Gnarls Barkley make UK music history

UK pop music history was made at on April 2nd 2006 when ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley went to the top of the singles chart based on downloads alone. Until recently, download sales could only be counted if a song was available in the shops, but the rule has now changed.

‘Crazy’ was the debut release by the US hip hop duo of DJ/producer Danger Mouse and rap star Cee-Lo Green working together under the name Gnarls Barkley. The track was played on BBC Radio 1 by Trevor Nelson and Zane Lowe since late 2005. It was made Record of the Week by Jo Whiley and Scott Mills and also Weekend Anthem by both Sara Cox and Spoony.

A full length Gnarls Barkley album, called ‘St Elsewhere’, is scheduled for release in the UK at the end of April 2006. Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse began working on the album last year, but Danger Mouse's ‘Grey Album’ and Cee-Lo's ‘Soul Machine’ albums were released at about the same time resulting in both artists becoming sidetracked.

Gnarls Barkley is appearing at the Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park on June 23 with Massive Attack and The Flaming Lips before moving northern leg of the event the next day at Leeds Harewood House with Massive Attack and Goldfrapp. The band will return to the UK on August 26 to play the Creamfields Festival in Cheshire and will also appear at the Electric Picnic Festival in Ireland on September 3.

Cee-Lo is a founding member of one of the leading Dirty South super groups Goodie Mob. His debut solo album ‘Cee-Lo Green’ and ‘His Perfect Imperfections’, with hits like ‘Gettin' Grown’ and ‘Closet Freak’, established him as an elite member of the next generation of R&B/hip hop artists.

Danger Mouse recently produced the new Gorillaz album, ‘Demon Days’, and will soon release his long awaited album with MF Doom, under the name ‘DangerDoom’. Danger Mouse gained fame after producing the ‘Grey Album’, which with 1 million downloads in just one week, was considered another of the key landmarks in music history.
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