The Darkness is a British rock band that was formed in 2000 in London. The band was composed of four members, Justin Hawkins who was the lead vocalist and played the guitar, his brother Dan Hawkins who played the lead guitar, Frankie Poullain who played the bass guitar, and Ed Graham who played the drums. The band's music style was heavily inspired by the glam rock bands of the 1970s such as Queen and AC/DC, which is why some people describe them as a "glam-metal" band.
The band quickly gained attention with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land in 2003. The album was a commercial success both in the UK and internationally, with hits such as “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Get Your Hands off My Woman”. The album was critically acclaimed for its tongue-in-cheek humor and catchy anthems that paid homage to the classic rock genre.
The Darkness highly entertaining music and live performances quickly made them a fan favorite. Justin Hawkins’ unique high-pitched voice and flamboyant stage presence was something that was rarely seen in modern rock music, especially coming from a British band. He often wore outrageous costumes and performed stunts such as flying over the crowd with a harness, which earned him comparisons to Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Although the band's popularity continued to rise, their follow-up album, One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back in 2005 was a commercial disappointment compared to their debut album. There were reports of conflicts within the band and tensions between the Hawkins brothers which caused Frankie Poullain to leave the band. The departure of Poullain had a significant impact on the band’s dynamic and their sound, and they eventually disbanded in 2006.
Despite being apart for almost six years, the band reunited in 2011 and released their third album, Hot Cakes. The album received positive reviews and was a commercial success, with the lead single “Everybody Have a Good Time” becoming a hit in the UK. Since then, the group released other albums, Last of Our Kind (2015) and Pinewood Smile (2017) that continued to showcase The Darkness’ signature style of high-energy rock anthems.
In conclusion, The Darkness is a band that left a lasting impression on the rock music scene. They are a band that took inspiration from the classic rock genre and added their own unique flair to create something that felt both fresh and familiar. Their infectious energy and wit made them a band that fans wanted to see perform and sing along with for years to come. The band's reunion has reminded fans of what made them special in the first place, and their music continues to inspire new fans to rock out to classic sounds.
Darkness Pinewood Smile £20.28 plus shipping and customs CD - Octave Release date: 13/Oct/2017 Delivery to US in 18-22 workdays (ordered) Darkness First Class Violence £9.17 plus shipping and customs CD - Massacre Release date: 12/Oct/2018 Delivery to US in 9-13 workdays (resupply of stocks) Darkness First Class Violence £21.85 plus shipping and customs CD - Metal Command Release date: 31/Oct/2019 Delivery to US in 18-22 workdays (ordered) Darkness Live Over Bocholt £12.23 plus shipping and customs CD - Battle Cry Release date: 12/Nov/2010 Delivery to US in 14-18 workdays (ordered) Darkness Defenders of Justice £10.57 plus shipping and customs CD - High Roller Records Release date: 08/Aug/2025 Delivery to US in 4-8 workdays (in stock) |