Bananaz Out Now!

Ceri Levy's documentary Bananaz is now out on DVD! If you can't find it in your local store, you could try one of these:-

HMV
Play.com
Amazon.co.uk

Australia: JB Hifi Online
Denmark: CDon | Imusic
France: EMI Boutique
Switzerland: Ex Libris | CeDe.ch | Soundmedia.ch
Taiwan: Books.com.tw | G-Music.com

And in other news...

A dear friend of Gorillaz, James Bowthorpe is attempting to break the record for fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle. Thus far he has already ridden 8756 miles over 70 days  - and all for charity!

If you want to make a donation or just show him your love and support you can follow his progress on http://twitter.com/GlobeCycle or the link below. Please spread the word....

Bananaz: Online World Premiere and DVD Release announced!

Babelgum announced today that Bananaz, Ceri Levy's free-wheeling documentary film about Gorillaz, will receive its’ online global premiere on Babelgum.com.

For four weeks from April 20th Bananaz will be available to stream, and alongside the film, babelgum.com (www.babelgum.com/gorillazgobananaz) are also launching a Gorillaz channel, featuring the Demon Days live concerts, videos, 2 new games, a Go Bananaz fans competition and exclusive Bananaz clips.

Bananaz gives a 91 minute look inside the remarkable real world of Gorillaz, ­the most successful animated band ever. At the birth of the project, film maker Ceri Levy set about to document this undertaking. Levy filmed alongside and behind the scenes from 2000 to 2006, from first drawings, animations, music and the musicians, through to the faces behind the voices of Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel Hobbs.

The result is a free-wheeling documentary film; an intimate, honest and often hilarious account of the working relationship between Albarn and Hewlett. With appearances by many of those who occasionally pass through this world ; Dennis Hopper, De la Soul, Ibrahim Ferrer, Dangermouse, Dan the Automator, D12, Bootie Brown and Neneh Cherry.

Bananaz is also set for theatrical and DVD release in June 2009.

The DVD will feature the 91 minute film as well as The Bananaz Home Movie Club – with to an hour of outtakes from the film. Rolls include - Clint Eastwood, Live in Japan, The Sneeze, Hello America, Bill Murray Featuring The Bees, and Food Chain amongst others.

For more info and to view trailers and teaser clips from the film go to:

www.babelgum.com/gorillazgobananaz

www.bananazfilm.com

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2063598.ece

Gorillaz have most 'friends'

More Monkey action from Gorillaz close friends Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett... check it out...

Monkey Bee, a short film directed by Jamie Hewlett is premiering on Youtube
now

A live action short film for Monkey Bee - the first single from OJourney to
the West', will have its premiere today. Created and directed by Jamie
Hewlett, Monkey Bee is a mixture of Chinese 1970's spaghetti western, meets
Korean horror movie, meets much beloved 1980's Monkey tv seriesS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y90ONojCc6Q



Fans of Hewlett's numerous Gorillaz videos should enjoy his first live
action outing. Conjuring up images of legendary battles and adversity, we
find Monkey trying to cross the volcano fields of Princess Iron Fan. Monkey
needs her magic fan in order to cool the hot molten fields but the Princess
refuses and an epic battle ensues, throwing first trained assassins and then
a colossal army of volcano soldiers his way in a desperate attempt to thwart
his journey.

The film was shot in London on 35mm film, using members of the Journey to
the West cast. A team of modellers, animators, compositors and vfx artists
have since worked for 8 weeks to put all the live action and special effects
together and deliver the first Monkey film.

Monkey Bee will premiere on youtube from Tuesday 28th October, and will
appear on Channel 4 in the UK at 00.05 on Thursday 30th October.
The Monkey Bee video is also available for you to own from the 30th October
on I-tunes.
http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-album/buy-monkey-bee-video/

Monkey takes over Youtube
To celebrate the release of this new short film, Monkey has taken over
Youtube for 24 hours. Head over there now to catch the world premiere of
Monkey Bee; the making of Monkey Bee; Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's
youtube takeover and curatorial introduction; Damon & Jamie's Excellent
Adventure and other clips hand-picked by Damon and Jamie which tell the
story of what shaped the unique musical and visual aesthetic of Journey to
the West.
http://www.youtube.com/monkeyjttw/

The album is based -on the opera Monkey: Journey to the West
http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-opera/

MAKE YOUR OWN MONKEY BEE VIDEO

Think you could create a live action, 70's Chinese spaghetti western
inspired action film? Go on then - we're giving you a trove of clips, green
screens and visuals straight from the editor's suite allowing you to make
your own version of the Monkey Bee film.

Once you've created your Monkey masterpiece, just upload it to this
contest-specific Youtube channel where it will be judged by Damon Albarn and
Jamie Hewlett: http://www.youtube.com/group/monkeybee

The winner will receive a signed copy of the limited edition, deluxe vinyl
version of the Monkey: Journey to the West album, and 5 additional winners
will get two tickets to see the Monkey: Journey to the West opera at the O2
in December.

http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/video-remix/


Buy Links ­

 Album

Digital:

iTunes -
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=286583805&s=143444
(worldwide version)

Physical:

UK-
HMV -
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=842946

Amazon -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monkey-Journey-West-Damon-Albarn/dp/B001CVCBEO/beggarsgroup-21

XL Recordings Shop -
http://shop.xlrecordings.com/release/~journey-to-the-west-cd/

US-
Beggars Shop - http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/releases/journey-to-the-west/


Monkey at the 02 buy ticket link
http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-opera/dates-tickets/

MONKEY JOURNEY TO THE WEST TAKES OVER TIME OUT

To celebrate the return of Monkey to London, a special edition of Time Out magazine hits the London news stands next Tuesday October 28th.

EXCLUSIVE NEW JAMIE HEWLETT COMIC IN TIME OUT MAGAZINE:

This issue, featuring a cover designed especially for the magazine by Jamie Hewlett, will also include Hewlett's first comic strip since 1998, and a free iTunes voucher for readers to download a track from the album. The comic strip feature's Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy & Tripitaka as they meet the White Skeleton Demon.

http://www.timeout.com/shop/monkey?html=DCMP-gorillazmyspace

WIN A TRIP TO CHINA

The Monkey extravaganza doesn't stop there. Time Out have also teamed up with responsibletravel.com to offer an amazing prize of a trip for two to China.

The lucky winners will spend over two weeks exploring historical sites, experiencing traditional rural village life and mixing with the locals in Shanghai. The trip also includes a walk along the Great Wall and cruise the spectacular Yangtze River.

http://www.timeout.com/competition/chinatravel?html=DCMP-gorillazmyspace

WIN A VINYL BOX SET

In addition five runners-up will win a deluxe Monkey vinyl box set crafted by The Vinyl Factory with an exclusive art poster designed by Jamie Hewlett and a 68-page booklet featuring lyrics and sketches.

The album Journey to the West was released in August this year and debuted at 5. Entirely in Mandarin, it's the first album of its kind to chart in the UK – and Time Out have five deluxe vinyl box sets up for grabs. Crafted by The Vinyl Factory, the box set features an exclusive art poster designed by Jamie Hewlett and a 68-page booklet featuring lyrics and sketches.

http://www.timeout.com/competition/chinatravel?html=DCMP-gorillazmyspace

WIN ONE OF 200 TICKETS FOR MONKEY AT THE O2

Time Out are giving away 100 pairs of tickets to Monkey Journey To The West, for your chance to bag a pair of tickets to the show on Tuesday November 11th

http://www.timeout.com/london/timeout-free-events/tickets/event/id/80?html=DCMP-gorillazmyspace

TIME OUT AND MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST

Following SELL OUT shows in Manchester, Paris, Charleston & London's Royal Opera House, Monkey: Journey to the West opens in a tented theatre at the 02 in London on November 8th. Monkey: Journey to the West is Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, designed by Jamie Hewlett and with music composed by Damon Albarn.

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/artist/951963?spotlight_ren_od=1&tm_link=tm_homeA_1_F1

http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/the-opera/dates-tickets