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asktherejectsau · 2 years

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💥🔪Exclusive interview with actor, temporary Gorillaz band member, and current bassist for the Rejects — Ace D. Copular🔪💥

Ace: Ayeee!

Interviewer: Oh! Hello there, Mr. Copular. [shakes his hand]

A: Ah, no need to call me ”Mister.” [sits down promptly] Just call me Ace, man.

I: Alright then, Ace. Before we get to talking about The Rejects, I think everyone wants to know, what was it like being the temporary bassist for Gorillaz?

A: I still can’t believe half the stuff I went through was even real… It all feels like I’ve been stuck in a dream and haven’t woken up since. [laughs] Seriously though, it was really fun! Everybody was super nice and welcoming and gettin’ to perform with ‘em was whole ’nother thing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life.

I: How did you first meet Gorillaz?

A: Well, me and Murdoc go way back, since the start of film production for the Powerpuff Girls movie. I knew he had a band but, to tell ya the truth, I had no idea about Gorillaz. Didn’t even realize they made Clint Eastwood and I love that song. But when he called me from prison, telling me I should try and audition to be his replacement for his band, I took it in a heartbeat. Once I got accepted, I had to fly from California to Kentucky in order to meet ‘em at the Derby and… yeah! The rest is history.

I: Now where do you know Murdoc from?

A: Uhh… I’m not gonna go too deep into that as there’s some personal stuff in there, and I’d expect Murdoc wouldn’t want me blabbin’ on about it. But what I will say is that we’ve known each other for a long time. About 18 years now, I’d say. We have a good rapport, y’know? We can relate to a lot of things. We both have screwed up childhoods and we managed to make the best of it through our stardom. We used to write letters to one another but we kinda lost connection back in ’06. I mean, he got back to me eventually. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have helped his band out while he was in prison, amirite? [chuckles awkwardly]

I: Hmm… alright. How did you first get into music? A: It was a little after I finished working on the Powerpuff Girls movie. I was supposed to get more screen time on there, but I got injured during filmin’ so neither me or the Gang could continue bein’ on set. I don’t blame ‘em though. I mean, ya can’t have the Gangreen Gang without Ace, right? So while I was in the hospital for recovery, I started playin’ guitar but I didn’t start playin’ bass until Mudz waltzed into my life. I only started taking music seriously because of him actually. [chuckles to himself, bouncing his leg] Ooo boy, that’s embarrassing to admit, saying that out loud… I probably sound like some hyper fan or somethin’. I: Oh, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I think it’s rather sweet! It sounds like he meant a lot to you. A: Yeah… he did. [rubs the back of his neck, deep in thought] I: Now, how did your friends and family react when they found out you got into the band?

A: [perks up] I don’t got much family anymore but the Gangreen Gang? They’re the only family I’ve ever known aside from ol Muddy Duddy. When I got the email from Gorillaz’s business manager, Jamie Hewlett (real nice fella by the way) that I was in the band, I showed it to the boys and they all freaked when they saw it. Jumping up and down, screaming and yelling with all of us in a group hug. We hadn’t hung out together in a really long time since we all moved on and had our own lives after the OG Powerpuff Girls ended. I mean, the only other times was for filming in the reboot but that was just work, y’know? Although, when I got back to Townsville, it was surprising to see the amount of people who came to congratulate me. I guess kinda became a local legend since I joined the band. Even the Powerpuff Girls came by to say how proud they were. The OG girls not the reboot ones, they were still busy filming. I: What’s it like filming for the 2016 reboot anyway? A: I don’t wanna talk about it. I: I see, you can’t talk about it due to an NDA? A: Um, sure. Yeah, let’s call it that.

I: Oh, uh, okay… Umm, how have you been since leaving Gorillaz?

A: Thanks to them, I’ve been able to actually live a life for once. Like, since I left… I’ve been to Mexico with fellow bassist, Seye Adelekan, I got to write some memoirs, performed many-a-gig since then, and have even been able to get my own place aside from living in a shitty studio apartment. Not rent it, but actually buy it. I not only could afford a new place for me, but I had enough cash to buy places for the rest of the Gang too! Gorillaz has forever changed my life for the better and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I: Speaking of the Gangreen Gang, what are they up to these days?

A: Well, they certainly ain’t kids no more. [laughs] Big Billy owns his own tattoo parlor while his wife is a vet tech. Heard they’re expecting their first kid soon, in which whoof! God, I feel old. I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see my friends have kids. Grubber went on to be a lawyer. Dunno what kind, I wanna say he works civil suits? Arturo is working 9 to 5 at a Seven Eleven up in Townsville City Square with Snake but he’s trying to start up a music career on Soundcloud. Snake, aside from working with Lil Arturo at the gas station, also is an entertainer at a nightclub downtown that goes by the stage name, Ivy. I’ve been to a couple of their shows actually, real top notch stuff! They told me they’re trying to save money to go to art school so they can become a stop motion animator. I have high hopes for them, I just know they’ll make it far someday. I have high hopes for the whole gang actually. I just hope they know how much I still think about ’em. If they’re reading this though, I miss you guys!

(Picture of Ace and the Gangreen Gang after he was accepted into Gorillaz. April 20th, 2018 from Lil Arturo’s Snapchat)

I: Have you been in contact with any of the other Gorillaz members?

A: A little bit, mostly to Noodle though. Haven’t heard much from Russ but we’ve said hello once or twice while I was on the phone with her. Strangely enough, Murdoc’s been calling me a lot more than normal. Mainly to ask about 2-D. I dunno if it’s some midlife crisis thing, just to make up for lost time, or what but I don’t mind it. I like talkin’ to him! Always comes with lot of stories. Although sometimes when he calls me I can’t help but worry about him. I dunno why, but sometimes I get this gut feelin’ like he’s not tellin’ me something or that something’s wrong. But that might be me worrying too much about it. I mean, he just got outta prison and the band’s all on their own separate vacations right now, much like how 2-D is. They deserve the break anyways with all the tourin’ they’ve been doin’. Yeah, it’s probably just me bein’ too wound up.

I: I heard from Gorillaz lead singer and now the Rejects’ co-producer, 2-D that you two were in a relationship. How’s that working out for the both of you?

A: W-Wait, he said that? To you?

I: Yes… Is something wrong with what I said?

A: [starts to get flustered] Oh no, no! Not at all. There’s nothin’ wrong. I-I’m just happy he’s finally mentionin’ that publicly, that’s all. [covers his face with his hands] Sorry. Ahh! I’m blushing so bad… [giggles] I probably look ridiculous right about now. [laughs loudly]

I: Oh, it’s okay! Is this your first time in a relationship like this?

A: Not my first time with a guy, if that’s what you’re askin’. Now first time with a celebrity? Yes. And lemme tell you, it is amazing so far. I’ve had many different partners in my lifetime but him? He’s somethin’ else. He’s the only one who’s managed to capture my attention immediately. I thought that whole ”love at first sight” thing was nothin’ but a hoax but then he came around and changed my whole worldview. Now, it was a bit rocky at first but we managed to patch things up. [sighs] I’m so glad that he said that we’re dating. Oh, I feel like I’m 16 again with how happy he makes me!

I: What do you mean by that? “Patch things up?”

A: Well, back in September last year when Murdoc came back and I left to take the subway back to the airport, Stu had um… given me something to take on the way home. At first, I thought maybe it was just some European thing but nah, he… he kissed me. Like really kissed me. I think some kid captured it on camera too but me and ’D just told ‘em to keep it outta the press and that was that. The problem was he didn’t talk to me for two whole months later when we ended up bumping into each other in Townsville. I was just… I dunno, confused? Like, I couldn’t tell if he liked me or not and I was too embarrassed to ask, which was kinda stupid the more I think about it. But by the time ‘D came to Townsville and we hung out at my place, he said he wanted to maybe start somethin’ with me. Not fully dating just yet but umm… y’know… [clears throat, blushing] “experimenting.” I was really excited cuz like ”holy shit, a singer from a Grammy nominated band is in love with me” but then he was actin’ so distant. Like, he’s more open with me now but before he used to be so nervous about us doing anything normal things couples tend to do, like kissing or holding hands. He even flinched whenever I’d touch him like he thought I was gonna hit him, which really hurt me cuz I didn’t know why he was seemed so afraid of me. I thought, “Why does this guy wanna be in a relationship with me if he doesn’t even want me near him?” But after we talked about it, he finally admitted to me that he had some pretty bad relationships in the past. One cheated on him, the other left him, and his last one was a douchebag who not only beat him for years but told him to stay in the closet for “the sake of his career.” Now that pissed me off cuz I’ve been told that by other agents before when I was tryin’ to come out as bi. That last one really stuck with him though and he became so afraid that our relationship could possibly turn something like that, that he thought maybe keepin’ some distance between us was the better option. Needless to say, I completely understood what he was goin’ through and I know now he wasn’t tryin’ to hurt me by doin’ that. I love him and I wanna make sure he knows that. So we went slow, felt the waters for a bit, and here we are. I know I’m not gonna fix him overnight but I swear, if I ever find that fucker who hurt him, I’m gonna make sure he’s in for a world of pain when I’m done with him. People who hurt their partners like that deserve to be thrown under the jail.

I: Where did you two first meet?

A: We actually met at the Kentucky Derby. I’m not too big on fancy shmancy events like that plus I couldn’t drink at the bar due to my contract, so I walked around the venue for a bit. We bumped into each other, I fell to the floor, didn’t know who he was so I was gonna yell at him to watch where he was goin’ but then I met his eyes. And just… wow. What an image. For a second I thought I must’ve stumbled onto Olympus cuz there was no way this guy wasn’t some sort of god with how pretty he was. As fans swarmed around him like bees to honey, he just took me by the hand, ran with me to a secret spot outside the venue, and we talked. As we were waiting for the race to end, I realized that he was just a normal guy. Well, as normal as a singer in a famous band would be. Sure he was a bit… off but he was sweet and kind and clearly passionate. He’d get excitable whenever he talked about his favorite horror movies and it was fun to be with someone so… I dunno, filled with life, I guess. We ended up talking that entire day. He even gave me a handful of several month old Lucky Charm marshmallows he found from his pocket when he led me to my hotel room. [sighs] He was so adorable… Still is too.

(Picture of 2-D and Ace at the London Underground on Sept. 25th, 2018)

I: Aww, how sweet. How would you describe 2-D as a partner?

A: Since we’ve started dating, he’s grown to be pretty affectionate. He’s not as physically affectionate as I am, but he always makes sure to tell me that he loves me. He’s still getting used to saying it out loud, but every time he does, he gets real stoked about it. It’s almost like when a little kid starts learning a new word and gets all happy when they say it right. He’ll say it at the most random times too. Like, he’ll look at me while I’m working and just go. “Did I tell you I love you today? No? Well, I do. I love you. I love you a whole lot.” and I… oh, it just makes me melt, man…Sometimes, he forgets that he already asked me so then he asks me multiple times a day if he said that he loved me or not and it just makes me so giddy every time he does it. He also likes to tell me he loves me in his own unique way too. Like, he’ll make me a cup of coffee or he’ll sit down to watch me work while he spitballs song ideas. Then, he’ll just give me knick knacks he found from some store he was shopping at. He used to do in order to celebrate some small milestone in our relationship but now he just does it to say he loves me in the corniest ways possible. One time, he slapped down a pack of blunt shaped birthday candles on the table and straight up asked me, “Are you made of weed? Cuz I think I’m getting high off you.” It wasn’t even my birthday. Like, how the hell am I supposed to respond to that? How can I not smooch the guy all day long? I mean, c’mon! That’s just too much for one guy to handle. I swear to god, at this rate, Stuart’s gonna end up givin’ me both diabetes and a coronary with how sweet he fuckin’ is. Ugh… I can’t stand it!

I: Well, it seems like the two of you are very happy together.

A: [hums happily] Never been happier with anyone else…

I: Now, onto talking about the band you’re currently in. How did you come across the Rejects?

A: Well, it’s kinda embarrassing. About a month after I left Gorillaz, I went on this huge spending spree. [scratches his chin, laughing nervously] I admit, the popularity went to my head a lil bit. I mean, back in the ‘90s, I was a teen star from some popular reality TV show. I’d never seen that much money before in my life! Mainly cuz my ma kept it all until I turned 18 but that’s besides the point, this is about how I met the band. Thankfully I wasn’t too broke yet so I started going to all kinds of concerts that month. One day, I went to this one event Snake really wanted to go to. We went together and that’s when I met the Rejects. They were initially supposed to perform at Demon Dayz LA but I heard from somewhere their performance got cancelled due to tech issues and instead they performed at this festival to fill in an open slot. They turned out to be fuckin’ sick! I loved their punk rock, indie rock vibe and I later met up with the robot girl afterwards. She and her bandmate turned out to be pretty cool. We found out we both like the same indie musicians like Little Dragon, Jack Stauber, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, even Florence and the Machine. We partied with them all night long but as they were about to leave, I found out that they were living from their van in order to make ends meet. I felt band cuz I knew what that life was like in my 20s. Now I couldn’t exactly afford two roommates at the time with all the spendin’ I was doin’ but I knew at least by next month I would’ve been fine as long as I didn’t go overboard. So I invited them to my place as my roommates. They refused at first but after a few days they took up my offer and we’ve been roomies ever since. I: How did you end up becoming the bassist for them? A: When they were just staying at my place, I kinda became their business manager. Not on purpose, just mainly out of knowing my way around Townsville and some of the more popular spots in LA so it just kinda happened…? I don’t remember when exactly I later became their bassist officially but there was this one time I performed at Townsville Park’s open mic night and performed with my friend Archie Sutton and his band, Some Other Guys and they flipped out. Cynthia especially was freakin’ out cuz she so hyped to know that I could play bass when she struggled for years to do it. She asked me to play on a few their songs and that’s how I became their bassist. I: How would you describe your experience with the Rejects so far? A: It’s been really fun so far! I glad that I’m playing music again with the people I care about the most. I can’t wait for people to hear our stuff once the EP comes out. I: What is your favorite track from the EP by the way? A: Definitely “runaway.” Has probably one of the best bass lines I’ve ever done aside from Sorcererz on the Now Now. The track has this very ethereal sound to it that just ties the whole thing together, in my opinion. It’s eerie but soothing, y’know? Cynthia and Lenny told me that the track was inspired by the Satoshi Kon film, Perfect Blue while thematically, it’s all about finding yourself and the fear of not knowing if someone will still love you in the end of this long, hard journey. Although I feel like that message is only heightened thanks to 2-D’s synth work and all the little flairs he put into it. I think the way did it turned this song into a… horrifyingly beautiful lullaby. I’m just more amazed by how well it turned out in the end.

(runaway. Promo Cover)

I: Well we’ll certainly check it out once it’s released. Now I’ve asked this before with some of the others but how would you describe your bandmates? A: They’re cool. I: …Um, i-is that it? A: Well, I dunno what else to say other than that… they’re cool. I think… I: Right… Well if that’s all then I guess we’re— A: Actually, no. Sorry, that’s a lie. I guess, if I could go on a bit of a tangent it’d be that Cynthia kinda reminds me a lot like Buttercup. The OG one not the reboot clone. I: I’m sorry, the what-? A: I know that’s a weird thing to say but really, she does. She’s spunky, outspoken, and has absolutely no filter. We’re probably the only two band members that butt heads. It’s all in good sport though, nothin’ truly hateful or anything. Although she does smack me with a stray cable from time to time. Also, was no one gonna tell me that she was cyborg version of Noodle? Noodle? Like, how much more badass could you get? With a mouth gun, that’s how! Also, Lenny’s pretty chill. He’s kinda like Russel but instead of giving infinite words of wisdom, he’s the whole mom friend package. He makes sure we always stay on schedule, he packs us snacks occasionally during practice… He also has a pretty good sense of hearing too. It’s insane what kind of tones he’s able to pick up just from listening to me play. He’ll give me pointers on what notes would help improve the song and even encourages me to riff more which I was never confident in doin’ before. Overall, pretty swell guy. I: Okay then, I think that’s all we have for today. Is there anything else you’d like to add? A: Umm… nope. Not really but thanks for having me! [shakes interviewer’s hand, door heard opening] Hmm? Oh, hey ‘D. Ready to go? 2-D: Yep. I found a new skatepark we can go to if you wanna try out rollerblading with me. A: Eh, I’ll try. Can’t make promises that I’ll be any good though. 2-D: Oh don’t worry about that, Ace. You’re still learning! You’ll get the hang of it someday. Now let’s get going. Cuz I dunno about you, love, but I’m famished. A: [laughs] Okay, ‘D. Shouldn’t you tie your shoes first? I don’t want you trippin’ over yourself aga— Hey, wait a minute are those the new slip ons I gave you? 2-D: Yeah! You were right, they are pretty comfy. I Thank you, I like ‘em a lot. A: [gets flustered] Uhh, good! Yep! I’m glad. Mmm-hmm, that’s great. 2-D: Oh no, you’re gettin’ all pink again. Need me to get you some sunscreen? I: Tune in next time where we’ll be interviewing the forth and final member of the Rejects, “Lenny.” What are his origins, who is he really? See you soon!

#gorillaz #gorillaz fanart #2d gorillaz #ace d copular #ace ppg #ggg #gangreen gang #murdoc niccals #2dace #fanmade interview #the rejects #rejects au #ace gorillaz

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holdoncallfailed · 3 years

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I would like to know the tragic gay blur background 😔🙏

oh anon..you know not what you ask...

TL;DR — please listen to beachcoma and battery in your leg if nothing else. as gen @yeats-infection says, "I always feel like anyone invested in ambiguously gay interpersonal drama in any other band is just lightyears behind us because they will never have two songs that good"

if the following does not convince you, consider julian @dughole’s words of wisdom: “IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW THATS IT……”

uh okay. where to start. basically damon albarn (singer/keys/primary songwriter, the blond pretty one) and graham coxon (guitarist, brunet w/ glasses) met at school when they were 13 and 12 respectively when damon went up to graham and told him that his shoes were crap and damon's were better but they became friends cos damon had written a song with a saxophone part and graham played sax. so they were bffs throughout middle school/high school and had a shitty little band where damon sang and played keys and graham...did everything else (drums, guitar, sax, etc) and watched mike leigh films and were super obsessed with the who and quadrophenia and dreamt of becoming the next keith moon. then graham went to goldsmiths and damon went to school for acting. (here is an interview where they're being charming and discussing their childhood together.)

at goldsmiths graham met alex james (bassist, brunet w/o glasses) who was like instantly obsessed with graham because he was So Cool And Stylish And Talented And And And. while they were hanging out with damien hirst and gary hume and the rest of the soon-to-be YBAs damon dropped out of acting school after a year and moved to london to be take classes and be closer to graham and was pursuing his own musical project but eventually asked graham to be part of it and graham was like ya i know some guys (alex and dave rowntree, drummer, ginger) so they started a band which was called seymour.

(damon and alex have a weird relationship because they're both obsessed with graham and possessive of him/their respective relationships with him. so there's like a weird jealous love triangle situation alongside this tragic childhood friends to lovers to estranged enemies reunion narrative. graham was jealous of alex’s sex appeal/confidence and damon’s ambition so it was this appalling web of envy and projecting one’s insecurities onto those closest to oneself. i sincerely think that blur’s only managed to work together for as long as they have because damon, alex and dave are all in love with graham, platonically or otherwise.) (fwiw i think graham and dave also have a very close friendship that often gets overlooked but it's quite sweet and also essential to the group i think. see the second quote.)

in 1995 blur had their battle of britpop rivalry with oasis and graham tried to kill himself at the party celebrating country house getting to the #1 spot on the charts (thus “beating” oasis) but damon talked him out of it somehow. they exchanged letters in which graham said that he wanted to make music that scared people and then they made their self-titled record which was distinctly more american-sounding as that was graham’s preference and damon relinquished creative control slightly (as a result of graham’s suicide attempt? who’s to say!).

then in 1998 damon broke up with justine frischmann whom he had been very publicly dating since 1991ish and they started recording their album 13 and damon moved in with jamie hewlett who graham had introduced him to years before (cos jamie had also just broken up with his gf, jane oliver, who had dated graham before jamie and used to be in justine's band elastica—“see how close everything is?”) and the two of them started working on creating gorillaz. 13 is considered blur’s definitive breakup album cos it’s about damon and justine’s breakup but it’s also about damon and graham’s relationship deteriorating and kind of the impending breakup of blur itself. saying goodbye to that era of one’s life etc.

then when blur started working on think tank damon decided they had to kick graham out of the band cos his alcoholism was basically totally debilitating. so damon had their manager go tell graham he couldn't be in the band anymore. think tank gets released and the final song, battery in your leg, is very obviously about graham and also the only track to feature his guitar playing. another song on the record (sweet song) damon says he wrote while looking at a framed photograph of graham in his studio. so graham’s absence on the record becomes its own kind of presence ooOOoooooo!!.

so from 2002ish until 2008 graham and damon didn't talk (except for alex's wedding in 2003) but damon would like secretly attend graham's solo shows and graham would troll online forums about blur and gorillaz and they would say all these awful heartbreaking things in interviews about their broken relationship blah blah. ("maybe we liked each other too much, you know. or maybe we were too close.") (also this unbelievably un-subtle song by graham called ‘bottom bunk’. but let’s not get too tinfoil hat-y here.)

then in 2008 damon and graham made up over a shared cookie on damon’s front stoop and blur did a few reunion shows for the olympics and whatnot. then graham decided he wanted to make an album out of the like 50 hours of random jams they had done while grounded in hong kong during an asian tour in like 2012/13 because he wanted to apologize for fucking up and prove to damon that they could work together again. so they released the magic whip in 2015 which has my terracotta heart on it and graham said all this bonkers insane shit about feeling like pattie harrison for having a love song written about him. also this??

so now they're all besties again and graham and damon are doing their own solo projects and alex has a cheese farm (flop) and dave is, as ever, just chillin. also graham got divorced in the past year or so and damon continues to act like an absolute nut at gorillaz shows so they're still going thru it like as people but at least they're pals once more. kind of anyway.

there are a lot of interviews where they talk about making out/"getting off" with each other and videos of them kissing each other onstage/backstage. etcetera.

i think one of the only writers to really Get blur/their dynamic is miranda sawyer who wrote an incredible article about them in 1999 that gets at the heart of what makes them so compelling.

THE POINT OF ALL THIS is that sometimes you have a childhood best friend who becomes such an essential part of both how you personally see yourself in the world and how the world sees you and your success but as much as you are bound together there are fundamental elements of your personalities that are diametrically opposed and you can't keep living the life you've made together without one of you completely crashing and burning so you have to leave each other even though all you've ever known is this thing you've been building together. and sometimes after many years you are able to reconcile with one another to the extent that you can reconcile the existence of a single person whose life is so inextricably entwined with your own and who knows you better than anyone and who still loves you anyway despite how much you've fucked up. and you're both boys

^that’s supposed to be a gif of damon and graham kissing onstage but it’s not working :/ also damon's mom made damon a necklace when he was a kid and when graham was in the hospital for anemia when he was 18 damon made him a copy of his own necklace to give to graham. so they had matching friendship necklaces. that's cute right

further sources: my own deranged sideblog, gen's beachcoma tag, julian's blur tag, ola’s damon & graham tag, beta’s graham & damon tag.

#to anon: i hope you're happy #to everyone else: i am so sorry #Anonymous #blur

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cupidssorbet · 2 years

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Nirvana, Nirvana, Everywhere Nirvana.

☁️Pairing: 90s Damon Albarn x Roommate/Flatmate Reader.

☁️Includes: Swearing, Hints at anger/Jealousy, Damon having feelings for the reader, Jamie Hewlett flirting with the reader.

☁️Word count: 1,954.

A/N: If you enjoy suggest some more! This was inspired by some Damon and roommate ones I saw and a convo I had with my friend! <3

From the end of high school to the start of college which had been about 2 years now, you’d been living with Damon Albarn, he tells everyone you are the best of friends but you more or less always use either just friends or acquaintances. He and his friends, Graham, Alex, and Dave were starting a band, so unique right? Well not in your mind, they’d come over almost every night to practice but since you and Damon often butt heads he’d have them play as loud as possible to mess with you 24/7 and boy did it get on your nerves.

So as your keys jingled into the lock of the door some laughing and talking stopped your train of thought, you look back to see Damon and his gaggle of friends making their way up the stairs to the flat. ‘Great just bloody great they're already home.’ You thought to yourself as Damon called out to you in between laughs causing the other guys to join in, you just rolled your eyes pulled your headphones up, and went inside.

“She must really hate you, she didn’t stop once!” Dave said cracking up again, Damon smacked his arm as they walked up “She doesn’t hate me you dumbass,” He laughed as he said this though part of him thought maybe it was true, “Yeah yeah whatever can we just get in and finish today’s set.” Graham piped in wanting to get inside fast.

All shuffling inside the flat shoving one another cackling still like a group of hyenas, You couldn’t stand it sometimes what's worse is you were in earshot this time right in the kitchen just trying to grab a snack before going to study. Just as you grabbed a green apple and turned around you came face to face with the giggling and grinning group, “Heya (Name)!” Graham waved to you and you nodded back, You went to walk past the group before Damon snatched up the green apple taking a bite outta it with a cheeky grin.

“Thanks for the apple (Nickname),” He said laughing and smiling, you rolled your eyes the annoyance and turned back to the dishes at hand, they just seemed to be getting higher by the minute you didn’t have the patience to deal with them or those dishes right now so you grabbed another apple and washed it before going back upstairs only to be stopped by Damon again, “Gonna steal this apple too?” You retorted at him, “Psh Nah, why don’t you come watch us practice you’ll be the first girl to hear my vocals.” He winked.

You smirked pulling your arm out of his grasp,” I don’t think I’m the first girl to hear your vocals, I think a lot of girls on campus would agree.” You spat out, taking a bite out of your apple and going up to your room shutting the door. “Why does she have to be so-so harsh!” Damon said scoffing and crossing his arms.

“He’s such a pest,” You stated to your friend over the phone twirling the (color of choice) cord in your fingers before turning back to your records and plucking through them, “I think it sounds like you like him but won’t admit or maybe it’s the other way around,” She teased, You merely rolled your eyes laughing a bit. “Never in a million years would I date Damon, Yuck.” She giggled at your statement, you continued to listen to her talk after that trying to hear her over their loud playing.

You groaned as they played louder and louder, “(Nickname), Should I call another time?” She asked a bit worried, “No, it’s just-” You stopped as you spotted a Nirvana record. “Bingo.” You smiled and opened your record player putting it on, just as it began the band quieted down. “Anyways you were saying, Olivia?” You laid back on your stomach on your (color) bed, “Oh! Right yes, Are you coming to Jamie’s party tonight?” She asked as you continued to twirl the cord.

“Well I was going to because-” Just as you were going to answer Damon open your door, “Could you turn off that shitty music (Name.)” He asked, no stated. You cocked a brow though knowing full well he didn’t like Nirvana that much or at all really. “Why should I?” You asked sitting up, “Because I- We, can hear that bloody music all the way downstairs.” He crossed his arms almost pouting like a child.

“I won’t, If you're going to play so loud I should get to play what I want.” You shot back sitting up and crossing your arms to mimic him, His brows furrowed, and usually, he’d fire back but instead he waved his hand scoffing and going back down stairs.

You were a bit taken aback but whatever less arguing for you, for the next few hours you’d hear them start again only to shut up after a bit, and during those times you’d talk to your friend while picking out a dress for Jamie's party, once finally done you both hung up so you could get ready.

After a good hour of trying to fix your hair and makeup to something you liked you finally fixed it your liking wearing, (dress w/ shoes of choice) and a leather jacket. You scooped up your stuff slipped your shoes on and went downstairs. “Woahhh- Where ya going like that?” Dave called chuckling a bit, “To Jamie’s party, why does it matter to you?” You asked fixing your earrings before heading for the door.

“Jamie’s party?” Damon asked his brows knitting together, You nodded a bit confused but only to be snapped out of it by your friend honking. “See ya there!” Graham called to you waving.

You nodded your head and went out the door to your friend's car, “Why Jamie’s party? She knows that guy just wants to get in her pants!” Damon huffed in annoyance, Graham looked at him weirdly “What? I think you're the only one thinking that bud.” making Damon shoot him a look.

You and (B/F/N) had seemed to arrive at the perfect time the party starting to become what people talked about, once you walked in the door Jamie greeted you by giving you a kiss on your cheek from left to right, and you did the same back putting your coat up. “Did Damon come with you (Name)?” Jamie asked opening a beer for you and handing it over before shooting him a puzzled look.

“Well, I mean just askin’ I always see you two hanging around one another.” He shrugged taking a swig of his drink and as if summoned by the sound of his name he arrived. He had this big ol’ grin on his face greeting everyone with a hug or kiss on the cheek, then he spots you and Jamie talking it was like his face just flipped, and instead he went to the living room to hang out.

You and Jamie just shrugged and parted ways to go see others around the house, you had stopped to say hello to some of the girls you saw on campus and all you could feel was Damon’s eyes burning into you. Usually, he could care less about you at parties often leaving way after you, but something about you in that dress and here at his friends' party often with Jamie made him jealous. Of course, he tried to reason with himself and try to brush it off but he couldn’t it was hard for him to just give these feelings up.

Admittedly he had liked you, for a while but the way you two butt heads made him think there was nothing really possible between either of you, so why did he want to steal you away from Jamie whenever you two were just being good buddies.

‘God..’ He thought running his hands over his face and taking a drink of his beer before getting up. For half the party he’d be going from that spot to other spots, not like he usually would dance and laugh he just couldn’t take his eyes off ya. So once the party was nearing an end music blasting still, Nirvana to be specific, he just shook his head chugging the last of his drink as he walked over to you and Jamie talking.

“(Name).” He spoke up tapping your shoulder.

“Damon? What is it?” You asked turning around to face him, God did it make his heartthrob.

“Are you uh ready to go, the guys already left and I was wondering if you needed a ride.” He stated, trying to keep the best of his ability eye contact.

“Huh...It is pretty late guess we should be goin’.” You turned back to Jamie, “Thanks for inviting me Jamie,” You said as you both kissed cheeks goodbye making Damon almost grit his teeth too hard, as you headed over grabbing your coat you could swear you heard him say something. Oh well, you climbed into the car and so did he you flicked on the radio, and ‘Smells like teen spirit’ started playing and almost instinctively Damon flicked it off. “What the- Hey what was that for huh??” You asked looking at him, his face almost just anger.

“Nirvana, Nirvana, everywhere nirvana.” He said then he just went silent which was bothering you.

“Damon. Seriously what is up with you, you were watching me all night and gave Jamie the dirtiest look when you arrived.” You crossed your arms brows furrowing, “It’s nothing.” He murmured, eyes on the road not changing them anytime soon.

For the next hour, it was silence no talking, no music just silence and the occasional crickets. Once you arrived home you got out first and went straight inside annoyed with his behavior. He eventually trailed inside, “What is your problem?” You said arms crossed foot-tapping, He scoffed, “You care when and why?” He retorted, you were a bit hurt sure you both butted heads but you cared still when he was upset.

“Damon seriously, what did I do huh?” You asked your annoyance bubbling, “I don’t like seeing you and him flirting.” He stated staring you dead in the eyes. “What?” you were clearly shocked and a bit confused, to be honest, this wasn’t usually Damon. “I don’t like watching you and Jamie flirt, at all.” You furrowed your brows, why did he care in the slightest, and since when he didn’t need to be involved with who you flirted with especially since he brought women over.

“Why do you care huh?” You spat at him causing him to look a bit offended, “Wha- huh tch why can’t I?” He scoffed crossing his arms again.

“Because it’s my love life dick.” You hissed at him making your way to the stairs. “Not like you like me or anything so why bother.” You went to continue up before being stopped.

“Who said I don’t?” He said standing there, you turned around “I’m sorry what?” you stood staring back at him, your shoes in hand. “Who said I don’t.” You shook your head, “Now you're just messing with me stop it.” He made his way towards you grabbing your hand, “God how naive are you?” He said in a breathy tone pulling you close, “I have a crush on you, alright? How simpler do I gotta say it eh?” He said in your ear making you shiver as he brought his lips down to your neck.

“I don’t know..But I guess you could show me?”

#damon albarn #damon albarn x reader #90s aesthetic #blur #x reader

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supposed2bfunny · 4 years

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Hey ive been gone for a while and i was wondering if you could reccomend gorillaz blogs to folloe most of the ones i used to follow are either deactived or inactive and i want to get back in the fandom a bit

Hey, sure! I’m going to list most of the blogs that I frequent; I understand you probably do follow some of them already, but this might be handy for others who are looking for more friends to follow! (Also, take with a grain of salt that I’m super shy and this list is pretty limited: I encourage others to add any other active blogs they rec since I don’t follow a ton)

Also I’m tagging everyone so you can access their blogs easily; NO ONE FEEL OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO THIS LOL I might have a panic attack after I hit ‘post.’

@tw0d3ntz has lots of CUTE art and fun content!

@2dorkandmrpickles is just a really kind person, has written some great 2doc content, and often reblogs content I haven’t seen in months (seriously: how do you find some of those oldie but goodies??)

@alexapplesauce278 UNDERRATED ADORABLE 2DOC ARTIST! FOLLOW!

@magic-vinny Lots of quality memes and generally cute Noodle and band content, also super active.

@stupitstupot Really talented artist with cool AU concepts! (Also, super trans positive content which is really vital in this fandom!!) Super prolific, so lots of great new content every day.

@bimurdoc I check Leo’s blog like, daily for unique Gorillaz fan art that I haven’t seen anywhere else!

@boattohades if you’re not following Sari, you’re not an actual Gorillaz fan, sorry. Please go support this talented artist!

@samserve Quality Gorillaz content, hot takes, and memes. Another blog I stalk almost daily UwU

@babymurdoc is my son and you should support him. A blog that simultaneously wants the best for Murdoc, but will roast him for being the disgusting snot goblin that he is. King.

@psykoredhead16 Is an artist, writer, and AU-crafter. Is not suuuper active on Tumblr, but they update their blog pretty regularly and you can also find them on Discord if you’re on that!

@ultra-art-blog holy shit one of my favorite artists full-stop. Pure content of the band just being a family...lots of Ace content...good stuff!

@tothedarkdarkseas THE blog for good Stu character discussion. Also great 2doc content that doesn't sugarcoat their complicated relationship.

@paleimitatorz You probably already follow Caramel but it’s worth double-checking since she’s the first blog I think of when you ask for active Gorillaz blogs. Is doing God’s work, by which I mean she’s doing Jamie Hewlett’s job for him.

@dreaming-powder another of my favorite Gorillaz artists...2doc art, but also lots of content for the individual band members.

@g-2doc 2doc and Gorillaz memes!! This blog also just became more active again recently!

@thecardsyouredelta We’ve gone back and forth a few times exchanging head canons--if you want to talk Gorillaz, she is a delight to interact with, so I would check her blog out!

@murdocgetrekt the creator of the 2doc Pact!AU which is kind of blowing up here on Tumblr these days. Great art and writing and lore to peruse!

@gorillaz-girl posts tons of GIFS and classic band content if you have a hankering for the band’s classic aesthetic.

@greywindys Another 2doc-centric blog with incredible meta, lots of GIFs and excellent analysis!

@dased-n-confuzed Eva’s blog is another one I go to all the time, especially when new official content drops. Amazing meta, amazing person!

@pattypettyblue Another very underrated artist! Light 2doc and lots of stunning individual band art!

@5tylo Elle’s blog just makes me laugh. Another Murdoc fan who is unapologetic about dragging his disgusting ass. And 2D’s.

@stupotato if you ever just want to look at stunning pictures of 2D, you can scroll through this baby for 2Ds in every color and outfit imaginable. Plus some light 2doc!

OKAY! This is not a comprehensive list: it’s just me listing the blogs I actively visit almost-daily when I want to make sure I’m up-to-date on Gorillaz content, memes, and the like. These blogs are also pretty low-drama. I hope this helps, and welcome back to the fandom! :D

#dezthemelancholyking #gorillaz asks for beck #gorillaz #sorry to spam everyone with notifications #oops already had to edit this post cuz im an idiot oop

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kintsugi-sheep · 4 years

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2021.01.10: Redcaps and Manga Reviewing, Vigor and Nostalgia

Alright, so what happened this week?

Well, I don’t think I’ll ever forget what happened this week. I was six when September 11th occurred, so I wasn’t really cognizant of what had happened. But I am cognizant now. And I won’t forget what happened on January 6th for a very long time. I don’t consider myself especially patriotic or loyal to the democratic system of government as it operates in this country, but I do acknowledge when something so sacrosanct is violated.

I don’t want to spend time getting into this. If you’re old enough to find this blog post you’re old enough to know what happen. I hadn’t intended for that to be what I wanted to talk about anyway.

Where I left off last week, I wanted to announce my intention of making a video on Shaman King.

There are a number of hurdles—some might even dare to call them issues—with this idea. I’m not a reviewer. I don’t have any video editing experience. I don’t have a platform of great enough scale to protect my work. And, for the nature of what I intend to write, I may not even have enough time to get it out before the series drops in April.

So why bother?

Because I love the series. For years, it almost never came up in conversation, but when it did, I was pumped up with the nostalgia I had while reading it. I didn’t know where this excitement came from for years.

It’s a good manga. Not the best that there ever was, but yet I inexplicably loved it. And I didn’t really know why. But when I was asked what my favorite manga of all time was my answer would be Shaman King.

When I heard the anime was getting a re-release and when I heard they were going to re-publish the manga in full this time, I was ecstatic. I told my friend about it and, being the type of person who’s typically late regarding news related to anime releases, they already knew.

Then, I saw the articles. And my heart ached.

Read my article about how Shaman King is pulling a Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Read my article about ten characters that will be in this anime that weren’t in the original.

Read about whether or not this character is okay for woke 2021.

And I my stomach sinks when I think about what will be coming next.

Theories made by people who read the series and are reciting spoilers for clicks.

Essays on why Hao is the greatest anime villain of all time for clicks.

Speculation on whether or not Yoh can beat Goku in a fight.

I don’t have a very high opinion of journalism. And knowing that the series I love will be used and disposed of for quick clicks is upsetting to me.

In deciding to do this project, I put it all together. I realized why I loved this series.

When I drew as a youngster, Shaman King’s stab-your-eye-out-on-my-protagonist’s-edges art was my early influence for character design.

Every story I’ve come up with—whether or not it’s been continued, recycled into another idea, or wholly abandoned—has had themes of spirituality that I’d only seen present in Shaman King as a child watching it on the FoxBox.

It was my exposure to the reality that manga and anime don’t always coincide; I hadn’t watched FMA or FMAB yet.

I used to record the Saturday morning cartoons and watch them with my grandmother, and while for years I’d hop between Fox, the WB, and ABC recording cartoons so that we’d watch things like Lilo and Stitch, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, the Proud Family, Xiaolin Showdown, Coconut Fred, Ultimate Muscle, Johnny Test, Mucha Lucha, Jackie Chan Adventures, even One Piece—to name what I could from the top of my head, these shows didn’t all run on these channels in the same breadth of time—I’d skip over Shaman King, keeping it selfishly to myself like a child would.

This week, it hurt watching a bunch of redneck monsters trample over the Capitol. As someone cynical of the government, it hurt to know something so sacrosanct could be treated so shamefully. But it hurts so much worse to imagine that I wasted all these years, like a boy concealing his affection for a girl until she falls into the arms of someone else, to actually take the time and express the love I have for this series.

The image of this post is an issue of Jump a buddy of mine bought at a thrift store or yard sale and gave me almost three years ago. I posted the picture with a long blurb about how my week feeling on Facebook. A lot of it is auxiliary, but I’d like to recount what I wrote here.

Spoiler alert, I was feeling a little pretentious that day:

“Vigor. Even writing this feels more cumbersome than it actually is.

How do I say what I mean? I hate nostalgia. It’s true, if hyperbolic. I see it cut down so many peers, creatives, and critics like a guillotine; a sloppy, artificially guided, swift force that lops their heads into a collective basket of thought.

Still, this past week I’ve felt my own dismissive chest opened with a more surgical precision that permissed” [NOT A WORD] “nostalgia to play with my heart strings. I reflected on Avatar, a show from a time when animated shows didn’t have their runtimes bisected for the simpler consumption of children that would choke on anything longer, that powered itself on the labor and inspired vision of its creators and crew as opposed to memes for the children and references for the adults, and had the temerity to demand that an audience be comfortable going thirty minutes at a time without a joke to amuse them.

My friend went to Pennsylvania and got me an issue of the now defunct Shonen Jump magazine from 2004. It had series of comics I’d forgotten about and an ad for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, but those were inconsequential. I find Shaman King to be the greatest comic I’ve ever read and in August, the month of the issue I’d received, the protagonist was featured prominently on the cover. I remembered how engrossing it was to read something with that level of complexity; taking into account my age. And never since have I seen a series with such a great balance of brutality and humor and never since have I seen any form of media where” [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS] “led to a happy ending.

To round it off, within the hours before writing this I’d watched Feel Good Inc. I couldn’t help but feel my eyes begin to water at the genius of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. An unforgettable song latticed with moments of haunting beauty and brilliance.

As a child I would sit down for hours to draw terribly. And I loved every warped, misshapen, humanoid, tailed thing I drew. I’d scan my grandmother’s cookbooks and write recipes by mending foods I liked together in a manner similar to Frankenstein assembling his monster. I wrote chapter after chapter of a terrible story because I wanted to prove to my first girlfriend that I could write something better than twilight. I had a sense of self-motivation. I hadn’t struggled through college for a year to graduate without confidence in my own abilities. Or lost friends to unfair circumstances beyond my control or the ignorance of how much control I had. Or been stressed to the point of genuine fear from some of my earlier work. In many ways I still feel like the child I was when I lived at my grandmother’s house. Except now as a child too anxious to do anything besides what he knows will keep him alive.

How do I say what I mean? Not well. That, too, may have been a bit too hyperbolic. It’s not that I hate nostalgia, but that I fear being stagnated in memories of better days. Still, like a failing vegetarian having a hamburger the time I’ve taken to indulge myself has let me realize something I’ve been missing from my diet.

Vigor.”

#writer #author #writerblr #blog #shaman king #vigor

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elvendorkwanwan · 5 years

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Hit Music 2005

No one expected Gorillaz to be so popular and people probably has forgotten Blur. Damon Albarn doesn’t seem to care though, he puts Blur aside and takes Jamie Hewlett to China for two whole weeks which he calls it “collecting folk songs”. They’ve been to Hunan, Guizhou, and Zhejiang. Not only did they travel Chinese attractions and taste all kinds of local cuisines in every streets and alleys, but they also promoted their new album while they were traveling. What a smart way to kill two birds with one stone.

Damon

Hit: Do you always wear a big sunglasses to look cool? Damon: Oh, no, it’s the light here, my eyes are sensitive to the light.(He said, taking off his glasses. Wow, what a typical handsome European, he has charming blue eyes.) Hit: What is your main purpose in coming to China? Damon: I was invited by a friend, but also was attracted by Chinese culture. I am interested in the culture and lifestyle of Chinese ethnic minorities, and their music in particular. We are so fascinated by it. On the other hand, we are promoting the new album Demon Days in here. In the past two weeks, we’ve been to Guiyang, Phoenix City, Changsha and Yiwu. But we are leaving today. Hit: That’s a shame, four more days and it’s the traditional Chinese autumn festival. You can have some delicious mooncakes on that day.(Damon seems to be interested in food.) Damon: Oh, yes. We have had some amazing food here. I found Chinese food really worthy of its reputation. I also bought a book of how to make dumplings. Hit: What’s the inspiration of making Gorillaz? Do you have any plans on touring? Damon: Each song is a story, and mostly happened on a dark night.It’s similar to the darkness that fell upon people after the 9 / 11 incident. For touring, as I have a very good impression of China, I will talk about it with my friends. We’re planning a world tour. I promise you, there will be a Chinese date. We’ll be back. (How’s the new video going? Damon: We are sampling in Africa right now, we have three videos done, now there’s one left. ) Hit: How did you and Jamie meet? Damon: We have many mutual friends, we’ve been knowing each others for 15 years.(Is it true that you guys live in the same building? Damon: Yeah, but that was a year ago, now we are living across the street.) Hit: What makes you want to form a HIP-HOP virtual band in the first place? Damon: Well, I still want to write pop music, but I don’t want to make ordinary music which is boring. And I’m interested in the idea of replacing actual people with cartoon characters. In fact, we can not be simply defined as hip hop band, because our music is very diverse, we got inspirations from everything. Gorillaz combines elements of Rock, reggae, hip-hop and lo-fi together. Hit: Would you like to talk about Oasis? They released a new album this year and it’s doing well. You guys were fighting a lot back in the old days. Damon: Well the battle between Blur and Oasis was some kinda promotion of the Britpop, isn’t it? As for our music, we better leave it to other people to judge. Hit: I also heard that you slammed the Live 8 concert, why is that? Damon: Because I think the concert lost its purpose. Assisting Africa is a formidable and complicated thing, and there are different ways to approach that. I think the reason to hold Live 8 concert is to help more people to understand Africa’s culture and its current situation. But live 8 failed to do that. For example, I used to think that I know about China, but it wasn’t until I actually came here and really got to know what people’s lives were like in here that I had a deeper feeling for China, a feeling that was different from the past. For the past two weeks, I’ve been fascinated by what’s going on here. I think Live 8 is a failure. It’s like if half the people in China were starving right now, and we organized a concert to help them, but not one Chinese was involved in the whole project, would you call that a success? Hit: Ok, let’s talk about something that’s less heavy. What other hobbies do you have besides music? Damon: Cooking, jogging, and playing with my baby daughter. I really like to cook, especially Chinese food. I had so many delicious food in China! I also bought a bunch of cooking books and I am going to try all of them when I get back. Hit: Can you make dumplings yet? Damon: We’ve got it covered. (Damon laughs, and I remind him that he needs more practice.) Oh, all I have to do is slice up the flour, chop up the vegetables and meat, then put in some mushrooms. And don’t forget about the chilli. (Damon windmills his hands while speaking, as if to prove that he can really cook. “Yeah, he loves chili, ” Jamie adds.) Hit: What’d you like to say to so many Chinese fans? Damon：谢谢(Thank you)！（He says these two words fluently in a strong British accent, somebody’s been practising obviously.）

Jamie

Hit: Can you introduce yourself first? Jamie: Introduce myself? (Jamie looks at me blankly. “Start from ‘I am —’ Ready, go!” Damon quips.) I’m Jamie (He thought for a while before blurting out. “I’m single. I’m looking for a girlfriend. ” — I made fun of him as Damon did.) I’m happy to be in China. I am the artist of the band, so I drew all of these arts. Hit: How did you come up with the idea of using cartoon characters as the band’s public image? Jamie: Because cartoon characters are so common, everyone has seen cartoons, and their characters can be more edgy. They can do a lot of things that actual people can’t in real life, they are the exaggeration of reality. And it’s easier to show artist’s intentions with cartoons. Hit: I noticed that in your paintings, characters’ eyes are specially designed. Why is that? Jamie: Well, because when you talk to someone, you look them in the eye, and through their eyes you can see what they’re thinking. Hit: Who is your favourite Gorillaz member? Jamie: I think it’s Murdoc, who’s formed the band and also is the heart of the band. Hit: When you were creating Gorillaz, did you ever think about making the band members’ appearances match the music? Jamie: Not Exactly. You know, the band members have their own personalities and backgrounds. So it’s more like… making cartoons. (Did you make their personalities more similar to the actual band members?) No, they are nothing like the people behind all this . Hit: Did anything hilarious happen during this trip? Jamie: We have a lot of funny stories, but it’s hard to explain. We spent most of the two weeks bouncing on the bus. Hit: What kind of person Damon is in your eyes? Jamie: He’s a lovely sunny boy.

Bonus

1. After Damon Albarn said his “thank you” to fans, I asked if he knew any other Chinese words, he immediately turned to Jamie, who was standing next to him, and asked, “How to say dumplings? ” And then he smiled and said, “饺子! ” which sounded way more precise than the “thank you”. 2. Damon talked a lot about the places he had visited, and he solemnly pointed to the green military rubber shoes on his feet, “Look! I bought them in PHOENIX CITY! ” Jamie, who was wearing the same shoes as Damon’s, also pointed to his feet and said, “Mine too! ” 3. Damon is apparently good at doodling, so he improvised on the magazine we brought with us… I just felt a little twitch at the corner of my mouth, I don’t know how to appreciate thta! Awkward!

for @damonalbarn

#Damon Albarn #Jamie Hewlett #jamion #gorillaz #2005 #translated by me

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howaminotinthestrokesyet · 4 years

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Blur/Gorillaz/Damon Albarn: Random Quarantine Thoughts

Blur

1. Besides The Guy From Gorillaz...Most people know that Damon Albarn was in the band, but I do not think that the average music fan actually knows who else was in the band. The other members are guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer, Dave Rowntree. They were formed in London in 1988, while the group released their debut, Leisure in 1991. Blur would reach the height of its success upon the release of the album, Parklife in 1994. Coxon first noticed Albarn in school playing Officer Krupke in West Side Story at age 13.

2. That’s High Praise...Thom Yorke once said in an interview that he had wished he had written “Girls and Boys,” one of their most well-known songs. The Radiohead front man said they were “bastards” for getting to that song first.

3. Too Many Coincidences...Their track Song 2 was the second track on the Blur album and the second single released on that album. The track was two minutes and two seconds long utilizing two drummers.. The track even reached number two on the UK charts.

4. Oasis Vs. Blur...Blur and Oasis got into a war in the 1990’s over who could sell more singles. They insulted each other quite a bit in the press as magazine New Musical Express really built up the rivalry. They compared it to the Beatles versus Rolling Stones as the two bands battled for Britpop supremacy. Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn are now friends with the former even playing guitar on a 2018 Gorillaz album. Liam Gallagher still hates everything to do with Blur.

5. Free Studio Time...The drummer of Blur would later say the only reason he joined the band was because Damon Albarn had keys to a recording studio. He did not really like the singer at first, but free studio time was too hard to pass up.

Gorillaz

6. I Do Not Want My MTV...This virtual band was originally created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The latter is an artist, who is best known for the comic, Tank Girl. The idea for Gorillaz originated from Albarn and Hewlett watching MTV one day. They both felt that there was nothing of any substance on there, so they decided to create this virtual band as a way to comment on that fact.

7. Breaking Records...This animated group consists of four virtual members including Murdoc, Noodles, 2D, and Russel Hobbs. The band is presented through music videos, interviews, and short cartoons. They are currently listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling virtual band ever.

8. A Unique Structure...Albarn is the only permanent musical contributor, but he is assisted by regular contributions from all over the music world. Initially, Albarn would not even appear as the front man for the group as he stayed towards the back hidden from view. He wanted to convey the idea that this was completely a fictional animated band.

9. Hiatus...In 2012, Albarn and Hewlett had a bit of a falling out due to rising tensions over what the musical project had become. Hewlett had felt that the artistic features of the group were being minimized, while Albarn was turning it into more of an actual band. They would not release any new material for five years until the album, Humanz. Both Hewlett and Albarn worked together to create this album.

10. Postmodern Style...The style of Gorillaz has always been what has made their music unique. Many writers and even Albarn himself has described it as a post modern approach incorporating elements of hip-hop, electronic, and pop music. Yet, make no mistake that originally the group was intended to emerge as far away as possible from Albarn’s earlier group, Blur.

Damon Albarn

12. Help From The Kinks...In both of his groups, Albarn probably received his greatest influence from guitar pop groups of the 1960’s. This is definitely the case with his songwriting in Blur. He was heavily influenced by groups like the Kinks.

13. Drugs and Drama...Blur would release its last studio album in 1999. The impression that I always got was that Albarn took time off from music between projects for much longer than two years. Yet, the debut of the Gorillaz self titled album was in 2001. Although, the drama and tension between Albarn and Graham Coxon had worn on him quite a bit. As well as the fact, he and his girlfriend had developed quite the heroin habit by the late 1990’s.

14. An Elastica Relationship...Throughout the 1990’s, he dated Elastica singer, Justine Frischmann. They would break up in 1998, but the relationship along with the use of heroin heavily influenced the album, Blur. A year later he met artist Suzi Winstanley, who he still lives with today. They have a daughter named Missy, who is named after the rap artist, Missy Elliott.

15. No Strokes of Genius...In 2002, Damon contributed to The Strokes album, Room On Fire, but they ended up scrapping all his work. He would later say that the songs must have been perfect, so his contributions were not needed.

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randomness-for-life · 6 years

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Some of My Favorite Artists/Bands That Need More Apprectiation

(So if you need more music to get into, please check these guys out~)

~ Björk ~ Electronic, Pop, and Alternative Music ~

My favorite kind of artists can make two or more songs that sound completely different from one another and Björk definitely does that~ And to add to the uniqueness, you can hear her emotions flood through her singing and music - you can hear the story she’s trying to share with the world, which is amazing~ It’s been only about a few months since I’ve gotten into her unique music and I’ve been inspired to write both stories and music based off her powerful emotions~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Joga”, “Play Dead”, “Venus As a Boy”, “Cocoon”

~ Rufus Wainwright ~ Alternative and Pop Music ~

One of my favorite artists I got to see perform live~ He sung about death, love, and politics loudly and beautifully while playing piano or guitar~ Of course, I first found out about this gay boi from Shrek with the iconic song “Hallelujah” and as I explored more of his music, I realized he has a trait I love to hear from musicians: he puts in a lot of energy, passion, and emotions in each of his songs~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk”, “Foolish Love”, “Evil Angel”, “Poses”

~ Andrew Bird ~ Alternative Music ~

I first heard of this violinist thanks to Jamie Hewlett (co creator of The Gorillaz, who I’ll talk about down below)~ He posted a video of Andrew’s iconic song “Pulaski At Night” on his instagram. As a violinist myself, it was hard not to fall in love with Andrew’s calm and pretty music~ Also, he’s a very good whistler, which just makes his folk and alternative songs all the more better~ I’m always inspired by the beautiful tones Andrew can create and I really hope I can see him perform sometime~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Pulaski At Night”, “Scythian Empires”, “Roma Fade” (and “The Cormorants” if you want to listen to something experimental or just the river)

~ Manu Chao ~ Latin Alternative and World Music ~

The oldest artist on this list, I’ve been singing along to Manu’s songs since I was a toddler~ He sings in Spanish, French, and English and usually changes between languages while singing and playing guitar~ Although most of his songs are Latin-inspired and his songs can sound similar to each other, Manu still creates v e r y catchy rhythms and beats with each song~ Also, Manu repeats words frequently, so you can pick up a bit of Spanish or French just from one of his songs~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Bongo Bong”, “Clandestino”, “Trapped By Love”, “Luna y sol”

~ Gorillaz ~ Honestly Every Genre Ever ~

My absolute favorite band of all time~ It’s been about three years now that I’ve loved 2D, Russel Hobbs, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals, and their music (and of course, the creators of the Gorillaz, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett) ~ Currently 1/3 of my music are their songs and I’ve written a 95 page story based off them and their music~ I’ve gained friends because of this flawed and unique band and I’ve been constantly inspired by them and their diverse music~ I can’t wait to see what else they hold for the future~ <3

Some Songs I Recommend: “Hong Kong”. “Dirty Harry”, “Revolving Doors”, “5/4″, “The Apprentice”, “Empire Ants”

~ Pogo ~ Electronic Music ~

A.K.A Nick Bertke - Honestly, I just recently found out this Australian is not the best person, yet I’m still in love with his passionate music~ How he can take any random sample, whether it’s from Disney or off the streets, and create mesmerizing and catchy music with other random samples will always amaze me~ Most of his songs are always great to listen to alone or in a peaceful area where you can relax~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Forget”, “Undone”(for those who like creepy and experimental music~), “Wave”, “Alice”

~ Beck ~ Honestly Every Genre (again) ~

Another artist I’ve been singing along to since I was a toddler, I believe Beck sparked my love for different music (honestly, he’s the king of odd music and rhyming)~ I’ve always loved how Beck’s music tells a different story for each song and how he can easily create catchy rhythms and odd sounds that sound magnificent together~ This is another artist I would l o v e to see live sometime~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Up All Night”, “Que Onda Guero”, “Motorcade”, “Soul Suckin Jerk”, “Broken Train”, “Minus” (I have 30+ Beck songs which is why there’s more than three songs recommended)

~ Squirrel Nut Zippers ~ Jazz Music ~

More artists I got to see live (and for the first, they actually came to where I live instead of me having to go to them) and might I say they were spectacular~ It wasn’t even Mardi Gras, but it totally felt like it in that small theater~ The guy in the red in the center, Jimbo, wore giant masks and danced as if in a ritual and it looked like he had the time of his life~ The woman next to him, Cella, dressed like a Cougar and sang like Billie Holiday~ And the violinist, Dr.Sick (<3), performed tricks like the splits, minor burlesque with his leg, and he went full on crazy while still playing violin - I was s o impressed~ Anyway, this jazz/blues/New Orleans band is crazy and fun and I absolutely love them~ (also fun fact, before Dr.Sick, Andrew Bird was their violinist~)

Some Songs I Recommend: “Axman Jazz (Don’t Scare Me Papa)”, “Hell”, “Ghost of Stephen Foster”, “Put a Lid on It”

~ Adam Hurst ~ Classical Music ~

He is the only one of my favorite artists I got to meet in person, and in no less an airport (and I’m eternally grateful that he agreed to take a picture)~ He performed his gypsy cello, which he crafted with his own two hands, amazingly~ In every song of his, he always plays beautiful cello melodies with another instrument whether it’s accordion, chimes, guitar, or piano~ I would l o v e to meet him and see him perform again in the future~

Some Songs I Recommend: “Ritual”, “Midnight Waltz”, “Midnight Sun”, “Sparrow”

If you have any artists you think deserve more appreciation or recognition, reblog or comment and talk about them~!

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stxrshxpxd · 1 year

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🌷 fic friday;

“you don’t know me very well”

jamie hewlett x reader,, flirty

“I hear you’re the new Gorillaz star.”

A clearly tipsy Jamie came up to meet my eyes as I swiveled around, leaning my lower back against the designated drinks table in his and Damon’s kitchen. I found it surprising we were the only ones in the room, with their apartment being overfilled with people this Saturday night.

“Oh, you never know,” I chuckled. “Damon may well switch up and hate me any second, before we even get to writing anything.”

“Much more likely you switch up to hate him, I think,” Jamie chuckled back and mirrored my leaning against the sturdy wooden table with the side of his hip. “He’s insufferable.”

I laughed louder at his frank statement and I nodded.

“I can see where you’re coming from.”

I had been a casual friend of Damon’s ever since the middle of the 90s when we had run into one another every other weekend at clubs and pubs and house parties, me having been in a couple peripheral britpop bands. However we had never made music together, until Damon suggested we do a few weeks ago.

“I think it would be pretty hard to hate you.”

“Well, you don’t know me very well,” I countered with a small smirk and sipped my drink. Jamie once again followed my lead and swallowed a mouthful of his beer, grinning back at me with drowsy eyes. He took a long while to shamelessly look down at my body with the smirk growing on his lips.

“And you don’t know me very well. It’s a shame,” he added. “Here, let me show you my room.”

I laughed at him grabbing my hand with a playful smile and leading me out through a short hallway to a closed bedroom. A few of the people lined up along the walls giggled and raised their eyebrows at Jamie slipping me inside his dark room.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I chuckled, turning around to the vague outlines of his face. I had always found him an intriguing person and thought he was very good looking, and it was obvious that feeling was mutual. It was weird we hadn’t ever had a drunken hook-up before over the years.

“I’m very lucky, also, that you think I am.”

Jamie’s hands touched my waist gently and wasted no time, connecting his lips with mine in a slow kiss. It was unexpected and took me a moment to register, but I moved my hands up to hold his cheeks and immediately kissed him again once he pulled away.

“To think you finally got the courage to do something about your crush,” I muttered tauntingly into his kisses as they grew more passionate.

“To think you jump at the opportunity to sleep with me,” Jamie teased back as he forced me to step backwards until my knees folded at the edge of his bed, his fingers having grown to clasp harder around my waist.

“Shut up,” I laughed and was indeed shut up myself by Jamie toppling me over, locking me down between him and his bed with his lips tightly pressed against mine and his hands finding my wrists now.

#im sorry this is kinda bad #jamie hewlett #jamie hewlett x reader #gorillaz #fic #imagine #smut #fic friday

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mercurygray · 7 years

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So, I hear you liked TURN.

Apres the Season 4 finale, I know there’s going to be a lot of crying, and hand-wringing, and rewatching, and these are all good and proper things to do in the wake of a TV show you’ve enjoyed.

But after the smoke clears from all of that, you’re maybe going to go looking for your next 18th century fix, just something in between rewatches or while you’re trying to flesh out your next story idea. (Hey, now that we have our canon, go hog-wild on story ideas, guys, seriously.)

So I’ve saved you some trouble and made you all a helpful list.

Obviously there are a lot of movies and TV shows out there - this is just a selection that I wish more people knew about.

Note: Everyone enjoys a show or movie for different reasons. These shows are on this list because of the time period they depict, not because of the quality of their writing, the accuracy of their history or the political nature of their content. Where I’m able to, I’ve mentioned if a book is available if you’d like to read more.

Before we get to the rest of the list, there are three excellent shows that are either currently on television or about to be very soon:

Poldark (BBC/PBS) is based on a series of books by an author named Winston Graham. It was made into a PBS series in the 70s starring Robin Ellis as the handsome Captain Poldark, who returns from the American Revolution to find his family farm in tatters and his long-time love interest married to his cousin. Drama ensues. The 70s series is worth your time, and the recent remake with Aidan Turner in the title role is also definitely worth a go. (If you like leading men who make terrible life decisions and the women who put up with them, this is totally your show.)

Harlots (Hulu) - If you really loved the TURN ladies, thought Lola and Philomena deserved more than they got, or are just interested to learn more about what life might have been like for the lower classes in London in the 1750s, have we got a deal for you. Harlots follows the lives of 18th century sex workers in this new drama, which was just recently renewed for a totally deserved second season. Female-lead ensemble drama. A little violent at points and deals with some pretty heavy-duty topics like rape, murder, and bastardy, but in a humane and understanding way. Totally bingeable.

Outlander (Starz) - Based on the wildly popular series of books by Diana Gabaldon, this time traveling drama jumps between a couple of different centuries and follows the story of Jamie and Claire, two very strong personalities trying to literally find their place in history. (Hewlett talks about the blade his grandfather picked up at Culloden; that battle forms a critical part of this show’s storyline.) It’s a real pretty show with very high production values.

And, without further ado, the rest of the list!

John Adams: If you haven’t watched this already, do yourself a favor and go pick it up from the library. Starring Paul Giametti in the title role, this HBO miniseries follows John Adams’ role in the formation of America, through his early days in Congress up through his own presidency. As with any biographical show, characters that we know and love from other media (Rufus Sewell’s Hamilton comes to mind, but see what you think of David Morse’s Washington, too) are presented in a slightly different light and provide some food for thought about how history can be selective in how it remembers us. The costuming is great, the sets are fantastic, and the acting is first-rate.

The Patriot: An oldie but a goodie. Mel Gibson plays a highly fictionalized version of Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox while Jason Isaacs turns in a really stellar hottie we love to hate in Colonel Tavington. A little heavy-handed at times, this is a good movie to laugh over with friends.

Sons of Liberty: I’ll be really honest - for a show from the History Channel, the history on this show is pretty awful. But the cast is pretty. This one’s up to you, really. It fills a hole.

Garrow’s Law: William Garrow was a barrister and a pioneering legal mind in the 18th century, and this show (which ran for 3 seasons) is based on real Old Bailey cases and Garrow’s defenses, while also working in his fraught social life. Were you interested in learning a little more about Abe Woodhull’s erstwhile legal training? This is the show for you.

City of Vice: A miniseries that explains the origins and work of the Bow Street Runners, one of London’s first police forces. Does a great job of opening up some of the early 18th century underside of London including a smidge of 18th century gay culture.

A Harlot’s Progress: William Hogarth was an 18th century artist, printmaker and social commentator whose “A Harlot’s Progress” famously depicts the downfall of a woman who goes into prostitution. This 2006 series explores the relationship that inspired the ‘Harlot’ piece.

The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant: At around the same time America was busy trying to figure itself out, halfway around the world another one of Britain’s colonial possessions - Australia - was just getting started. Hundreds of convicts found themselves stuffed in ships and sent to the other side of the world - a sentence deemed almost more humane. This 2005 series with Romala Garai follows a very famous convict, Mary Bryant, and her experiences.

Banished: Another take on penal colonies in Australia. Currently available on Hulu.

Black Sails: A more recent offering from Starz, this show explores the backstory of the pirates in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Lots of great representation issues, a whole lot of ‘how does your story get told’ - and there’s a real big community on Tumblr who loves it and very actively produces all kinds of fic.

Clarissa - Simcoe fans, this one is totally for you. Based on the epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, Clarissa follows a girl of the same name as the infamous rake Lovelace tries to seduce her. Another look at what how women can be corrupted. Also, for you fandom nerds in the crowd, Lovelace was one of the first characters to inspire fix-it fic. Yes, really! Fix-it fic in the late 1700s. Lovelace is one of the original men for whom the ‘No, really, I can reform him’ trope was created. (Richardson, his creator, was so horrified by this reaction by his fans that he actually revised the book several times to try and make Lovelace even more villainous and irredeemable, with little success. Then as now, women apparently love the idea of a bad boy.)

Amazing Grace - The history of slavery in England and its colonies is complicated and nuanced; this story deals with one of the more famous names from that story, William Wilberforce, and his contribution.

Belle - Based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Another look at racial politics in England.

The Aristocrats - One of my all-time favorite TV miniseries and based on the nonfiction book by Stella Tilyard, this show follows the (actual, nonfictional) Lennox sisters, daughters of the Duke of Richmond as they grow up, marry, and adjust to rapid social change from the early 1700s into the 1790s.

The Duchess - About the same time the Lennox sisters were out in society, so was Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire. This is based on (I’m not sure how closely) Amanda Foreman’s biography of Georgiana, one of the leading ladies of her day.

Dangerous Liasons - Another story about corruptible young women, this one has 3 very well deserved Oscars to its name and an absolutely stunning Glenn Close.

Barry Lyndon - a very evocative, sumptuous film by Stanley Kubrick. Short on action, but very, very Aesthetic, as only Kubrick can do.

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Based on the book by Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel is largely considered to be one of the world’s first ‘superhero with a secret identity’ stories. Sir Percy Blakeney uses his identity as a dim-witted fop to provide cover for his activities rescuing French aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The 1982 version with Anthony Andrews and the 1999 version with Richard Grant are both a lot of fun.

Speaking of the French, where would we be without them? Our small domestic dust-up with Britain has far-reaching international consequences, setting in motion so many other social movements in Europe. The French, for instance, will have their own revolution several years after ours, which, of course, will lead to a total political shakeup ending with an artillery officer named Napoleon Bonaparte on the throne as Emperor. (You may have heard of him. He goes on to have his own series of large wars and, you know, completely changes the geo-political landscape of Europe. Like you do.)

La Revolution Francaise, filmed for the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, is available on YouTube in it’s entirety with English subtitles! Starts in 1774 and goes through the 1800s. C’est merveilleux.

Marie Antoinette - Sofia Coppola’s wild, modern romp through the life of one of the 18th century’s most notorious women. It may not be great history, but darn me if it isn’t fun to watch.

Farewell, My Queen - Another story about Marie Antoinette - this one is in French.

Nicolas Le Floch: An 18th century crime procedural set at the court of Louis XVI. The whole show is in French, so watch with subtitles, but the costumes are a lot of fun and it gives an interesting picture of the life a character like Lafayette would have left behind when he came to America. (He gets name dropped a few times, actually, though he never actually appears.)

Ekaterina: A 2014 miniseries from Russia discussing the rise of Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, contemporaneous to the Revolution. The 18th century is a fascinating time in Russian history and Catherine is a really, really interesting lady. Totally go and read about her.

Anno 1790: A Swedish crime procedural set in 1790s Sweden and following Johann Däadh, a doctor recently roped into the police force. Däadh is a bit of a reformer, interested in the rights of man and giving everyone a chance to be heard. Costumes are fun, and there’s a really great slow-burn romance between two of the characters, one of whom is (gasp) married. This show only ran for one season, but it was a really, really good season.

If you’re still jonesing for period dramas after the rest of this list, here’s a lot of shows and tv series set during the Napoleonic Wars that are also totally worth your time - the Richard Sharpe miniseries, the Horatio Hornblower miniseries, the BBC’s War and Peace, Master and Commander, and then, of course, anything based on a Jane Austen novel.

Have fun!

#turn amc #so i hear you liked

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