The Four Seasons (group)

"Jersey Boys," a musical play based on the lives of The Four Seasons, is running at the La Jolla (California) Playhouse through January 2, 2005 and is headed for Broadway. All artwork and promotional videos are created by Zombie Flesh Eaters (Hewlett's own company) and Passion Pictures. The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. The list of integral performers in the group are likely to change drastically for the second album, with the exception of Damon Albarn himself. The partnership continues to this day. Some are still under speculation and can be considered pseudonyms; for instance, Damon has said that he is solely responsible for 2D's speaking and singing voices, whereas Dan Left Hand is a pseudonym for Dan The Automator. The band name is also the name of a legal partnership, The 4 Seasons Partnership, that Valli and Gaudio entered into at the start of their careers, agreeing to split all the proceeds from their musical efforts 50-50. During the "hidden" credits to the DVD Phase One: Celebrity Take Down, it states the names of the creators, the voice talents and those responsible for performing live.

The band would, however, enjoy a brief revival in their popularity in the mid 1970s, with the hits "Who Loves You", "Swearin' to God", and "December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)". In actual fact, the only permanent member behind the music happens to be Damon Albarn. By the end of the decade, however, the group's popularity was deteriorating, as public interest moved towards rock with a harder edge and more socially conscious lyrics. In the half-hour TV mockumentary entitled Charts Of Darkness, it was explicitly stated that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were behind the project; quoting Albarn, "There could be fifty [people] here, but there's two." Many fans have simply assumed that the guest artists in the liner notes (including Cibo Matto vocalist Miho Hatori and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien) complete the band. In the mid 1960s, the British Invasion slowed down their career somewhat, but the Four Seasons released several more big hits in 1964, such as "Dawn", "Rag Doll", "Big Man in Town", "Ronnie" and "Save It for Me". There have been waves of controversy surrounding who is actually behind Gorillaz ever since the first single was released. The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several well-remembered hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man" and "Candy Girl". Here are just a few of the films they reference in their photos and videos:.

After many more personnel changes, the band still tours today, but Valli is the only original member left. Most of Gorillaz's fanbase have rented and/or bought these films. Massi left the band in 1965 and was briefly replaced by arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long became a mainstay on bass for the next 10 years. The band's art is deeply rooted in horror film imagery and ideals. Lead singer Frankie Valli began recording in 1953, but the group (Valli, Bob Gaudio on keyboards, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar, and Nick Massi on bass), which formed in 1960, didn't release their first hit until 1962, with "Sherry", produced by Bob Crewe. For their first tour of the United States, two screens were used; one was simply the animatics, while the second, lower screen displayed the band's silhouettes along with various quotes from interviews. The Four Seasons are an American pop and doo wop group, distinct from many similar groups of the 1950s and 60s in their traditional Italian-American sound. Videos, animatics and image collages are projected onto the audience side of the screen, while choreographed lights behind the screen light up silhouettes of the physical band, creating a meld of the physical and animated.

December 1963 (Oh What a Night). At all performances, the physical band plays behind a specially designed screen which covers the stage area. Who Loves You. The song from the website, Rock It, will not be on the album. Swearin' To God (Frankie Valli). are known to be on the new release. My Eyes Adored You (Frankie Valli). Dirty Harry, Kids With Guns, and Feel Good Inc.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow (originally by The Shirelles). It is now known as "Demon Days" Some track names have been revealed as well. C'mon Marianne. The name of the album has been reported to be "We Are Happy Landfill", but this has also been changed. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli). This was later changed to May. Beggin'. It was first reported to be coming in March 2005.

Tell It To The Rain. Since then, some information about the new album has gotten out. I've Got You Under My Skin. It has been revealed that a log in system will be added to the website in the near future, according to Gorillaz-Unofficial (http://www.gorillaz-unofficial.com). Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me). A contest was also announced which allowed fans to send in a minute-long video or audio they had made; the prize included collaborating with the band in some way, shape or form and getting their own room in the newly rebuilt Kong Studios. Working My Way Back To You. On December 8th, 2004, the website reopened with the announcement of a new album on the way, including production by DJ Danger Mouse and guest appearances by De La Soul.

Don't Think Twice (It's Allright) (The Wonder Who?). Rumours were circulating around this time that Gorillaz were busy preparing a film, though nothing has surfaced. Let's Hang On. The DVD contains all five videos (including the abandoned video "5/4"), the "Charts Of Darkness" documentary, the five Gorilla Bites (short vignettes), a tour of the website by the MEL 9000 server and much more. Girl Come Running. The building was in shambles and it turned out that the band had fled to Hollywood to escape whomever or whatever that was trying to attack them. November saw the release of the DVD Phase One: Celebrity Take Down which features an abandoned 3D Kong Studios (only eight rooms, including the lobby, are accessible.) If someone waits in a room longer than a minute, zombie hands will appear and grab the viewer; in some instances, a nude man is seen laughing maniacally. Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye). On October 30th, 2002, as the band was passing into global obscurity, Kong Studios was closed by police, stating that a domestic disturbance involving a running nude man was reported at the site.

Big Man In Town. The single to follow, Lil' Dub Chefin' (M1 A1), contained an original track by the Spacemonkeyz titled "Spacemonkeyz Theme". Save It For Me. The record was credited to Spacemonkeyz VS Gorillaz, containing most of the album reworked by Spacemonkeyz. Rag Doll. The dub remix album Laika Come Home was released in June. Alone (originally by the Shepherd Sisters). The end of the year brought 911, a collaboration with rap artists D12 (sans Eminem) about the September 11, 2001 attacks, along with the announcement of G-Sides, a compilation of the b-sides from the first three singles. The new year also saw a spectacular performance at the 2002 BRIT awards, featuring the band in 3D, weaving in and out of each other on four large screens along with rap accompaniment by Phi Life Cypher.

Ronnie. The special also interviews Rachel of S Club 7 fame and a few of the band's voice talents, who had been given roles to play. Stay (originally by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs). Around this time, a half-hour TV mockumentary entitled Charts Of Darkness was released, which follows Channel 4 news reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy attempting to track down Damon and Jamie after they were placed in an insane asylum. Dawn (Go Away). The only time the video for "Tomorrow Comes Today" was played in the States was when Toonami broadcasted a "Midnight Run" special where they played animated music videos from Gorillaz, Daft Punk, and Kenna. Marlena. Each of the videos contained humorous and often ridiculous storylines and imagery, though "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000" were the only singles to break through the American music scene.

Candy Girl. Later that same month, their first full-length, the self-titled Gorillaz was released, producing four singles: "Clint Eastwood", "19-2000", "Rock The House" and "Tomorrow Comes Today". Walk Like A Man. Due to this, the band's Hotmail accounts were abandoned (and later hacked) and the inboxes on the site were never updated. Big Girls Don't Cry. The blend of raw hip-hop, cheesy horror music and a haunting melodica solo struck chords around the world, thrusting Gorillaz into the global limelight. Sherry. The Clint Eastwood single was released at the start of March, 2002.

1996 Four Seasons with Frankie Valli. Because of the nature of the site, an official fansite was created to hold the standard band website information, including a discography, touring schedules and more. 1995 Who Loves You. Each member also had their own computer which contained pictures, sound bites from various takes of songs and their e-mail inboxes. 1995 Oh What a Night. Each room also had bonus surprises and games to play: for example, the lobby had a remix machine, the cafeteria contained the messageboard on the wall and Murdoc's Winnebago (http://www.murdocswinnebago.com/) (accessible only by using the enhanced section of Gorillaz, later stolen and found in the United States) contained a voodoo doll of 2D. 1994 Sing for You. The band's website, a literal orgy of Macromedia Flash, was a representation of Kong Studios in the fullest sense of the word: inside, you could browse through each member's bedrooms, their recording environment and even the hallways and bathrooms.

1994 Sherry/Big Girls Don't Cry. The EP and video followed suit a few months afterward, generating a lot of word-of-mouth advertising, as well as a large shroud of mystery over who was behind Gorillaz and what they were to expect in the months to come. 1993 Dance Album. The first single for the band was Tomorrow Comes Today, which was very well received in the UK underground music scene. 1993 The Four Seasons Dance Album. Gorillaz have earned the Guinness World Record for being the Most Successful Virtual Band (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/gwr5/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=57561). 1992 Hope & Glory. There are also some rather obscure references made to people and things such as Tom Savini, Looney Tunes and the band Swell Maps, to name a few.

2. Romero films and horror film locations stated on highway sign posts in the promotional video for "19-2000". 1990 Live, Vol. Matter-of-fact references to horror films are everywhere, including samples from George A. 1. Gorillaz was created by Damon Albarn (of Blur) and Jamie Hewlett (of Tank Girl fame) and was based on their interests, dreams and fears. 1990 Live, Vol. The band live in the also-fictitious Kong Studios, high upon a mountain in the centre of a cemetery in Essex.

1966 Live on Stage. Lil' Dub Chefin' (M1 A1) CDS (2002). 1965 The 4 Seasons Entertain You. Laika Come Home (2002). 1964 Girls, Girls, Girls - We Love Girls. Tomorrow Comes Today CDS/DVDS (2002). The Four Seasons. G-Sides EP (2002).

1964 The Beatles Vs. 911 12" (2001). 1964 Rag Doll. Rock The House CDS (2001). 1964 Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs. 19-2000 CDS (2001). 1964 Born to Wander. Clint Eastwood CDS (2001).