Gorillaz and Sparks Perform The Happy Dictator on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Gorillaz and the American alternative pop duo Sparks collaborated for a televised performance on April 9, 2026, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform The Happy Dictator.

The song serves as the lead single from the ninth studio album by Gorillaz, titled The Mountain, which was released through the band’s new label, KONG.

Visual Shift in Performance

Historically, Gorillaz performances have focused on the realization of the band’s animated characters—2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, and Noodle. In the group’s early years, these characters were displayed on a large screen while the musicians performed behind the visuals.

For the April 9, 2026, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the animations created by Jamie Hewlett took a secondary role to the live performers. Frontman Damon Albarn adopted the persona of the happy dictator, appearing in military attire, a red beret, and aviator glasses.

Chart Performance and Production

The album The Mountain achieved significant commercial success upon its release. In the United Kingdom, the record reached its chart peak in March 2026, marking the third time Gorillaz have held the top position in that territory.

In the United States, the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, representing the fourth time the band has topped that specific chart.

The production of The Mountain involved a collaborative effort between Gorillaz and producers James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, Remi Kabaka Jr., and Bizarrap of Orange County.

Recording for the project took place across a wide array of global locations, including:

• Studio 13 in London and Devon
• Various locations in India, including Varanasi, Rajasthan, New Delhi, and Mumbai
• Ashgabat
• Damascus
• New York, Miami, and Los Angeles

The resulting collection is multilingual, featuring songs performed in Yoruba, Spanish, Hindi, English, and Arabic.

Touring and Future Dates

The performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live follows a pair of appearances on Saturday Night Live in March 2026, both in support of the new album.

Gorillaz are scheduled to continue The Mountain Tour across Europe and the United Kingdom in June 2026. This leg of the tour includes various festival dates and a major headline performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The London show, cited as the band’s largest performance in their home country to date, will feature support from Trueno and Sparks.

Following the European dates, Gorillaz will begin a North American arena tour in September 2026. This tour will include special guests Deltron 3030 and Little Simz. The band has tour dates booked through January 2027.