Gorillaz have officially entered Studio 8H.
The Damon Albarn–fronted animated band made its Saturday Night Live debut as the musical guest on the March 7 episode hosted by Ryan Gosling.
The virtual rock group appeared on the NBC sketch comedy show in support of its ninth studio album, The Mountain, released Feb. 27. The set debuted atop the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, marking the band’s third No. 1 in the country.
Gorillaz opened their first performance with “Clint Eastwood,” the breakthrough single from their 2001 self-titled debut. The group played in front of a massive screen displaying the band members’ animated characters, while rapper Del the Funky Homosapien joined onstage to deliver his verses.
For their second performance, Albarn and company delivered the new track “The Moon Cave,” featuring onstage appearances by singer-songwriter Asha Puthli, The Roots’ Black Thought and sitar player Anoushka Shankar. The guest-filled performance was complemented by a lively string section in the background.
Gorillaz recently announced a tour in support of the new album — their first North American run in four years — launching Sept. 17 in Orlando, Florida, and wrapping on Halloween in Seattle. The Mountain serves as the follow-up to 2023’s Cracker Island.
Earlier in the episode, Harry Styles made a surprise appearance during Gosling’s opening monologue, sending the studio audience into a frenzy when cameras revealed him seated in the crowd. The Project Hail Mary star quickly wove the moment into the bit, jokingly panicking that the pop star’s presence was stealing attention from his planned monologue.
Watch Gorillaz’s SNL performances below, and find all the ways to stream the full episode here.
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