By Emeli Meagher
Photo Credit: Bethan Miller
I had the absolute pleasure of catching the opening night of Gorillaz’s album throwback tour at the Copper Box Arena last Friday.
Almost 25 years since their self-titled debut, this night celebrated the album in all its glory.
Fans spilled out of Hackney Wick station, the merch – shirts slathered with the graffiti-inspired logo – instantly marked out the die-hards.
Just minutes from the venue, Gorillaz’s House of Kong exhibit had anticipation simmering for weeks, offering a rare, interactive peek behind the curtain. It pulled fans deeper into the Gorillaz universe and Albarn and Hewlett’s creation of digital characters, each with their own distinct backgrounds and stories. From 2D’s deadpan melancholy to Noodle’s effortless cool, Murdoc’s chaos, and Russel’s steady pulse, these figures have become icons.
For a band blending the lines between real and virtual, it was a reminder that these characters have lived on long after their debut.
M1 A1 kicked things off with its warped ‘hellos’ echoing across the 7,500-capacity venue. From there, the band wove through the debut album’s tracks, not in strict order but with careful pacing, with selections here and there of B-sides and other rarities. For ardent fans, it was particularly special to have Miho Hatori join the band on stage, reprising her role as the original voice of Noodle during this album’s era – a nostalgic highlight.
Among the night’s surprises were the long-awaited live debuts of Double Bass and Ghost Train. Meanwhile, fan favourites like Starshine, Slow Country, Sound Check (Gravity), and Man Research (Clapper) resurfaced for the first time since 2002.
Between tracks, Albarn reflected on Gorillaz’s legacy: “It was a very long time ago this record came out. Some of you weren’t even born!”
Later, during a playful moment addressing improvisation, he quipped, “Some of the next few have no lyrics. Sing whatever you like, I don’t give a sh*t!”
A restart of 19-2000 came with Albarn’s wry admission: “If I f*ck up at any point, no matter how amazing you think I am, everything goes to sh*t.” Yet these moments never dampened the atmosphere; they became part of the night’s charm, turning stumbles into shared, memorable experiences for the audience, a bonus for everyone lucky enough to hear the track one more time.
During Latin Simone (¿Qué Pasa Contigo?), Albarn paid heartfelt tribute to Ibrahim Ferrer, recalling how the Cuban singer had once worked as a shoe shiner before returning to music: “To have had that opportunity to work with him… well, wow, that was gold.”
Ferrer’s voice filled the arena on screen, connecting decades of history and giving the experience a resonant weight.
By the time the encore rolled around, with Dracula, the Clint Eastwood reprise featuring Sweetie Irie, and Ghost Train, the night closed on an undeniable high.
It was a reminder of how playful and vital this record still feels, nearly a quarter-century later. Technical stumbles, restarts, and the occasional programmed limitation only added to the sense of witnessing something rare, with tracks resurfacing that hadn’t been heard live in years. With two more Copper Box shows ahead – and the final one billed as a mystery show rumoured to feature new music – this mini run already feels destined for the history books.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Emeli Meagher/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Jack Walsh 
Chloe Morris