cartoon band’s new religion, “The Last Cult”.

Gorillaz instantly hit the ground running by kicking off this next phase with a world tour; early concerts saw the band performing new songs (Cracker Island & Silent Running). Their marketing also brought us a new set of slogans, including:

Cull-Ture
I am the Lamb
No More Zeitgeist Anymore
The Static Channel
Turn off Tune out Drop in

As the phase began to unfold, the single Cracker Island was released; followed by a series of Twitter Spaces Q&A’s hosted by Murdoc, a podcast hosted by 2D titled The Stuart Potcast, a website that allowed fans to put themselves in Cracker Island posters & a pop-up store in Australia. Merchandise from this period includes T-shirts & lobby cards; Gorillaz’ live bassist, Seye Adelekan also teamed up with Baum Guitars to release replicas of his bass, Pink Thunder.

On the 31st of August, the album, Cracker Island was announced; alongside the single, New Gold. Later that year, a Guild S200 T-Bird guitar the band designed for Robert Smith sold at an EarthPercent charity auction. Gorillaz later teamed up with Bose to offer exclusive sets of QuietComfort Earbuds II through a series of sweepstakes (limited to 100 pairs per character), they then released limited edition bottles of Smirnoff No. 21; and created a set of cocktail recipes as part of the collaboration.

Gorillaz continued to widen their publicity by making their mark in the game, FIFA 23 with in-game kits featuring their imagery; as well as a new song for the game’s soundtrack (their next single, Baby Queen). The band’s tie-in with the World Cup continued with Penalty Shootout Game, which gave fans the chance to win a Gorillaz-themed goalkeeper kit. Afterwards, they released a range of Christmas merchandise; and held a Smirnoff-sponsored livestream Q&A titled Mixology Masterclass.

With the release of their fourth single that year (Skinny Ape), Gorillaz teamed up with Nexus Productions to create the app, Gorillaz Presents; which was used for two AR live performances of Skinny Ape, taking place in Times Square & Piccadilly Circus. The band went on to branch out their social media presence even further by launching their own Discord server; along with a Snapchat AR try-on feature to showcase their sweaters.

Gorillaz rang in 2023 with their next single (Silent Running), followed by two live interview/album showcase/audience Q&A’s between Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett & Alan Carr; which were organised by Banquet Records and both took place the day before Cracker Island’s release. The album’s launch was followed with two more pop-up stores, one in France & another in Australia. Around this time, BBC Sounds released a batch of Gorillaz-focused episodes of their Artist Icons series; and the game, Synth Riders added a “Gorillaz Music Pack” DLC expansion which added several of the band’s songs to the title’s ever-growing song list.

Cracker Island was an instant success for the band, as it became their second #1 album in the UK charts (the first being Demon Days); its release was shortly followed by a “Deluxe” edition, a live Q&A with Murdoc, an album commentary provided by Damon Albarn on Amazon Music’s Alternative Hits radio station & an MTV broadcast of a concert they performed for the 2022 EMA’s. So far, Gorillaz have won an EMA for “Best Alternative”.

TOURS

Supporting acts: Nathy Peluso / Zeballos / Valesuchi / Toy Selectah / LosPetitFellas / Moonchild Sanelly / Fatoumata Diawara / Lous and the Yakuza / Mr Jukes / Barney Artist / Deki Alem / EARTHGANG / Jungle

Like Phase 5, this era of touring began with a countless amount of festival gigs, before ending 2022 on a North America tour; the final show ending with an afterparty. Noteworthy performances from that year included several songs from Cracker Island, the first live performances of New Genious (Brother), Rockit, Little Pink Plastic Bags & most shockingly, Damon Albarn’s solo single, The Tower of Montevideo.

The live band:

Keyboards: Jesse Hackett & Mike Smith
Lead guitar: Jeff Wootton
Bass guitar: Seye Adelekan
Drums/percussion: Femi Koleoso & Karl Vanden-Bossche
Backing vocals: Adeleye Omotayo, Angel Silvera, Matthew Allen, Matt Maijah, Michelle Ndegwa, Petra Luke & Rebecca Freckleton

LORE

After the emotional rollercoaster of a pandemic-driven lockdown (immediately followed by the world’s craziest road trip), a sinkhole opened up underneath Kong Studios; forcing the band to relocate to a house above Silver Lake. They arrived on what they called “the eve of the pink dawn” and set up a studio in the basement to record their next album, but Murdoc claimed to witness a prophecy; one which insisted that he should be the leader of his own cult. After convincing his bandmates that this cult would aim to improve the world, they agreed to join him and “The Last Cult” was born.

As they had no sacred temple, the “High Elders” held their first meeting at a nearby diner; in which they agreed to divide their work. Murdoc became “The Great Leader” (being put in charge of public statements), Russel became “Truth Seeker” (researcher), Noodle became “The Scholar” (doctrine writer) & 2D became “The Chosen One” (janitor). With their roles assigned, the High Elders went to work and began sending sermons to their followers; encouraging them to spread the word of The Last Cult in whatever ways they could think of.

Aiming to impress the neighbours, Murdoc bought an obelisk from Etsy to display outside their HQ; but the neighbours didn’t seem to care, so 2D was tasked with painting it pink in the hopes that they would. Meanwhile, Russel appreciated the boost their newly bought spire provided to his TV reception; as he was busy trying to find the keys to “the promised land” buried within the TV static. Noodle however began to feel unsure about all of this.

One evening, 2D visited the neighbours for a cup of tea; and it turned out that they had their own cult as well! 2D kept scrolls under his bed detailing this organisation, the papers revealing to Noodle that they were known as “The Forever Cult”. Murdoc grew jealous, as the Forever Cult’s high priestess “Moon Flower” seemed to show more interest in 2D than in him; while Russel dug deeper into his notes from watching “The Static Channel” and began prophesizing an event he called “The Rupture”, which he believed would result in a gateway to “the promised land” opening in the Hollywood sign on New Year’s Eve.

Murdoc soon decided to begin commercialising his status by selling his bathwater to the masses for Christmas (which he dubbed “Essence of Murdoc”); Noodle tried to stop him from marketing this unholy cocktail of herbs, vegetables, wine & cheeses by spiking it with chili powder, but the product was quickly recalled after reported cases of skin shedding from perfume testers. Meanwhile, 2D began sharing pamphlets from next door offering a free “Aura exam”; and as the year was coming to an end, Russel began preparing for the group’s passage through the Rupture.

As the new year rang in, Russel found out the hard way that his Rupture prediction was wrong; Murdoc also began to see his plans go sour, namely his decision to make 2D “The Chosen One”, as he migrated to the Forever Cult. Meanwhile, Noodle’s research from reading 2D’s Aura exam papers led her to an actress called Lady Hollodown, who had been a popular name in the early years of Hollywood (and also eerily resembled Moon Flower); she’d notably bought land in 1923 and was an early investor in “Hollywoodland”. Further digging revealed that Hollodown’s movie, The Hills Are Hungry was made by a film studio she’d set up titled Forever and Ever Pictures, which was originally based in the exact same location that the Forever Cult were located! Noodle went next door for answers, only to find a sheet of paper alluding to a “rupture”. Russel realised that his calculations had been off, figuring out that the Forever Cult were immortals who made a deal with a demon to keep their youth by performing a sacrifice every 25 years. As he, Noodle & Murdoc rushed to find the Forever Cult, 2D was with them; finishing his “Lovely Smoothie Drink” and being prepared for his Aura exam.

Not far from the Hollywood sign, the Forever Cult tied 2D to a wheel and began lower him down a well into an underground dungeon; fully intent on sacrificing him to the demon itself! As his bandmates snuck in to try and save 2D, they were soon caught and a fight ensued; which led to a bottle of Essence of Murdoc falling from his robes into the well, causing the creature to explode. The Forever Cult’s members instantly crumbled to dust, except for Lady Hollodown; who collapsed as the police arrived to assess the situation. 2D, Noodle & Russel were brought in for questioning (Murdoc had run off before cops showed up, as usual); but Noodle used the band’s phone call to bring Murdoc over so he could bail them out.

Hollodown had been seemingly granted a final few days and sent Murdoc an email explaining how the Forever Cult formed before turning to dust herself, with Murdoc putting her remains in an urn to keep hold of; giving himself a “Hollywood ending” by managing to get the girl in the end. After all this chaos, Cracker Island was finally released…