VIRTUAL band Gorillaz will play the Brighton Centre in November.

The group, co-founded by Blur frontman Damon Albarn, released their first album in seven years last week and have announced a number of UK tour dates for this autumn.

Gorillaz will play new music as well as favourites from their almost 20-year lifespan. The concert takes place on November 27.

Formed by Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, the band is made up of four “fictional” animated monkeys, 2–D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs.

Their imaginary universe is portrayed on the group’s website and in their music videos.

The real-life musicians behind the cartoon figures include Albarn, Gabriel Wallace, Mike Smith and Jesse Hackett, who will be joined on stage by special guests and Gorillaz collaborators.

Gorillaz’ self-titled debut album sold more than seven million copies, making them the most successful virtual band ever, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

It was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001 but the band requested it be withdrawn from the shortlist.

Their second record Demon Days sold five times platinum in the UK. Gorillaz have also won a Grammy Award.

There were rumours that the group had broken up in 2011, with reports of an argument between Albarn and Hewlett.

The band quashed these stories with a statement that read: “Despite rumours to the contrary, Gorillaz are alive and well and misbehaving in London W10.”

In 2014, Albarn told The National Post in Canada that he “wouldn’t mind having another stab at a Gorillaz record”.

Murdoc and 2-D recently took part in the first live interview with the animated characters, conducted with Radio 1 DJ Mistajam.

They spun elaborate, fictional back stories to explain their seven-year absence from music and the high-profile collaborators on Humanz.

Notable contributors on the record include Grace Jones, De La Soul, Danny Brown and Benjamin Clementine.

The band have previously collaborated with The Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder, The Clash’s Mick Jones, Bobby Womack and Lou Reed.

For tickets visit brightoncentre.co.uk