"Dirty Harry" was first released as a promotional single on iTunes before being released as the third single from the album on 21 November 2005,[3] peaking at number six in the United Kingdom. An early version entitled "I Need a Gun" was included on Damon Albarn's album Democrazy. On 8 December 2005, "Dirty Harry" was nominated for a Grammy under the category "Urban/Alternative Performance", but was beaten by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock". It became Gorillaz' 3rd consecutive top 10 hit and last song to make it on the top 10 to this date.
The video was first released on 25 October 2005, sent to those on the e-mail list on Gorillaz' official website. A thematic follow-up to the band's "Clint Eastwood", it refers to the film of the same name, Clint Eastwood being the lead actor in the movie. "Dirty Harry" is the first Gorillaz music video to be shot on location; initially, the group intended to utilise a computer-animated desert as background, but discovered that simply flying to a real desert was easier and cheaper.
The video was shot in the Swakopmund Desert in Namibia; it mainly features a shirtless 2-D and an animated version of the San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus stranded in the desert, following what appears to have been a helicopter crash. The survivors keep themselves entertained with the song while awaiting the arrival of rescuers, portrayed by Noodle and Murdoc crewing a Windhoeker MaschinenfabrikWer’wolf MKIImine-proof vehicle driven by Russel.
Both song and video feature a guest appearance by Pharcyde rapper Bootie Brown, who leaps out of a sand dune in military fatigues to perform his verse of the song. The video concludes with Gorillaz, the children, and Bootie Brown departing the crash site in the Wer'wolf, which breaks down a short distance away.
^Dirty Harry (UK CD2 liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. CDRS 6676, 00946 343778 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Dirty Harry (UK DVD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. DVDR 6676, 0946 3 43779 9 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Dirty Harry (European CD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. 00946 343778 0 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Dirty Harry (Australian CD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2006. 0946 343778 0 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Dirty Harry (Japanese CD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. TOCP-61108.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200609 into search. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
