Gorillaz announce new LP ft. IDLES, Johnny Marr, Yasiin Bey, more, share “The Happy Dictator” ft. Sparks

Gorillaz have announced their ninth album, The Mountain, due out on March 20 via their new label KONG. It’s the follow-up to 2023’s Cracker Island, and they produced it with James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, Remi Kabaka Jr., and Bizarrap. It’s a typically guest-filled affair, with appearances from IDLES, Johnny Marr, Yasiin Bey, Omar Souleyman, Anoushka Shankar, The Roots’ Black Thought, Kara Jackson, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Asha Puthli, Jalen Ngonda, Sparks, Bizarrap, Trueno, Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Paul Simonon, and a few artists who are no longer with us, including De La Soul rapper David Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy the Dove), The Fall leader Mark E. Smith, Detroit rapper Proof, Nigerian-Ghanaian drummer and songwriter Tony Allen, Bobby Womack, and Dennis Hopper. See the cover art and tracklist below.

Here’s a synopsis from the press release:

Circumstances now find Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, 2D and Noodle in India, having made their way to Mumbai with the help of four fake passports courtesy of a New York business acquaintance of Murdoc. The band has turned its back on international pop stardom, with our heroes now immersed in the rhythms of mystical music-making, as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.

“As space dust we are here forever and that’s a mighty long time,” drummer Russel Hobbs says. “This is a musical meditation infused with light. A journey of the soul, with beats…”

The first single is “The Happy Dictator,” featuring Sparks, and you can hear that below.

Having recently wrapped up their four show “House of Kong” residency in London (which they debuted The Mountain at the last show of), Gorillaz have announced spring 2026 dates in the UK and Ireland, followed by a London stadium show with Sparks and Trueno. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 19 at 11 AM BST, with a mailing list presale starting on Wednesday, September 17 at 11 AM BST. Sign up for the mailing list by Tuesday, September 16 at 5 PM BST to get the password. Nothing in North America as of yet, but stay tuned.

Speaking of Sparks, they’re on their North American tour now, including a Brooklyn show at Kings Theatre on Friday (9/12).

GORILLAZ – THE MOUNTAIN TRACKLIST
1. The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
2. The Moon Cave (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought)
3. The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks)
4. The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen)
5. Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)
6. The God of Lying (feat. IDLES)
7. The Empty Dream Machine (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
8. The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof)
9. The Plastic Guru (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
10. Delirium (feat. Mark E. Smith)
11. Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)
12. The Shadowy Light (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
13. Casablanca (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr)
14. The Sweet Prince (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
15. The Sad God (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar)

GORILLAZ: 2026 TOUR DATES
March 21 – MANCHESTER, Co-op Live
March 22 – BIRMINGHAM, bp pulse LIVE
March 24 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro *
March 25 – LEEDS, First Direct Arena *
March 27 – CARDIFF, Utilita Arena *
March 28 – NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena *
March 29 – LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena *
March 31 – BELFAST, SSE Arena *
April 1 – DUBLIN, 3Arena *
June 20 – LONDON, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium #*

* with Trueno
# with Sparks