Gorillaz is a virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn (lead singer of Blur) and Jamie Hewlett (co-creator of the comic book 'Tank Girl'). The duo came up with the idea while watching MTV at their London flat. They felt the channel was becoming too manufactured and devoid of substance, so they decided to create a 'cartoon' band to comment on the celebrity-obsessed culture. The name 'Gorillaz' was chosen simply because both Albarn and Hewlett were born in 1968, which is the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac. The band consists of four fictional animated members: 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. They became a massive success, blending hip-hop, electronic, and rock music while maintaining their animated identities.