In a world first, Gorillaz‘ hit second album, Demon Days, will be performed in its entirety across five consecutive nights (November 1-5) at the city’s Opera House.

“Demon Days Live” will feature the album’s guest musicians recreating the multimillion-selling record live onstage.

The two-dimensional band will take a back seat as its collaborators are brought together for the first time ever for the performances. Confirmed guest musicians include Happy Mondays‘ Shaun Ryder and U.K. hip hop artist Roots Manuva, with further names to be announced.

Demon Days producer and Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn will also be on hand to help bring the album to life.

Manchester International Festival spectacle is not to be confused with the live holographic tour the Gorillaz team and animation house Passion Pictures are working on for 2007-2008.

The tour will be a “unique cross between live performance and a theme park experience, with the band fully present onstage, rendered in 3 eye-popping dimensions.” We’re talking replications, though, not warm-blooded humans.

The creators say the show will evolve over the life of the tour, like any other band performance. The musicians from Demon Days will be have a place in the performance, and elements of the Gorillaz videos will be incorporated, bringing the unique visual identity created by Jamie Hewlett to a live audience.

Gorillaz’ management, CMO, is blocking out dates with worldwide promoters and theatre owners for two years time. Production work has already begun on the show but fans won’t be expected to wait that long; a preview is expected this year.