Twenty-five years later, it’s still the coolest thing you’ve ever heard. That drum beat kicks in, a ghostly melodica wafts through the speakers, and suddenly 2D is singing about sunshine in a bag. But honestly? The story of Gorillaz Clint Eastwood is way messier—and more accidental—than the "calculated genius" narrative suggests. It wasn’t some grand master plan to reinvent pop music. It was a hungover experiment in a London flat that somehow became a global anthem.
If you grew up watching the music video on repeat, you probably remember the blue-haired singer, 2D, looking perpetually dazed. He’s the heart of the track, but the actual making of "Clint Eastwood" involves a cheap 1980s keyboard preset, a rapper who wrote his verses in 30 minutes to get home faster, and a title that has almost nothing to do with the lyrics.
How 2D and the "Rock 1" Preset Changed Everything
Most people assume the beat for "Clint Eastwood" was a complex production masterpiece. It wasn't.
Damon Albarn (the real-life voice of 2-D) once sat down with a Suzuki Omnichord, a quirky electronic instrument from 1981. He pressed a button labeled "Rock 1." Out came the exact drum beat and bassline you hear in the song. No tweaks. No hidden layers. Just a factory preset.
Damon basically found a "hit song" button and had the guts to use it.
The melodica riff—that haunting, lonely whistle—is what gives the track its Western vibe. It’s played by Albarn, but in the Gorillaz lore, it’s all 2D. 2D’s voice in this era was airy and high-pitched. He sounds like he’s floating. This was intentional. Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn wanted 2D to be the "classic stupid pretty boy singer," a parody of the manufactured boy bands of the late 90s.
But there's a darkness to 2D that makes the song work. He isn't just a cartoon; he's a character with eye trauma and a pill addiction (to painkillers, which he calls his "sunshine in a bag"). That's why "Clint Eastwood" feels so heavy despite being a mid-tempo dub track. It’s the sound of someone trying to stay happy while everything is falling apart.
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The Ghost in the Machine: Why Del replaced Phi Life Cypher
You can't talk about Gorillaz Clint Eastwood without mentioning Del the Funky Homosapien.
But here’s the kicker: Del wasn't supposed to be on the song.
The original version featured a British rap group called Phi Life Cypher. Their version is actually pretty good—it’s more aggressive and frantic. But Dan the Automator, who was producing the album, felt it didn't quite click. He was simultaneously working on the Deltron 3030 project with Del.
"I just studied this book called 'How to Write a Hit Song,' and I used the information in that book to write that song." — Del the Funky Homosapien
Del was tired. He wanted to go home. He literally wrote his legendary verses in about half an hour just so he could leave the studio. He channeled the character of "Del the Ghost Rapper," a blue phantom that lives inside the head of Gorillaz's drummer, Russel Hobbs.
It’s a bizarre setup. A cartoon singer (2D) handles the hook, while a ghost (Del) handles the verses, all while the real-life creators stayed hidden behind the curtain. In 2001, this was revolutionary. Before this, "virtual bands" were usually gimmicks like The Archies. Gorillaz made it cool.
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Why is it called Clint Eastwood anyway?
If you listen to the lyrics, you won't hear a single mention of the legendary actor. There’s no talk of "Dirty Harry" (that came later) or spaghetti westerns.
The name came from the melodica.
When Jamie Hewlett heard the riff, he thought it sounded like the work of Ennio Morricone, the guy who scored The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Specifically, the "yell" at the start of the music video is a direct nod to the protagonist’s leitmotif. It’s a vibe thing. It’s about the feeling of a lone wanderer in a desolate landscape, which fits 2D’s persona perfectly.
The 2D Perspective: A "Stupid" Singer with Soul
In the early days (Phase 1), 2D was the mystery. Fans were obsessed with his "8-ball fractures"—the blacked-out eyes caused by Murdoc Niccals hitting him with a car. Twice.
In "Clint Eastwood," 2D represents the human (well, animated human) element. While Del is rapping about spiritual alignment and "fixing his architecture," 2D is just trying to get through the day.
- The Look: 2D wears a T-Virus shirt in the video (a Resident Evil nod).
- The Voice: A mix of Damon Albarn's natural grit and a processed, distant reverb.
- The Conflict: He’s being "used" by Murdoc, but the music is his escape.
This complexity is why the song hasn't aged. It’s not just a hip-hop track; it’s a character study. When 2D sings, "I'm useless, but not for long / The future is coming on," he isn't just singing lyrics. He’s predicting the entire trajectory of the band.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Success
People think Gorillaz was an instant slam dunk because of the "cartoon" gimmick. Honestly? The industry was skeptical. Labels didn't know how to market a band that didn't "exist."
But "Clint Eastwood" peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the US Billboard Hot 100 for 25 weeks. It succeeded because it was a perfect storm of genres:
- Dub/Reggae: The bassline and melodica.
- Hip-Hop: Del’s effortless flow.
- Indie Rock: Albarn’s vocal delivery.
- Animation: Hewlett’s gritty, Jamie-Hewlett-style art.
How to Experience Clint Eastwood in 2026
If you’re revisiting the track today, don't just stream it on Spotify. You’ve got to dig into the layers.
First, watch the original music video. Look for the "zombie gorillas" choreography. It’s a parody of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, but way weirder. Then, hunt down the Phi Life Cypher version on G-Sides. It gives you a glimpse into the "what if" history of the band.
Finally, if you’re a gear head, look up the Suzuki Omnichord OM-108. Suzuki actually re-released a modern version of the instrument recently because of the "Gorillaz effect." You can literally buy the "Clint Eastwood" beat in a box.
The next time you hear those opening notes, remember: it started with a 30-minute rap and a $75 keyboard preset. That’s the real magic of 2D and the Gorillaz.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Listen to the stems: Search for the isolated vocal tracks of 2D to hear the raw emotion Albarn put into the "useless" refrain.
- Explore the Lore: Read the Rise of the Ogre book for the full, "official" backstory of how the song was allegedly recorded at Kong Studios.
- Check out Deltron 3030: If you love Del's verse, his album with Dan the Automator is the spiritual successor to the Phase 1 Gorillaz sound.