The Darkness were a British rock band formed in Lowestoft, England in 2000. The band consisted of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums). They are best known for their hits “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Love is Only a Feeling”. The Darkness were one of the key bands in the early 2000s revival of hard rock and heavy metal music in the UK, before creative tensions led to their split in 2006.
How did The Darkness get started?
The origins of The Darkness date back to the late 1990s, when Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins were in a covers band together called Empire. After that band dissolved, Justin Hawkins formed a new band called The Darkness in Lowestoft in 2000 with Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Ed Graham. The band spent years playing small gigs on the London club circuit, developing their sound which mixed Justin’s flamboyant falsetto vocals with a love of glam rock and heavy metal. Their theatrical live performances also began to earn them a strong local fanbase.
When did The Darkness get their big break?
The Darkness got their major breakthrough in 2002 when they were signed by record label Must Destroy Records. They released their debut single “Get Your Hands off My Woman” followed by “Growing on Me” in 2003, which reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. Their fame rocketed with the release of their debut album Permission to Land in 2003. It reached number 1 in the UK and went on to sell over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was the biggest hit off the album, reaching number 2 on the UK charts.
What was The Darkness’ musical style?
The Darkness’ music mixed the hard rock and heavy riffs of bands like AC/DC and Van Halen with influences from 1970s and 80s glam rock acts like Queen, KISS and Def Leppard. Justin Hawkins’ unique falsetto vocals were also a signature part of their sound. Lyrically, their songs featured cheeky humor and innuendo-laden lyrics revolving around sex, love and rock and roll. They also incorporated flamboyant costumes and theatrical live shows with costume changes and energetic on-stage antics. This resurrected the glam rock spirit of the 70s and 80s for modern audiences.
What success did The Darkness have in the UK?
The Darkness experienced huge success in the UK between 2003 to 2006. Some highlights include:
- Their debut album Permission to Land went to Number 1 in the UK charts and sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK.
- “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” reached Number 2 in the UK singles charts.
- They won 3 BRIT Awards in 2004 including Best Group, Best Rock Act and Best Live Act.
- They headlined the pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2004.
- Their second album One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back went straight to Number 1 in November 2005.
During their peak, The Darkness were considered one of the biggest and most successful rock bands in Britain. Their mix of rock music heritage and flamboyant showmanship connected strongly with British audiences and paved the way for other hard rock bands to achieve success in the 2000s.
What success did The Darkness have in the United States?
Billboard Chart Peak | Song/Album |
---|---|
Number 4 | “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” |
Number 56 | One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back |
Number 1 | Mainstream Rock Tracks chart |
While hugely successful in the UK, The Darkness had more limited mainstream success in the US. Their album Permission to Land sold over 1 million copies in the US and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” reached Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2004. One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back peaked at Number 56 on the Billboard 200.
However, The Darkness achieved significant success on rock radio and the mainstream rock charts in the US. “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for multiple weeks. So while they did not fully break through to pop audiences, The Darkness built a strong foundation in the American rock fanbase on the back of radio play and touring.
How did The Darkness change on their second album?
The Darkness’ second album One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back saw the band move away from the overtly kitschy glam rock sound of their debut. While still featuring their trademark humor and rock influences, the songs had a more serious emotional core dealing with substance abuse, fame and relationships. The band opted for a slightly more mainstream hard rock sound.
There were also personnel changes, with Frankie Poullain being replaced on bass by Richie Edwards and some songwriting duties being shared with guitarist Dan Hawkins. This evolution divided some fans, as many loved their campy debut persona. While reviews were mixed, it still achieved Number 1 on the charts. But the cracks had begun to show in The Darkness’ once solid facade.
Why did The Darkness split up in 2006?
Tensions that had been simmering for years between Justin Hawkins and the rest of the band came to a head during an American tour in 2006. Justin Hawkins had developed a divisive perfectionist attitude and there were creative disputes over the band’s management and musical direction. Hawkins’ worsening drug and alcohol problems also began to damage the band dynamics.
While on tour in America, Justin Hawkins demanded the band members all quit drinking and drugs. The others disagreed leading to heated arguments. After a show where Justin censured Ed Graham’s drumming, the drummer angrily quit the band. The remaining members decided they could no longer work with Hawkins and effectively fired him. The Darkness disbanded soon after in 2006.
Key factors in The Darkness’ split:
- Creative control disputes between Justin Hawkins and other members
- Justin Hawkins’ worsening drug and alcohol addictions
- Inter-band tensions and deteriorating relationships
- Arguments over musical direction and management decisions
- Ed Graham quitting after clashes with Justin Hawkins
What solo work did Justin Hawkins do after The Darkness?
After leaving The Darkness, Justin Hawkins attempted solo work for several years. He formed a synthpop band called British Whale who were renamed Justin Hawkins and the 925s after his departure. They recorded an album called Panther but disbanded in 2009 after lack of label interest.
Hawkins also released a disco single called “Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied” under the alias Justin Casablancas in 2007. Neither this or the British Whale album achieved commercial success. As his music career floundered, Hawkins struggled for years with drug addiction before getting clean in 2009.
How and when did The Darkness reunite?
The estranged band members began to patch up their relationships after Justin Hawkins got clean. All except Ed Graham agreed to reform The Darkness in 2011 with drummer Emily Dolan Davies replacing Graham. They came back with a third album Hot Cakes in 2012 which gave them a Top 10 UK hit again with “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us”.
Frankie Poullain was initially replaced by the returning Richie Edwards in the reunion. But Poullain returned permanently in 2015 after Edwards departed. The band have since released two more studio albums and toured solidly. Relationships in the reunited band appear much healthier. While not reaching their early 2000s commercial heights, The Darkness remain a consistent draw on the European festival circuit.
What is The Darkness doing now in 2023?
The Darkness continue to tour and record new music sporadically. In 2019, they released their latest album Easter is Cancelled. They also still perform their classic songs like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Love on the Rocks with No Ice” live. Frankie Poullain and Ed Graham are still no longer involved but otherwise the classic line-up is intact.
In June 2022, The Darkness announced their eighth studio album Motorheart will be released later in 2022. Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins have both also focused more on side projects in recent years while staying committed to The Darkness.
So while not the unstoppable commercial force they once were in the UK, The Darkness continue plugging away. They have retained a loyal fanbase who still love their unique blend of guitar pyrotechnics, soaring vocals and triumphantly over-the-top rock and roll spectacle.
Conclusion
The Darkness exploded onto the British music scene in the early 2000s with their outrageous glam rock image and arena-sized hard rock anthems. Hits like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” made them megastars in the UK, winning awards and headlining major festivals.
However, the pressures of fame and internal tensions, exacerbated by Justin Hawkins’ drug problems, caused the band to implode in 2006. They went their separate ways for several years before reconciling personally and musically for a successful reunion around 2011. While no longer at their commercial peak, The Darkness continue to record and perform their signature bombastic rock music for their loyal fanbase.