Demon Days

Jamie Hewlett crafted one of the most recognizable album covers of the 2000s by dividing Gorillaz' animated members into four stark profile portraits against a black background. The cover directly references The Beatles' 1970 Let It Be album, with each virtual band member occupying their own white-bordered square - bassist Murdoc (top left), vocalist 2-D (top right), guitarist Noodle (bottom left), and drummer Russel (bottom right).

Created under Hewlett's design company Zombie Flesh Eaters, the artwork perfectly captured the album's darker tone compared to the band's debut. Working from his Shepherds Bush studio, Hewlett drew everything by hand on paper before scanning and coloring digitally using Photoshop - a technique he'd only recently adopted. The simple sans-serif typography reading "GORILLAZ" and "DEMON DAYS" anchored the composition.

Released on May 23, 2005, in the UK by Parlophone, the cover became instantly iconic as fans and critics recognized the Beatles homage. The four-panel layout spawned countless parodies and reinterpretations online, cementing its place in pop culture. A limited edition version featured a foldout X-shape design allowing owners to choose which character appeared on the front cover.

The artwork earned Hewlett a nomination for the Design Museum's Designer of the Year award in 2006. He admitted confusion about the nomination, saying "I don't know why I've been nominated for Designer of the Year. It's very flattering, but I don't quite understand it." The cover perfectly embodied the album's post-9/11 political themes and "journey through the night" concept that Damon Albarn described.

Demon Days peaked at number one in the UK and sold over eight million copies worldwide, with its cover becoming as recognizable as the music itself. The Beatles reference wasn't accidental - both albums dealt with endings and transitions, making the visual parallel particularly poignant for Gorillaz' evolution from novelty act to serious musical force.