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Gorillaz, the famous virtual band created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, are marking their 25th anniversary with a new exhibition at London’s Copper Box later this year.
The immersive showcase, titled House Of Kong, takes place for a limited run from 8 August to 3 September, and will allow fans to peek behind the curtain of the virtual band’s creation – all the way back to the release of their 2000 debut single ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’.
A press release states: “Visitors to House of Kong will take a jaunt behind the curtain of Gorillaz’ extraordinary world. A journey through the band’s life of misadventures, musical innovation and ground-breaking virtual ways since these four outsiders – bassist Murdoc Niccals, singer 2D, drummer Russel Hobbs and guitarist Noodle – first came together to blow up a pre-digital world with the release of ‘Tomorrow Comes Today’ in 2000. An exhibition like no other, House of Kong is an experience for the brave and bold.”
Watch the trailer for House of Kong below (with a few cheeky callbacks to The Exorcist with the statue of Pazuzu as the main image) and buy tickets here.
House of Kong exhibition ticket holders will have exclusive presale access to the Copper Box Arena dates, which coincide with the exhibition.
Indeed, Gorillaz have announced four special live shows at the Copper Box Arena – on 29 and 30 August, as well as on 2 and 3 September.
In March, Albarn confirmed to French publication Les Inrockuptibles that a new Gorillaz album is on the way.
“I’m finishing a new Gorillaz album,” Albarn shared. “One opera and one new Gorillaz album seems like enough for 2025! Unless someone accuses me of taking my foot off the gas!”
The opera he’s referring to is The Magic Flute II: La Malédiction, an electro pop opera composed and performed by Albarn.
Hewlett confirmed the news of a new Gorillaz album on Instagram: “Yes, the new album is coming out this year.”
The band’s last release was 2023’s ‘Cracker Island’, which was one of our favourite albums that year. In our review, we said: “Inspired by Albarn’s meeting with Princess Siribha Chudabhorn at a Blur concert in Bangkok in the ‘90s, it’s dreamy pop at its finest. So, despite a quarter of a century in the game, it seems as though Gorillaz are very much here to stay. We couldn’t be happier.”
The legendary gates of Kong will open to the public for the very first time on 8 August to 3 September at London’s Copper Box.