AN animated band made their debut yesterday to become the region's first cartoon pop group.
The Close-Ups are designed to follow the success of Damon Albarn's Gorillaz with their first single, I'm On My Way.
They were devised by Tees Valley musician Carl Green, lead singer of the recently reformed Carl Green and the Scene, who launched the new band last night at the University of Teesside.
Mr Green, 43, from Eaglescliffe, created the four-piece band, wrote the song, devised the video storyline, and played guitar along with local session musicians.
Mr Green said: "Visually, I wanted something that would look like the 70s TV cartoon Wacky Races and Alice in Wonderland, and I'm absolutely thrilled with the end result."
The initial inspiration for The Close-Ups were The Archies, an animated group from the US in 1969, and he was further encouraged when Blur frontman Damon Albarn's The Gorillaz enjoyed chart success two years ago.
The band is chic Abby Kirkella, bass player Rake the guitarist, cynical hippy Zack Mackenzie on keyboards and drummer Newton Aycliffe.
The video was co-produced at the university.
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