El Diablo Bass Guitar

Murdoc's Flying V Bass — Murdoc's El Diablo, a red Flying V Bass Guitar model

El Diablo is Murdoc's signature bass guitar. It is a red 1980s Gibson Flying V Bass Guitar model. It appeared many times from the end of Phase 1 up to Phase 4, in Gorillaz' MTV Cribs Episode, music videos, posters and promos.

History[]

Murdoc dreamt about becoming a famous musician. After becoming a Satanist, he made a deal with the devil. He offered his soul to Satan and changed his middle name from "Alphonce" to "Faust" in exchange for making him a world-famous musician and getting Satan's very own bass guitar, "El Diablo".

Phase 1[]

During Phase 1, Murdoc used, what looks like, a Red Fender P-Bass, which can be seen in the music videos for Clint Eastwood and Rock The House and storyboard for 5/4. It was a similar type of bass Junior Dan used on Gorillaz Debut Album. Sometime in 2002 Murdoc started using the now famous "El Diablo" Flying V Bass guitar, which he could be seen playing in the 2002 Brit Awards where Gorillaz played their hit Clint Eastwood.

Phase 2[]

Phase 2 was the time where Murdoc's Flying V El Diablo Bass was shown the most. Murdoc had played it on every track of Demon Days and D-Sides. It can be seen first in the Feel Good Inc. music video in May 2005, where Murdoc is seen surrounded by a bunch of girls and was used again during a performance of Feel Good Inc Live At The MTV EMA's in November 2005. Then in the Gorillaz MTV Cribs Episode Murdoc talks about El Diablo, saying "I used this lil' baby here for the Feel Good Inc. track, yeah. Little beauty". In February 2006 Murdoc used his bass for the last time before the bands hiatus, in a Grammys Performance.

Phase 3[]

El Diablo was rarely shown During Phase 3. It was most likely played on songs from Plastic Beach and is mentioned in the ITunes Interview: Plastic Beach. The only time Murdoc was seen holding a bass was in the Gorillaz o2 Priority Walk Advert, where Murdoc was most likely going to play it live on the Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour, but never got a chance because he, 2-D and Cyborg Noodle were replaced by the Gorillaz Live Band on all live performances.

Phase 4[]

El Diablo was again showed only once during the entire phase. It could be seen on the Humanz Tour poster and on art along with Noodle, holding her Phase 2 Telecaster. Murdoc presumably used El Diablo to record tracks for Humanz, switching sometimes to a bass synth. During The Humanz Tour Gorillaz' live guitarist Jeff Wootton could be seen using a yellow Flying V Guitar, which resembles El Diablo.

Phase 5[]

Since Murdoc got replaced by Ace in 2018 El Diablo has not been seen again. Ace has been using a modified Fender Duff McKagan Precision Bass Guitar. Gorillaz Live Bassist Seye Adelekan started using a yellow Eastwood Flying BV Bass Guitar similar to El Diablo for The Now Now Tour, which he has been using since.

Phase 6[]

Since his return from prison, Murdoc has been using a Vintage 1967 Hofner 500/8BZ Bass for Song Machine and Meanwhile EP instead of El Diablo. It's current whereabouts are unknown and it has been missing since Phase 4.