Pop icon Madonna will team up with "virtual" group
Gorillaz
for a groundbreaking performance at next week's Grammy Awards, organisers of music's top honours said on Wednesday.
The global queen of pop music will appear alongside a 3D colour animation of the Gorillaz during the February 8 show in Los Angeles in what the Recording Academy said was a first for live television in the United States.
"In keeping with the tradition of creating exciting 'Grammy moments', the Grammy-nominated Gorillaz will be joined onstage for the first time by worldwide megastar and five-time Grammy winner Madonna," the Academy said.
British group Gorillaz, with its four "members" "2D", "Murdoc", "Noodle" and "Russel" who appear as animated cartoon characters in their videos, is a creation of singer Damon Albarn and animator Jamie Hewlett.
It was only after they had their first hits between 2000 and 2002 that the group's creators admitted that its members didn't really exist.
Presenters of the golden gramophone trophies at this year's ceremony include hip-hop star and Oscar-nominated movie star Queen Latifah, Academy Award-nominated actor Matt Dillon and rapper and actor Ludacris.
Other star presenters include singer Mariah Carey, John Legend, Kanye West -- each of whom comes to this year's ceremony armed with eight nominations -- "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen, Irish rockers U2 and US star Mary J Blige.
Also doing turns on stage at the Staples Center will be Coldplay, Sugarland, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill and Keith Urban, and Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock.
{{/usCountry}}Also doing turns on stage at the Staples Center will be Coldplay, Sugarland, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill and Keith Urban, and Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock.
{{/usCountry}}The evening will also feature an all-star tribute to Sly And The Family Stone featuring Maroon 5, The Black Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, British singer Joss Stone and Legend.