In an article for Q magazine in February 2005 it was reported that the album was to be titled We Are Happy Landfill. Initially, a March or April 2005 release date was announced, but it was later pushed back. Almost all of the visuals associated with the album were designed by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett as his design company, Zombie Flesh Eaters.ĭemon Days was first mentioned in articles detailing the reopening of Gorillaz' website in early December 2004. These included interactive features on the Gorillaz website, a total of four animated music videos, virtual interview sessions with the band, and animatics for each song. Much like 2001's Gorillaz, the release of Demon Days and its respective tour were accompanied by various multimedia. The album features the singles " Feel Good Inc.", " Dare", " Dirty Harry" and " Kids with Guns"/"El Mañana". The album has sold six million copies worldwide. charts at #6, outperforming the band's 2001 debut, Gorillaz. The album features contributions from De La Soul, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, MF DOOM, Ike Turner, Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder, Dennis Hopper, the London Community Gospel Choir and the Children's Choir of San Fernandez.ĭemon Days entered the UK charts at #1 and the U.S. This would increase possible sales as fans would prefer to hear the song, be it if they are fans of Andre 300, James Murphy or Gorillaz as a band.Demon Days is the second studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, released in May 2005. As Andre 300 is known worldwide, by him being included in this song enables a wider audience and that the Gorillaz website will gain more traffic to acknowledge his contribution to the song. Although Murphy is animalised and quite unidentifiable, André is still recognisable due to his signature hat, of which he is associated with and makes it easier for fans to recognise him. This banner features the Gorillaz logo from the 'Plastic Beach' album and an animated picture of 2D, Murdoc and guest contributors LCD Soundystem's James Murphy and Outkast's André 3000 as their respected characterisations.
The web ba nner is GORILLAZ.COM an d beneath is an interactive banner promoting the band's latest tracks and music videos, the current one being shown is a 12-minute long song called 'Do Ya Thing'. The 'beachsite' allows you to interact with almost everything, revealing band artwork, an entertaining online Plastic Beach adventure game, a chatbox to engage in virtual conversation with band members, song downloads and overall, allowing visitors to thoroughly explore the island. Whenever I listen to this album, I often buy into this 'alternate world' the band aim to create and therefore, the idea of visually portraying this 'alternate world' in which fans can completely immerse themselves in, is ingenious.
For example, G-Player (access to storyboards, games, discography), Mailing List (fans feel 'exclusive') and the Plastic Beach portal which is also advertised on the main body of the homepage. The Kong studios-esque interactive "Beachsite" enables fans to escape to the fictional world of Plastic Beach, a concept on which the Gorillaz based their third studio album 'Plastic Beach' (2010) upon. Moreover, the navigation bar presents various tabs which unveil different portals within the site. On the navigation bar situated at the header of the website, there is an opportunity to register/login as a Gorillaz website member and gain an 'exclusive' status which allows fans to enter special competitions and receive newsletters, thus creating a close, intimate connection between the audience and the band. This is the Gorillaz band website, promoting their British virtual band/supergroup which shows their CGI-based universe and music videos at the front of the page, enablign fans to indulge into the website and immediately become acquainted and familiar with the band and the pages layout.