Gorillaz feature amongst other bands who are contributing towards a new War Child album. “Help: A Day In The Life” will mark the 10th anniversary of the “Help” album released in 1995.

Other bands already confirmed include Radiohead, Razorlight, The Zutons, Manic Street Preachers, Bloc Party, Hard-Fi, The Coral, Elbow and Maximo Park.

The project aims to put together to best bands of this generation and give them one day to record a new piece of music which will be made available on www.warchildmusic.com on September 9th. A CD release will follow a few weeks later.

War Child was launched in 1993 in response to the affect of Balkans conflict on children. In 1995, 20 UK bands and artists went into studios across Europe to record songs for “Help”.

Blur’s “Eine Kline Lift Musik” featured on the original Help CD.

For more info go to the War Child website.

Plans for a Gorillaz movie have had to be reconfigured after stars Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett decided Steven Spielberg’s production company Dreamworks didn’t understand their concept.

Albarn, who is also the frontman of Blur, and artist Hewlett have come up with the idea of making a film around the cartoon band’s recent album Demon Days.

But Albarn admits their initial plans to team up with Dreamworks have been ditched.

He says, “We had to terminate our involvement with them due to artistic differences.

“We were working with them and it just didn’t work out for us.”

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Gorillaz are planning to play a string of live shows in one city later this year, featuring the full compliment of guest stars in the band, Damon Albarn has revealed.

The animated hip-hop phenomenon played a number of live concerts in 2003, off the back of their self-titled debut album, performing behind a huge screen stretched across the stage.

So far, there have been no gigs to promote the acclaimed current LP “Demon Days”. However, Blur frontman and Gorillaz musical force Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett are planning a week of concerts.

Albarn, speaking to MTV, would only reveal that the concerts will not take place in London. The shows are also restricted by two members of the group seemingly being marooned in America.

“We’ve settled for a week somewhere, but we probably won’t get Doom, as MF Doom can’t leave the country, and Del the Funky Homosapien won’t leave the country,” explained Damon.

“I’m not going to say where, or when, but definitely later this year. Only one town, but not London, and that’s the time we’re gonna have everyone together on the one stage, for a week.”

Hewlett explained the difficulties involved in such a massive live experience. “Logistically, it’s quite a big one to arrange. But it’s happening, it’s definitely happening. Like a monster truck show, but with people.”

Amongst the stars set to appear at the shows are actor Dennis Hopper, Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, former Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth, De La Soul, Roots Manuva and Pharcyde.

“Dare”, the new Gorillaz single, is out at the end of August.

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