In an interview with the BBC late last year, former Blur frontman and Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn explained that at their shows, “you don’t see live musicians except in silhouette, sometimes, and the rest of the time it’s a succession of animations featuring the band. But, it is very much a live event.”

As to speculation that Albarn personally takes to the stage, he remains mum even though he’s technically the voice behind Gorillaz’s singer/keyboardist 2-D.

Other members of the group are Murdoc (bassist and part-time Satanist), Noodle (11-year-old Asian guitar princess) and Russel (hip-hop drummer from the U.S.). Each member has their own unique personality they bring to the band, making the Gorillaz one of the most musically diverse acts around.

Aside from Albarn, Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, Cibo Matto’s Miho Hatori and the Tom Tom Club’s Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz are responsible for giving voice to the characters.

Jamie Hewlett, the creator of the cult comic “Tank Girl,” is responsible for bringing the Gorillaz to life – sort of.

The group has been nominated for a bevy of honors – including two MTV awards, four Billboard nods and the prestigious Mercury Prize and Shortlist award – but the statuettes have eluded them so far.

They still have the Grammys, though; Gorillaz have received a nomination for best rap performance for their hit single, “Clint Eastwood.”

The animated band’s tour starts in Toronto February 23, swoops through the eastern seaboard and winds down in Los Angeles on March 8.