{"id":396941,"date":"2025-09-04T09:57:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T09:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396941\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T09:57:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T09:57:09","slug":"fans-react-to-gorillaz-debuting-new-album-at-phone-free-house-of-kong-mystery-show-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396941\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans react to Gorillaz debuting new album at phone-free &#8216;House Of Kong&#8217; &#8220;mystery show&#8221; in London"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Warning: light spoilers ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fans have taken to social media to react to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/gorillaz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gorillaz<\/a> debuting a new album in full at their phone-free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/heres-a-sneak-peek-inside-gorillaz-new-house-of-kong-london-exhibition-3883732\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018House Of Kong\u2019<\/a> mystery show in London last night<\/p>\n<ul class=\"post-content-read-more\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/album\/gorillaz-cracker-island-review-lyrics-tracklist-3402624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gorillaz \u2013 \u2018Cracker Island\u2019 review: conventional, but richly satisfying<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Last night (Wednesday September 3), fans flocked to the Copper Box Arena in London for the fourth and final night of Gorillaz\u2019s \u2018House Of Kong\u2019 exhibition shows celebrating the 25th anniversary of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/damon-albarn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Damon Albarn<\/a>\u2018s animated band. Where previous shows saw the band <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/watch-gorillaz-play-demon-days-in-full-for-the-first-time-since-2005-3888928\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perform some of their most iconic albums in full<\/a>, last night\u2019s showcase was something entirely special for those in attendance.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOKNKD7AiLf\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Fans weren\u2019t allowed to access their mobile phones during the performance, and were made to secure them in pouches. Following the end of the gig, fans took to social media to discuss the show, revealing that Gorillaz had debuted a new album in its entirety, and featured a ton of special guests.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Are you fucking serious the Gorillaz mystery show is definitely a new album and I can\u2019t be there to see it? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZywkKfFa3s\">pic.twitter.com\/ZywkKfFa3s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Hypno the Spy (@HypnoTheSpy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HypnoTheSpy\/status\/1963266806950613444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>An image of the mystery show\u2019s full band and guest performers was captured and shared on social media \u2013 check it out below.<\/p>\n<p>The full band features <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/damon-albarn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Damon Albarn<\/a>, Mike Smith, Jeff Wootton, Seye Adelekan, Jaega McKenna-Gordon, Karl Vanden Bossche Ruth O\u2019Mahony-Brady, Rebecca Freckleton, Michelle Ndegwa, Jesse Appiah, Angel Williams.<\/p>\n<p>Featured artists included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/black-thought\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Black Thought<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/omar-souleyman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Omar Souleyman<\/a>, Asha Puthli, Asha Bhosle, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/sparks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sparks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/gruff-rhys\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gruff Rhys<\/a>, Kara Jackson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/yasiin-bey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yasiin Bey<\/a>, Paul Simonon, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/idles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IDLES<\/a>\u2018 Joe Talbot, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/johnny-marr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnny Marr<\/a>, Ajay Prasanna, Trueno and Anoushka Shankar.<\/p>\n<p>The London Arab Orchestra, Demon Strings, Chris Storr, James Copus and Matthew Gunner served as featured musicians, while deceased acts like Dennis Hopper, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/bobby-womack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bobby Womack<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/de-la-soul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">De La Soul<\/a>\u2018s Dave Jolicoeur, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/tony-allen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tony Allen<\/a>, Proof and the late <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/mark-e-smith\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mark E Smith<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/the-fall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Fall<\/a> are billed as Voices from Elsewhere.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Mystery Show Team <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/crvBVAGYAz\">pic.twitter.com\/crvBVAGYAz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Artemon (@Artemon_az) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Artemon_az\/status\/1963232753475805671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As for the album itself, fans have described it as \u201cabsolutely breathtaking\u201d, with one fan writing: \u201cThe soundscape of this album is like nothing I\u2019ve ever heard from this band\u2026 Almost perfect album. Gorillaz really outdid themselves with this one. 10\/10\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just listened to the new Gorillaz album<br \/>The soundscape of this album is like nothing I&#8217;ve ever heard from this band, it&#8217;s absolutely breathtaking. There is a track that had me sobbing 10 seconds in, Almost perfect album. Gorillaz really outdid themselves with this one.<br \/>10\/10<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chaos \u26d3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udca5 | Sarah dale no1 (@chao5control) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chao5control\/status\/1963413715694285160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Another wrote that the record is \u201cheavy on Indian tunes\u201d, while others on Reddit said it also included other South Asian, Middle Eastern and world influences \u2013 this shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise to fans though, as Albarn previously said in July that the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/damon-albarns-been-incredibly-busy-making-music-reveals-new-gorillaz-record-is-in-four-languages-3878454\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> \u201cnew Gorillaz record is in four languages\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/C1PHERT0L0GY\/status\/1963378227621028338\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leaked image from the show also sees artwork of fictional character Murdoc now in the form of a Hindu deity<\/a> with blue skin, a long beard and prayer beads hanging from his neck. See more reactions below.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We went to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gorillaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@gorillaz<\/a> mystery show. It was a cell phone-free concert because they were playing from their new album. The album was heavy on Indian tunes. The orchestra was quite large: four strings, four backing vocalists, three Indian instruments, etc. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/57mqu2nfWW\">pic.twitter.com\/57mqu2nfWW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Caner \u00d6z (@kimkiocanmio) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kimkiocanmio\/status\/1963367509639496087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Guys the new Gorillaz album is INCREDIBLE it sounds like plastic beach and humanz had a baby the gig was INSANE I GOT BARRIER AND DAMON MADE DIRECT EYE CONTACT WITH ME AND POINTED AT ME I WAS LOSING MY SHIT AND PAUL SIMONON AND JOHNNY MARR WERE THERE???<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 frey\ud83e\uddf7\u00bf | \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@GlaassieW4ter) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GlaassieW4ter\/status\/1963381674118353392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW GORILLAZ ALBUM IS PEAK YALL<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 theo (@ohmeiios) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ohmeiios\/status\/1963385412950589575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">JUST OUT OF THE GORILLAZ MYSTERY SHOW AND OH MY GOD WHAT AN EXPERIENCE <\/p>\n<p>THIS NEW ALBUM IS AMAZING<\/p>\n<p>THE MOUNTAIN<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Skullz \u2606 \u2728\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 \u2013 COMMS OPEN (@Skull_Smoothiez) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Skull_Smoothiez\/status\/1963359197602746665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"reddit-embed-bq\" style=\"height:316px\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gorillaz\/comments\/1n7rw8i\/mystery_show_spoilers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mystery Show (spoilers)<\/a><br \/>by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/dickinsect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">u\/dickinsect<\/a> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gorillaz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gorillaz<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"reddit-embed-bq\" style=\"height:316px\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gorillaz\/comments\/1n7rs58\/mystery_new_album_start_to_finish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mystery = New album start to finish.<\/a><br \/>by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/user\/CombatClaret\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">u\/CombatClaret<\/a> in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gorillaz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gorillaz<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The forthcoming album has yet to receive a release date or a title reveal, but fans are expecting it to arrive as soon as this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Albarn-led band kicked off the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/gorillaz-to-play-iconic-albums-in-full-at-one-off-london-live-shows-3865125\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first of four limited-capacity live shows at the Copper Box Arena in London<\/a> last week (August 29) to mark their 25th anniversary. Throughout the first three dates celebrating the milestone, Gorillaz have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/watch-gorillaz-play-debut-album-in-full-as-they-kick-off-london-residency-3888754\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">played their self-titled debut<\/a>, its follow-up \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/reviews-gorillaz-7653-316820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Demon Days<\/a>\u2019 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/watch-gorillaz-surprise-fans-with-the-fall-tracks-after-playing-plastic-beach-in-full-with-yasiin-bey-gruff-rhys-and-paul-simonon-3889711\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018Plastic Beach\u2019 in full <\/a>at the East London venue.<\/p>\n<p>The third show \u2013 which contained the \u2018Plastic Beach\u2019 play-through \u2013 also saw Gorillaz <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/watch-gorillaz-surprise-fans-with-the-fall-tracks-after-playing-plastic-beach-in-full-with-yasiin-bey-gruff-rhys-and-paul-simonon-3889711\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">surprise audiences with \u2018The Fall\u2019 tracks<\/a> \u2018Phoner To Arizona\u2019 and \u2018California And The Slipping Of The Sun\u2019 live for the first time ever during the encore.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The four shows were part of the band\u2019s \u2018House Of Kong\u2019 exhibition at the Copper Box. It ran from August 8 until yesterday (September 3). The exhibition <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/gorillaz-to-celebrate-25-years-with-new-london-exhibition-house-of-kong-3863945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gallery offered fans a look behind the curtain of the virtual band\u2019s headquarters<\/a>, and provided insights into the journey they have had since sharing their 2000 debut single \u2018Tomorrow Comes Today\u2019, up until present day.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Warning: light spoilers ahead Fans have taken to social media to react to Gorillaz debuting a new album&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3936],"tags":[38443,77,269,3020,16902,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-396941","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-alternative","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-music","11":"tag-pop","12":"tag-rap","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115145437488452245","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396941\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}