Russel Hobbs

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Lore & Background

Within the Gorillaz narrative, Russel Hobbs is a central figure whose voice was originally provided by a specific actor for over ten years before Remi Kabaka Jr took over as the permanent voice in 2015. In addition to vocal duties, Kabaka Jr also assumed the role of percussionist and music producer for the band during this period. The character's presence has been consistent through the band's evolution from their debut album, Gorillaz (2001), which featured trip hop and dub influences, to later works like Plastic Beach (2010) with its synth-pop elements, and the 2026 release of The Mountain, inspired by India. Russel's character is integral to the band's live presentations, which have ranged from obscured touring bands behind screens in the early years to fully visible live performances featuring a real band projected alongside animated members since 2010.

In Their Own Story

Russel Hobbs has been part of Gorillaz since their formation in 1998 by Albarn and Hewlett. The character's voice was performed for over a decade until Remi Kabaka Jr became the permanent voice actor, percussionist, and producer in 2015. This transition occurred as the band prepared to release Humanz (2017), their first album in seven years, followed by The Now Now (2018). Russel's character has appeared in every major era of the project, including the Song Machine web series launched in 2020, which culminated in the seventh studio album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez. Throughout these years, from the debut single "Clint Eastwood" to the critically acclaimed ninth album The Mountain (2026), Russel remained a constant fictional presence, anchoring the band's visual identity alongside 2-D, Murdoc, and Noodle.

Reader's Guide

To understand Russel Hobbs' role in Gorillaz, one must look at the band's discography and live history. He is credited with drums on all studio albums from the self-titled debut (2001) through The Mountain (2026). His character has been featured in music videos directed by Jamie Hewlett, such as those for "Clint Eastwood," "Feel Good Inc.," and singles from the Song Machine project. In live settings since 2010, the band utilizes a format where animated versions of Russel are projected on stage alongside a visible touring band. The character's voice acting history is notable: while an unnamed actor provided his voice for over ten years, Remi Kabaka Jr assumed the role permanently in 2015, also taking on production duties. This evolution mirrors the band's shift from hidden performers to a more traditional, yet still virtual-enhanced, touring act.

Did You Know?

• Remi Kabaka Jr became the permanent voice of Russel Hobbs in 2015, after providing the character's voice for over ten years.
• In addition to voicing Russel since 2015, Remi Kabaka Jr also serves as a percussionist and music producer for the band.
• Russel is one of the four fictional members of Gorillaz, alongside 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, and Noodle.
• The band's live shows since 2010 have featured traditional touring with a fully visible live band, projecting animated versions of Russel on stage via computer graphics.