Damon Albarn is adding another group to his ever-growing list of projects.
The Gorillaz and Blur frontman has told Spin.com that he’s been at work on a new band with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea and Nigerian drummer Tony Allen (who worked with Fela Kuti and was in The Good, the Bad and the Queen with Albarn).
“[It’s] another band with Tony Allen; centered around what he does,” Albarn said. “But this time it’s him and me and Flea from the Chili Peppers and some of my favorite African musicians will be involved also. Flea of course is an anagram for Fela and Flea is so into this music – so that’s been great.”
It’s not the first we’re hearing of Flea’s love of African music. As Gibson.com previously reported, Flea and the Chili Peppers are experimenting with Afro-pop sounds on their forthcoming album.
Albarn said his project with Flea and Allen, which does not yet have a name, is about “three-quarters of the way through.” He also revealed that he’s finishing up work on a new Gorillaz release, while on tour with the band.
“It’s basically a tour-diary as a record, I guess it’s my love-letter to America,” he said. “I used to be very baffled by this place, and I guess I still am in some ways; America confused me enormously. But right now with all that’s going on this is a good place to be and this has been a great tour, the shows have been very special.”