Demon Days

Demon Days is the second formal studio album (excluding G-Sides and Laika Come Home) released by Gorillaz. It is a loose concept album revolving around the theme of personal demons and demons facing human society, specifically related to humanity’s innate capability to destroy itself and its environment.

Following the breakout success of their debut album, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were excited at the prospect of a more cohesive follow-up. Hewlett said:

Let’s repeat the same process, but do it better. Because everyone thought it was a gimmick. If you do it again, it’s no longer a gimmick, and if it works then we’ve proved a point. And instantly, all of us got excited.

Production was by Gorillaz, Danger Mouse, James Dring and Jason Cox. The album featured artists such as Shaun Ryder, Roots Manuva, Ike Turner, De La Soul and MF Doom amongst others.

The album was critically acclaimed and has sold more than 8 million copies. It peaked at number one on the British OCC and 6th on the Billboard 200 in America. Gorillaz performed Demon Days Live at a five night residency at the Manchester Opera House in November 2005.