Comic artist + music superstar = Jamie Hewlett

It was only time before this guy turned up on here; he's got a few characters that most of you will recognise. Jamie Hewlett makes up half of the genius that is the Gorillaz, after all. While an art student at Northbrook College, Jamie made his first mark creating a fanzine called Atomtan, which later landed him a job developing a comic strip called Tank Girl for the music/culture mag Deadline. Tank Girl was an anarchic strip about a teenage punk girl who drove a tank and had a mutant kangaroo for a boyfriend. It may sound weird, but it was an instant hit. Later, Hewlett shared a flat with Damon Albarn of the band Blur, and they conceived of the idea of creating a virtual band while living together. And thus, the Gorrillaz were born.

© Jamie Hewlett

Ben and I were lucky enough to see the Gorillaz play in Auckland at the end of last year, and it was an awesome show. Not only did Little Dragon play warm-up (another favourite of mine), but the show was the perfect mix of visual and audible goodness. My little rendition of Jamie Hewlett's Gorillaz style is coming right up!