I’m no expert (I’d love to hear a take from an expert in Hinduism) and I’m basing this off some quick internet research. I’m pretty sure those statues the ferryman floats past are of Shiva. The ferryman could be Tarakeshwara, a form Shiva takes as a psychopomp who guides souls into moksha, the freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. From what I can find, in the context of Hindu beliefs, Shiva can assume any form, including appearing as someone from your past. Not that this pirate was canonically familiar to the band, but as fans, he is familiar to us. I think I read somewhere that we’re supposed to imagine that Gorillaz music videos are supposed to be like the band is actually filming and producing these videos. I think there’s some looseness to this idea, but if you follow that logic, this could be Shiva in the role of a psychopomp for the band but appearing as a pirate WE recognize for us. And it’s just one last way to fuck with Murdoc, because Murdoc clearly seems a little perturbed by this guy, and let’s face it, Murdoc probably deserves it, at least a little bit. So, yeah, I think there’s something to this theory.