"Justin Hawkins candidly discusses the rise, descent, and revival of The Darkness, focusing on their unserious approach to music, as exemplified by Angus Young's schoolboy attire."
The British rock band The Darkness, known for their flamboyant outfits, energetic anthems, and flashy leads, debuted in 2003 with the album Permission to Land. This album, characterized by a glam rock and hard rock revival sound, drew comparisons to bands like Queen and AC/DC.
After their successful debut, The Darkness's musical style and sound evolved over subsequent albums. They explored different textures and heavier or more modern rock tones, while always maintaining a foundation in melodic and riff-driven rock. Later works tended to incorporate elements of heavy metal and more intricate guitar work, moving slightly away from the straightforward glam metal revivalism of the debut.
Justin Hawkins, the frontman, is known for using harmonic minor and ninth notes in his guitar solos. He wrote the lyrics for Hot on My Tail by referring to common themes in modern country songs, and the band wrote this song with a country sound in mind, inspired by the Johnny Cash method of three chords and the truth.
The band's new album, Dreams on Toast, injects pop balladry, moustache-in-beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock into their musical oeuvre. This album was written over three years, allowing The Darkness to be super-discerning about all the choices they made and to make every song on the record as good as it is.
The band consists of Justin Hawkins (frontman), Dan Hawkins (guitarist), Frankie Poullain (bassist), and Ed Graham (drummer). Writing together was once a confrontational process for the band, but they've become more willing to listen to each other over time.
The Darkness struggled to evolve and establish themselves as more than rousing, flamboyant rockers. However, they defied all odds and survived the test of time. The breakup between 2006 and 2011 was due to both personal issues and creative differences. But after their six-year break, they returned with Dreams on Toast, a testament to their resilience and adaptability.
Justin Hawkins has a unique spider-like lick on the guitar that he believes is not replicated by others. He is not concerned about the mix of styles on the new album, believing that each song was written to its natural conclusion. Hawkins has transferred his addictive urges from drugs and alcohol to buying expensive clothes and fitness.
Despite music purists dismissing The Darkness as a parody band, comparing them to Spinal Tap, their true heroes were Queen and AC/DC. Justin Hawkins admits being drawn to the ribald, even juvenile lyrics and antics of AC/DC and has always believed that a good sense of humor makes rock 'n' roll more fun.
In short, The Darkness evolved from their initial glam/hard rock revival debut into a more diverse hard rock and metal act, blending classic influences with modern approaches but always retaining their signature vocal style and flamboyant attitude. Their new album, Dreams on Toast, is a testament to this evolution, showcasing their ability to adapt and experiment while remaining true to their roots.
- The Darkness, known for their flamboyant style and revivalist sound, have evolved over time, incorporating elements of heavy metal and intricate guitar work into their melodic and riff-driven rock style.
- Justin Hawkins, the frontman of The Darkness, uses unique spider-like licks on his Fender Stratocaster, which he believes are not replicated by others.
- The new album, Dreams on Toast, by The Darkness, features a blend of pop balladry, moustache-in-beer country, and singer/songwriter alt-rock, showcasing their adaptability and experimentation within the realm of hard rock and metal music.
- Despite criticism from music purists, The Darkness draws inspiration from their true heroes, Queen and AC/DC, appreciating their humor and rock 'n' roll spirit, and striving to infuse fun and flashiness into their music while remaining authentic to their roots.
