Official biography 2 (source: enhanced section of Tomorrow Comes Today single, first published February 2002)
Russel's journey from his homeland has brought him closer to the heart of the American people than geographic proximity might ever have done. Through Russel's funky-phantom fuelled flow, USA, the spiritual home of hip-hop, has accepted Gorillaz deep into its bosom. The beat goes on and keeps growing like the man himself, both spiritually and physically. "The way we've been received is pure love. We've made some great videos and they've been felt. People are feeling us. We're looking forward to breaking new ground for everyone. I'm even getting used to sharing myself with the phantoms inside me!" Future projects: Russel has used his money wisely, investing in Russian Chicken farms. "The Colonel's gonna blow up, Moscow way, next year!" He also opened up the Russel Hobbs Home for Runaway Rappers, caring for homeless rhymers and renegade mixers. He famously collaborated with the United Nations on the EP: "War's A Bum Rap (Stars From Around the Globe)." Russel has also become an avid naturist.

Official biography 3 (source: Gorillaz promo booklet, published March 2005)
The previously unshakable Russel Hobbs had started going crazy long before the film was even terminated. With Del’s ghost long overdue for collection by the Grim Reaper, Russel underwent a grueling and harrowing exorcism to return Del’s spirit to its rightful place.
This process left Russel fagged and shagged and a big, fat double-cracked actor! Once his strength was sapped he was unable to resist the indignation of being painted green by studio bosses when they thought about using Russel for the HulkII movie. Some of the local L.A. kids even used to chuck Russel in a wheelbarrow and push him round just to humiliate him.
With his 'soul mate' Del gone, no band and no home, the fragile Russel was left close to broken. Fat, mad and without any shoes Russel wandered aimlessly up and down the streets of Hollywood Boulevard, just another burnt out goon stumbling in and out of the various organisations that this town seems to breed.
GET READY FOR THE BIG MAN'S BREAKBEAT BREAKDOWN!
Some of the less scrupulous members of the sects siphone Russel's dough into funding 'The Russel Retreat for Sensitive Rappers'. But when the money ran out they scarpered leaving Russel to be inducted into the dark, dark world of Little Jimmy Manson's gang, the notorious pint-sized sod.
Living on a diet of wheatgrass, mung beans and crazy pills, Russel ended up a barefooted, bearded, kaftan wearing headjob, living like a recluse down in Ike Turner's basement. It was here from the depths of his mental wilderness that he began to dream up his next project. A hip-hop album of such devastating ambition and beauty it would enchant the world!
An album of such rare passion, harmony and vision that it would unite the world in peace and love!! Combining the four raw elements of hip-hop: Bass, Beats, Ruthm and Booty, it would be his masterpiece: The Hip-Hop Pet Sounds! The Breakbeat Sgt.Pepper's!!
He set up his studio and with Ike's help began his ambitious ascent, an expedition to the height of the musical summit.
HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT TO BE. The over whelming task of completing his insurmountable musical vision was the last straw, ultimately breaking his already damaged psyche. After almost a year of splicing, re-editing and overdubs, the unhinged Russel became terrified of his mammoth creation.
Believing that his music was causing freak vibrations to ripple across the planet, the 'Seventh Heaven Hip-Hop & Harmony' album got shelved. Right next to Brian Wilson's 'Smile' and Prince's 'Black Album'.
Russel decided to return to England and the relative security of Kong Studios. He really wants to lie down for a bit. His head's spinning. He must be hallucinating. He keeps seeing Zombies crawling up the walls of his bedroom. Little did he know, out of the frying pan and into the fire…

Jamie Hewlett's comments (source: Q magazine, August 2001 issue)
"He's the hip hop hardman. Dark, quiet and thoughtful. He hates Murdoc and is constantly putting him in his place."

Gorillaz-Unofficial says: Full name: Russel Hobbs. The 'thoughtful one', but with a side that can party hard. Softly and eloquently spoken i interviews (thanks to his private education). Known to shout out to the crowd to get them going at many concerts, often taking a kind of MC role. Protective of Noodle, from the potentially corrupting influences around her, and also 2D (broke Murdoc's nose when he had sex with 2D's then-girlfriend, Paula), also has intervened to save 2D from Murdoc on the Official Gorillaz Forums. Heavily into Hip Hop in particular. The funky phantoms in his body (it was explained in the first official Gorillaz biography) are the spirits of his friends in his Hip Hop crew that were killed in a drive-by shooting of which Russel is the only survivor. Prior to this posession he was posessed by demons for many years before having them exorcised. The spirits that have contributed to Gorillaz records so far are Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Phi Life Cypher (it is unclear whether other rappers on Gorillaz records are actually spirits or regular collaborators). Del was exorcised in late 2003 and it took a year for Russel to fully recover, and in some ways he would never be the same. Quite why Del was exorcised and whether any of Russel's other undead buddies remain is unclear. Murdoc happened upon Russel in a chance encounter in a Soho rap record store; they got talking and Murdoc asked Russel if he wanted to joing the band. In concert he is the Gorillaz drummer, and also supplies the funky phantoms.

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