Band · United Kingdom

The Darkness

UK rock band

Formed in 2000

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Upcoming shows

Tue Dec 1 Belfast, United Kingdom · The Telegraph Building Tickets
Wed Dec 2 Cork, Ireland · Savoy Tickets
Thu Dec 3 Luimneach, Ireland · Live At The Big Top Tickets
Tue Dec 8 Glasgow, United Kingdom · OVO Hydro glasgow Tickets
Wed Dec 9 Leeds, United Kingdom · first direct bank arena Tickets
Fri Dec 11 Manchester, United Kingdom · AO Arena Tickets
Sat Dec 12 Birmingham, United Kingdom · Utilita Arena Birmingham Tickets
Sun Dec 13 Cardiff, United Kingdom · Utilita Arena Cardiff Tickets
Tue Dec 15 Brighton, United Kingdom · The Brighton Centre Tickets
Wed Dec 16 London, United Kingdom · The O2 Tickets

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Tour dates elsewhere: Bandsintown · Songkick

About

The Darkness are a British hard rock band formed in Lowestoft in 2000. The band consists of the brothers Justin (vocals, guitar) and Dan Hawkins (guitar), as well as Frankie Poullain (bass) and Rufus Tiger Taylor (drums).

The Darkness came to prominence with the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", "Growing on Me", "Get Your Hands off My Woman", and "Love Is Only a Feeling", the album was certified quadruple platinum in the United Kingdom, with sales of over 1.3 million. In 2004 the band won three Brit Awards: Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, and Best British Album. After extensive touring in support of their debut album, Poullain left the band in 2005, and was replaced by former guitar technician Richie Edwards. The band's second studio album, One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back, was released in November 2005. The following year, Justin Hawkins departed from the band after successfully completing a course of rehabilitation from alcohol and cocaine abuse. This, combined with the poor sales of the album, resulted in Atlantic dropping the band in October 2006. After the split, the remaining members formed Stone Gods, and continued to perform and record without Hawkins, who subsequently fronted his own project, Hot Leg.

In March 2011, the Darkness announced reunion shows, with original bassist Frankie Poullain, including Download Festival 2011, and the Isle of Wight Festival 2012. Their third album, Hot Cakes, was released in August 2012. Original drummer Ed Graham then left the band. A fourth studio album, Last of Our Kind, was released in 2015. A fifth album, Pinewood Smile, was released in 2017, followed by a live album, Live at Hammersmith, in 2018. Their sixth studio album, Easter Is Cancelled, was released in 2019. After the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to their world tour in 2020, the band ended the year with a one-off streamed live show titled "Streaming of a White Christmas", which was also recorded as a new live album. Their seventh studio album, Motorheart, was released in 2021, followed by an extensive UK tour through November and December.

The Darkness performed at the 2025 VE Day Celebration in Horse Guards Parade.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Also in Français

The Darkness est un groupe de hard rock britannique, originaire du Lowestoft, Suffolk. Il est actuellement composé de quatre membres, Dan Hawkins (guitare), Justin Hawkins (guitare, chant et clavier), Frankie Poullain (basse), et Rufus Tiger Taylor (batterie).

The Darkness se popularise avec la sortie de son premier album, Permission to Land, en 2003. Précédé par les singles I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Growing on Me, Get Your Hands off My Woman, et Love is Only a Feeling, l'album est certifié disque de platine au Royaume-Uni avec plus d'1 300 000 exemplaires vendus. En 2004, le groupe remporte trois Brit Awards dans les catégories « meilleur groupe britannique », « meilleur groupe de rock britannique », et « meilleur album britannique ».

Le 15 mars 2011, The Darkness annonce une réunion avec le bassiste Frankie Poullain, dont une au Download Festival et au Isle of Wight Festival en 2012. Leur troisième album, Hot Cakes, est publié le 20 août 2012. Ed Graham quittera le groupe sentant que les tournées du groupe affluaient sur sa vie privée. En 2015, un quatrième album est annoncé, Last of Our Kind, et publié le 2 juin 2015. Un cinquième album est prévu pour 2017.

Les influences du groupe The Darkness sont larges : de Queen à AC/DC en passant par Aerosmith, Dire Straits, le rock psychédélique et électronique, sans oublier le groupe Thin Lizzy, dont les deux frères sont fans et qui leur a inspiré leurs parties à deux guitares harmonisées lors des solos.

Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0