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The band that put the fun back into rock…
Photo: Darren Griffiths
Launching our anniversary series in January 2023, a band whose rise we followed from 2003 when they released their debut album ‘Permission To Land’. A year later the band had scooped three Brit Awards for Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, and Best British Album.
In an early interview for our ‘Rising Stars’ series in 2003 Justin Hawkins confirmed the band’s influences – “Aerosmith, and in particular Steven Tyler changed my life back in ’89, whilst AC/DC have provided years of inspiration.”
When asked about the state of rock music he exclaimed:
Rock music is kicking arse again – it’s a sign of the times that the forthcoming Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Aerosmith and Kiss tours are among the most anticipated music events for ages.
People are beginning to cherish the old values, and thanks to ‘BUSTED’, Nu-metal is croaking it’s last death rattle, even as we speak. With a bit of luck, The Darkness will be driving the next bandwagon that everybody jumps on – but don’t forget, we were around before classic rock was fashionable, and we’ll still be around when it goes out again.
Classic album – it has got the catchy hooks, big production and riffs a plenty – just don’t play it to your kids as there a stack of swear words! There are two key elements to this album’s success, the guitars (simple, driving rhythms with tasty solos on top) and the vocals (not all high and good use of layered harmonies on the choruses). Let a little Darkness into your life! Jason Ritchie Album review (Permission To Land, 2003) |
Reviewing the band’s Wembley Arena gig in 2004 (one of three nights) Jason Ritchie noted “The audience is a mixture of ages, parents with kids, birthday party outings and plenty of Darkness T-shirt wearing teenagers. You either love or hate this band but at least they are getting the young `uns into rock…”
Jason also had his doubts: “The Darkness show no signs of losing their appeal just yet but that second album I feel will be their make or break. As a live act they get better each time, although it’s a bit like Van Halen and Dave Lee Roth in that Justin Hawkins has all the limelight, whilst the band are fairly anonymous playing away behind him.”
In 2013 Andy Nathan noted:“A decade ago they divided opinion like no band before. In one camp (pun intended?), those, myself included, thrilled that a band that combined Queen, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and Boston influences became huge so quickly (I remember my incredulity that such a band even existed when a friend first told me they were playing the clubs in North London) and suddenly brought the music we love and old fashioned rock spectacle back right back into the pop mainstream.
On the other, those turned off by Justin Hawkins’ falsetto and ridiculous costumes and antics, thinking they had heard it all before, dismissing them as a flash in the pan and wondering why they had succeeded where more deserving bands had failed.
The pop world moved on, as it does, to the next big thing, and the multi-million selling Permission to Land became a fixture in every charity shop in the land and their second album One Way Ticket to Hell and Back proved sadly prophetic with the effects of snorting too much ‘showbiz sherbet’ documented in the title track…”
Overall it is even more OTT then their debut with sitars, bagpipes and synths all added into the mix. The only long term problem the band face is that no way in ten or so years can you see Justin Hawkins still hitting these dog bothering high notes. Taking the piss or serious rockers who just want to put the fun back into rock music? It’s a personal choice but I am a fan and with this album they have proved they can still write good rock songs. Jason Ritchie Album review (One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back, 2005) |
The band’s onward progress was abated by the departure of bassist Frankie Poullain and frontman Justin Hawkins’ alcohol and substance abuse. The band were dropped by their label Atlantic in late 2006 after poor sales of their sophomore release ‘One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back’.
For a time the band members split into two camps – Stone Gods and Hawkins’ Hot Leg. But, by 2011, The Darkness announced their reunion and played Download and a year later the Isle of Wight Festival. They also released a third album ‘Hot Cakes’.
Three more albums followed until 2021′s ‘Motorheart’ with a UK tour in November and December of that year.
In the early years The Darkness were slated by some for exaggerating the more extreme aspects of rock music, the band described by our News and Reviews Editor Jason Ritchie as “the band you either love or hate”.
Photo: Steve Goudie
There was a seven year gap between the band’s second and third album. For most this would have almost certainly scuppered their chances of more durable success. Not The Darkness. Live Editor Dave Wilson reviewing the band in November 2011 stated they “put on a show that is guaranteed to put a smile on the grumpiest of mugs. and concluded “a first class rock show with the emphasis firmly on fun, something that is lacking all too often at gigs.
And it is in the live arena that GRTR! has mainly reviewed the band. Two years later, Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan reviewed the band at what was to become an increasingly regular gig – the Hammersmith Apollo – and enthused “this gig proved beyond all doubt that The Darkness are simply a fine, straight ahead, if slightly tongue in cheek, rock band who have few peers when it comes to spectacle and entertainment and leave you with a big grin over your face.“
The Darkness, Steelhouse Festival, July 2016 (Photo: Darren Griffiths)
Echoing our early comments about the potentially divisive impact of the band’s music, in 2015 Darren Griffiths stated “I found myself waiting more for the comedy moments than the music. But even Justin’s japes had worn a little thin by the time he appeared in a red coat holiday blazer and white tennis shorts.”
Hawkins’ sartorial elegance was later described by Karen Clayton in December 2021: “Justin’s legendary taste in catsuits continues with a cheeky gold version that looks like it was fashioned out of 1970’s curtains – you can’t knock him for being out there!”
we were around before classic rock was fashionable, and we’ll still be around when it goes out again. Justin Hawkins, 2003
In 2016, at the inaugral Stone Free Festival, Andy Nathan confirmed he was in the “love them” camp and commented: “Their hair may be shorter and more foppish these days but Justin and brother Dan remain a meaty guitar duo, a fact which Darkness-haters conveniently ignore…
Justin remains as eccentric as ever, notably when bizarrely picking out audience members to guess their name. He was matched in the quirkiness stakes by bassist Frankie Poullain’s resemblance to a seventies Open University Maths lecturer…”
Photo: Andy Nathan
In one of his ‘bon mots’ Justin bemoaned that they have continued to make albums “but none of you c***s have bought them”
2016 was a Festival-filled year for the band with appearances also at Steelhouse (July) and Weyfest (August). Three years later the band appeared at the fifth Ramblin’ Man Fair in Maidstone when confirmed fan Andy Nathan concluded “With his improvised and often bizarre stream of consciousness asides and changes of outfit, Justin divides opinion (and we haven’t even mentioned his falsetto) but I view him quite fondly as a genuine English eccentric.”
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In 2019 Jason Ritchie reviewed their album ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ and thought: “Rock ‘n’ roll needs The Darkness and The Darkness need rock ‘n’ roll. Quite possibly the band’s best since that debut which came out sixteen years ago now!“ Album review (Easter Is Cancelled, 2019) |
In recent years we’ve reviewed the band several times including, in 2022, Download and Cornbury.
in November 2021 when they were promoting the latest album ‘Motorheart’ Andy Nathan recognised thast they had moved into the Christmas gig space usually occupied by bands such as Status Quo and “a disgraced seventies glam rocker”.
Indeed Andy summed up the band’s precarious longevity in the millennium:
…to see them as just a novelty joke would be a great mistake – they have stood the test of time and without losing that eccentric and quirky edge, albeit turned down a notch these days, as serious musicians they are playing as well as ever.
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Jason Ritchie updates his 2003 encounter with Justin Hawkins chatting to fashionista Frankie Poullain ahead of the UK tour with Black Stone Cherry The upcoming UK tour with Black Stone Cherry and Danko Jones will see three bands playing who love and put on a good live show. Does having similar bands on stage who share The Darkness’s love of the stage spur you all on? I would also imagine backstage will be a lively place! Very lively, we’ve had silk monogrammed dressing gowns made especially for the occasion, it will be a veritable banquet where every flower reveals itself. We are spurred on by time, which let’s not beat about the bush here, is a polite way of saying death. In a good way of course… Will you and BSC take it in turms to headline on alternate nights or are BSC the headliner? We have an expression, ‘FHB’ or ‘Family Hold Back’, and since we are hosts to our Kentucky cousins, we simply insist on giving them the glory slot. When the Darkness reformed in 2011 was there trepidation as to whether the band would still be able to make their mark on the music scene? I don’t know, we weren’t evolved enough back then to have those types of conversations. I was just confused. Reality simulators do that to a man. |
Story coordination: David Randall
Contributors: Dave Atkinson, Karen Clayton, Darren Griffiths, Andy Nathan, Jason Ritchie, Dave Wilson
Gig review (London, 4 February 2023)
The Grotto (Home Page)
The Darkness 2023 Tour Dates
Sat, JAN 28, 2023 Cardiff International Arena
Sun, JAN 29, 2023 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Mon, JAN 30, 2023 OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Tue, JAN 31, 2023 Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
Thu, FEB 2, 2023 AO Arena, Manchester
Fri, FEB 3, 2023 First Direct Arena, Leeds
Sat, FEB 4, 2023 OVO Arena Wembley, London
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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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