Fred Perry x Gorillaz - collaboration with the virtual band

At the beginning of April, news and visuals appeared on Fred Perry social media about a collaboration with the British virtual band Gorillaz.

The band was founded in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. In the early years the creators didn’t show up on stage themselves - instead, virtual characters performed: 2D (vocals and keys), Murdoc Niccals (bass), Noodle (guitar) and Russel Hobbs (drums). Their big hits include Clint Eastwood, Feel Good Inc. and 19/2000, which also featured in FIFA 2002. Beyond music, Gorillaz released the autobiographical book Rise of the Ogre and in 2009 the documentary film Bananaz. They’ve also played in Poland three times, including Open’er Festival.

Not long ago, banners featuring the band members in Fred Perry classics appeared both on social media and in major cities like central London and Tokyo. The shirts shown were the iconic M12 with twin tipping and the solid colour M3. The designs haven’t changed since day one - still made on traditional machines in Leicester and hand finished. The campaign shows 2D in a white polo while the others wear the M12 Twin Tipped: Murdoc Niccals (Tartan Green / Ice / Red), Noodle (Brighton Ice / French Navy) and Russel Hobbs (Maroon / White / Ice).

“My first Fred Perry polo wasn’t really mine – it belonged to Arthur Ashe. Like a mix between Barack Obama and Denzel Washington… he was an artist… he had style, he had an afro, wore a pair of shorts – and of course the classic Fred Perry tennis shirt…”
Russel Hobbs

To sum it up: Gorillaz are the perfect match for Fred Perry - both stand for independence and originality. And this isn’t the end of it - Fred Perry has already announced more projects, including hoodies coming soon.