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Artist News
Albarn forms new band with Tony Allen
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 4 November 2010
Damon Albarn has formed a new band with former Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, and some of his “favourite African musicians”. Albarn previously worked with Allen, of course, in The Good, The Bad And The Queen.
Damon has told reporters that he is nearing completion of an album with “another band with Tony Allen; centred around what he does. But this time it’s him and me and Flea from The Chili Peppers and some of my favourite African musicians will be involved also. Flea of course is an anagram for Fela and Flea is so into this music – so that’s been great”.
Albarn’s a very busy chap at the moment. As well as the new band, another The Good, The Bad And The Queen album is in development, and he’s already working on the next Gorillaz long player. On that he told Stuff.co.nz: “I guess it’s my love letter to America. I used to be baffled by this place, and I guess I still am in some ways; America confused me enormously. But right now, with all that’s going on, this is a good place to be and this has been a great tour”.
Explaining his massively increased output of late, Albarn said: “I started working five days a week with a studio I’ve built, treating it like a nine-to-five job. I’ve been bringing up a family and I’ve been enormously productive because of not touring and having a home studio – it’s really that simple”.
