Damon Albarn has criticised the government in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it has shown “no empathy with the arts whatsoever”.
The Blur and Gorillaz star has called for music to be part of the “prescription” for the country’s national health.
Speaking ahead of several virtual gigs, Albarn said: “This present government has no empathy with the arts whatsoever and sadly that is a really important part of British culture.
Damon Albarn says the government has ‘no empathy with the arts whatsoever’
“We live in a pretty (…) miserable country at times and we need our arts to uplift us.
“It should be part of the prescription for our national health.”
The 52-year-old hit out at Number 10’s focus on football as opposed to the creative industries.
He said: “Maybe a little less emphasis on the Premier League just running and a bit more love given to the arts would be a start because, I’m sorry, I love football as much as anybody else but football alone does not sustain my soul.”
The artist, who has spoken out against Brexit several times, attacked the government’s treatment of the North of England during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gorillaz star says he loves football but it does not ‘sustain’ his ‘soul’
Albarn said: “Who on Earth would leave the EU after what has happened this year? It’s madness. No one would do that in their right mind, would they? But we are doing it.
“It’s gone beyond being angry about it. It’s just ‘okay, alright then’.
“I hope the North of England is slowly waking up to the fact they backed the wrong horse as far as thinking the Conservatives were going to have their back.
“I hope they are going to realise what a mistake they made.”
The musician and his fellow Gorillaz bandmates have formed a bubble in order to rehearse ahead of their three online concerts this month.
The Gorillaz have formed a bubble to prepare for a series of virtual gigs combining live music with animation
Albarn and the group’s animator Jamie Hewlet will blend live music with illustrations across the shows – with guests from their seventh studio album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, in the performances.
Sir Elton John, The Cure star Robert Smith, rapper Slowthai and Peter Hook from New Order all feature on the virtual band’s star-studded new work.
Albarn has described the upcoming shows as a potential “game-changer” for both the Gorillaz and the music industry as a whole.
He said: “If we get this right it will be a game-changer. No-one has ever done anything like this before.
“But I hasten to add there is a huge potential for things to go wrong. When you have cartoons and live music trying to happen at the same time, it’s (…) mad really.”
Song Machine Live From Kong takes place on 12 December at 11am at midnight, and on 13 December at 7pm.