Yesterday, Gorillaz made headlines, as the animated hip-hop group detailed their forthcoming album, The Now Now, and shared two new singles, a music video, and a listing of tour dates with fans. Given this announcement, frontman Damon Albarn has been on a media tour, with the famed musician stopping in with Gordon Smart of Radio X to chat about the new release.
During Albarn’s talk with Smart, the conversation steered toward Albarn’s almost collaboration with Prince. As noted by Pitchfork, Albarn told listeners that at one point he was invited to Paisley Park “to go and play with Prince.” However, while most people would jump at the opportunity, the Gorillaz leader turned down the invitation, noting that he refused to go after he found out that Prince didn’t let people smoke in his studio.
“I was having a drink and a fag—I don’t actually smoke anymore, knocked that one on the head—but if you can’t be who you… If I’ve invited someone to my studio, they’re my guest, and there aren’t any conditions like that,” Albarn explained. He continued, “Anyway, it’s like, I can have a cigarette outside if I needed it—I’d be fucking excited, right? Why the fuck would I not want to fucking go mad if I’m with Prince? I’d rather not do it and not get pissed off with the whole thing. It’s just one of those ‘could have been’… I’ve got a few of those.”
[H/TÂ Pitchfork]