Gorillaz & Sparks perform "The Happy Dictator" live on Kimmel. See Damon Albarn's dictator costume and the band's iconic animated visuals. From the new album...
- April 12, 2026
AceShowbiz - The iconic musical groups Gorillaz and Sparks collaborated for a striking live rendition of "The Happy Dictator" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. This song is featured on Gorillaz's latest album, The Mountain, which was released on February 27 under their Kong label.
The performance was visually compelling, with Sparks' lead vocalist Russell Mael and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn sharing vocal duties. Albarn appeared in a costume inspired by a dictator theme, complementing the song’s concept. Four backup singers enhanced the live sound, while animated visuals of Gorillaz played dynamically on a screen behind the stage, creating a unique blend of live music and animation.
Gorillaz are known for their extensive collaborations, and The Mountain continues this pattern, featuring contributions from a diverse array of artists. Collaborators on the album include Black Thought of The Roots, Johnny Marr, former Clash bassist Paul Simonon, and distinguished Indian musicians such as flautist Ajay Prasanna and sarod player Amaan Ali Bangash.
Reflecting on the album’s collaborative spirit, Damon Albarn described The Mountain as a natural progression from their 2010 project, Plastic Beach. He noted it represents an entire world of its own, much like that earlier album which united artists including Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, and members of The Clash.
