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The Darkness

NME.com feature on The Darkness including news, reviews, biography, youtube video, audio, concerts, tour dates, photos, pictures, commentary, album reviews and live reviews and cool facts.

The Darkness News

The Darkness to reform in 2009?

The Darkness to reform in 2009?

Justin Hawkins and co supposedly consider dusting off their catsuits

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins makes live return

Singer returns after 'suffering a breakdown'

Justin Hawkins readies new band

The former Darkness frontman gets set to shake a 'Hot Leg' on tour

  • Jul 3, 2008

Ex-Darkness members announce debut EP release

Three of the band have carried on without Justin Hawkins

  • Feb 4, 2008

'The Darkness' officially over

But they will continue under a new name

  • Mar 22, 2007

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The Darkness YouTube Videos

The darkness-girlfriend

The darkness-girlfriend (02:36)

Videoclip of THE DARKNESS WENISIMO!!!

The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love

The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love (03:51)

High quality, right from the single of the title track. I do not claim ownership of this material.

tom robinson band - power in the darkness

tom robinson band - power in the darkness (03:38)

tom robinson band - power in the darkness

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The Darkness Reviews

The Darkness: Alexandra Palace, London, Tuesday February 7

The Darkness: Alexandra Palace, London, Tuesday February 7

Snapping at the crowd, exposing his beer belly and turning up for his own gig. Justin Hawkins’ mistakes just roll on and on

  • Feb 16, 2006

The Darkness : Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)

In WW1 they stopped shooting each other on Christmas Day to play football. In the same spirit, The Darkness are single of the week

  • Dec 13, 2003

The Darkness : Cardiff University

Laugh? We bought the bloody T-shirt.

  • Oct 24, 2003

The Darkness : The Darkness

Turn it up to 11...

  • Jul 2, 2003

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The Darkness Biography

UK stadium rock revivalists the Darkness formed in Norfolk, England, on New Year's Eve 1999 when Justin "Danger" Hawkins (b. 17 March 1975, Chertsey, Surrey, England; vocals/guitar) performed a karaoke cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in front of his brother Dan Hawkins (b. Daniel Francis Hawkins, 12 December 1976, Chertsey, Surrey, England; guitar). Suitably inspired, the brothers decided to form a band which would embrace their love of the much maligned 80s "hair rock" scene. The Hawkins, who grew up in Lowestoft, Suffolk, were joined by old school friend Ed "Badger" Graham (b. Edwin James Graham, 20 February 1976, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; drums) and Frankie Poullain (b. Francis Gillis Patterson, 15 April 1967, Milnathort, Scotland; bass), and allegedly played their first gig at a friend's funeral. Fighting against musical fashion the quartet struggled around the live circuit in their native East Anglia, with their brand of theatrical rock attracting little or no attention and often derision.

By 2002, the mainstream success of several US garage rock acts had revived interest in loud, raucous rock music, and the Darkness began to attract a larger following drawn to their preposterously over-the-top live shows. Viewed in equal measures as rock saviours or idiot caricaturists, the quartet began to generate column inches in style bibles such as Dazed & Confused and were recruited to support the Libertines at radio station XFM's Christmas party. Their debut EP, I Believe In A Thing Called Love, had been released a few months earlier in August 2002. The EP featured three live favourites in the title track, "Love On The Rocks With No Ice", and "Love Is Only A Feeling'. The Darkness" second single, "Get Your Hands Off My Woman", broke into the UK Top 50 in February 2003. The continuing success of their singles (a re-released "I Believe In A Thing Called Love' reached number 2) and several well-received festival appearances (notably at Robbie Williams' Knebworth concert) helped propel the Darkness" debut album, Permission To Land, to the top of the UK charts at the end of August. Their festive single, "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)", was narrowly beaten to the coveted Christmas number 1 slot by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules' cover version of Tears For Fears' "Mad World". In February 2004, the band was voted Best Group and Best Rock Group at the annual Brit Awards show, in addition to Permission To Land winning Best Album.

In 2005 Justin Hawkins launched his solo project, British Whale, with a cover version of Sparks' 1974 hit "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us". The track reached number 6 in the UK charts. During the same year the Darkness, with new bass player Richie Edwards (b. 25 September 1974, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England), collaborated with Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker on their second album. The first single to be released from the sessions was the title track "One Way Ticket". The album was a major disappointment and rumours circulated about the health of Justin Hawkins in 2006. It was confirmed in August that year that he had voluntarily checked himself into the Priory, a leading rehabilitation clinic in the UK. A short time afterwards it was confirmed that Hawkins had decided to leave the band and concentrate on his recovery. The remaining members, with Edwards having taken over as lead singer, began work on their third album in spring 2007.

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The Darkness Discography

The Darkness albums.

  • Permission To Land - 2003 (Must Destroy)
  • One Way Ticket To Hell ... And Back! - 2005 (Atlantic)

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The Darkness Books

The Darkness bibliography.

  • The Darkness: Permission To Rock - Dick Porter

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