Albarn, Hewlett & Moore Team Up For JOHN DEE Musical Opera

According to contactmusic.com, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz are teaming up with graphic novelist Alan Moore to write a musical about the life and achievements of 16th-century alchemist John Dee.

John Dee was a noted mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I of England. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy.

Of the opera, Albarn had this to say to New York Magazine: "It's based on the life of John Dee, who was a very influential force in Elizabethan Europe, especially England. He was responsible for creating the concept of the British Empire. So he affects all our lives in one way or another. He was an alchemist. It's about his life.

"I've just been reading about Hermetic magic and catalysts and philosophy, which is what all of his stuff is based on. And it's been brilliant."

Albarn has not yet begun to compose the music, but has been extensively researching Dee, philosophy, and magic in order to prepare. He and Hewlett, with Gorillaz, recently released the band's third studio album, Plastic Beach.

Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has been involved in many high profile projects and collaborations throughout his career. Albarn came to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur, but is also known internationally for his work with popular virtual band Gorillaz, within which he serves as the principal songwriter and lead vocalist. Subsequent projects have included The Good, the Bad & the Queen, Monkey: Journey to the West and Mali Music.

Jamie Hewlett is an English comic book artist and designer. He is best known for being the co-creator of the comic Tank Girl and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz; he is responsible for the band's unique animated personas.

Alan Moore is an English writer known for work in comics, including the acclaimed comic book series Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He wrote the novel Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre Of Marvels, some released on CD. As a comics writer, Moore applied literary sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium as well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes. He brings a wide range of influences to his work, such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair, New Wave science fiction writers like Michael Moorcock and horror writers like Clive Barker. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.