Based on Blur's rowdy Britpop years, who might have predicted that Damon Albarn would become such a cultural force? He first stretched his wings in 1998 with Gorillaz, a virtual band created with cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. Since then, Albarn has collaborated with African musicians on 2002's Mali Music, formed The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Clash bassist Paul Simonon and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen and helped bankroll the cutting-edge label Honest Jon's. In 2014, he released his introspective debut album, Everyday Robots, featuring Brian Eno and Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan.