Damon Albarn forms new band with Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea

Damon Albarn has formed a new band featuring drummer Tony Allen and Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea.

The band, who are currently unnamed, have "three-quarters finished" their debut album, according to Albarn.

Speaking to Stuff.co.nz, the Gorillaz and Blur man said that the new band is "centred around what [Tony] does," referring to Allen's Afrobeat background.

Of Flea, who also plays in Radiohead's Thom Yorke's side project Atoms For Peace, he explained: "Flea, of course, is an anagram for Fela and Flea is so into this music – so that's been great."

Allen and Albarn have previously played together in The Good, The Bad & The Queen, of whom Albarn said new material was also a distinct possibility. "Well, I would hope so, definitely," he explained.

Meanwhile, he also confirmed that he is working on a new Gorillaz album while touring with the band.

"I guess it's my love letter to America," he said of the project. "I used to be baffled by this place, and I guess I still am in some ways. America confused me enormously. But right now, with all that's going on, this is a good place to be and this has been a great tour."

Referring to his future plans, Albarn admitted he thinks the current Gorillaz tour will be his last for some time, saying: "There won't be another world tour for me, for anything, for five to six years."

He added: "I have a young daughter and it's just not feasible, it's too long away from home."

However, he also admitted that he plans to make a solo album, saying: "I've promised myself that one day there'll be a proper ballad record, I don't know – 'Damon Albarn Sings Ballads' or something."