Debut album release

Gorillaz was released on 26 March 2001 and was a major commercial success, debuting at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 14 on the US Billboard 200 , going on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide, powered by the success of the “Clint Eastwood” single. The album was promoted with the singles “Clint Eastwood”, ” 19-2000 “, and ” Rock the House “, in addition to the previously released ” Tomorrow Comes Today “, with each single featuring a music video directed by Hewlett starring the virtual members. Hewlett also helmed the design of the band’s website, which was presented as an interactive tour of the band’s fictional “Kong Studios” home and recording studio, featuring interactive games and explorative elements. Following the release of the album, the band embarked on a brief tour of Europe, Japan and the United States to support the album in which a touring band featuring Albarn played completely obscured behind a giant screen on which Hewlett’s accompanying visuals were projected. The virtual band member’s voice actors were also present at some shows and spoke live to the audience to give the impression that the fictional band was present on stage. In later interviews, Albarn described the band’s first tour as difficult due to the limitations imposed by the band playing behind a screen: “For someone who had just spent the last ten years out front being a frontman [with Blur], it was a really weird experience. And I have to say, some nights I just wanted to get a knife and just cut [the screen] and stick my head through.” The album was followed by the B-sides compilation G-Sides released in December 2001.