Damon Albarn Snubbed By Gibb
Damon Albarn was delighted when he recruited Bee Gees star Barry Gibb to sing on Gorillaz's new album - but was left disappointed when the veteran star cancelled his studio session at the last minute.
The former Blur frontman hired a string of guest musicians to appear on his band's latest record, Plastic Beach, including rapper Snoop Dogg, veteran rocker Lou Reed and The Clash stars Paul Simonon and Mick Jones.
Albarn admits he was ecstatic when Gibb also agreed to join in, but after finally getting the singer to the studio to record his vocals he backed out because of illness.
He tells Australian radio station Triple J, "He was doing it then he wasn't doing it then he was doing it again. He was going into a studio, it was a studio in Miami, then he got to the studio and decided he had an earache and that was the end of that."
Gorillaz 'Waiting To Hear From Grant'
The Gorillaz are refusing to address allegations the band's new track copied parts of a 1977 Eddy Grant song until the reggae star makes an official complaint.
Grant was furious when he heard the cartoon rockers' new single Stylo, insisting they stole the basis from his track Time Warp.
He complained, "I am outraged that the Gorillaz have infringed the copyright of my song. My song sits almost note to note with their release (which) is a blatant rip off."
But the band's manager Chris Morrison is bemused by the claim, insisting he has heard nothing from Grant's lawyers.
Morrison says, "Nobody has officially approached me about any contravention of any copyright. When I'm approached, I'll deal with it."
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