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See all 5 datesThe Darkness is a British hard rock and glam rock band formed in Lowestoft in 2000. Signed to Atlantic Records, the group released its first album, Permission to Land, in 2003.
Next date in London: 16 December at The O2.
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- Latest album
- One Way Ticket to Birmingham: Live at the NEC 2006 (2026)New
- Formed
- 2000 · Lowestoft
- Label
- Atlantic Records
About — The artist
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.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article “The Darkness (band)” (en), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Discography
- Permission to Land 2003
- One Way Ticket to Hell …and Back 2005
- Hot Cakes 2012
- The Platinum Correction: Live & Consensual in Thetford Forest 2013
- Last of Our Kind 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Norwich UEA - 25 Nov 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Norwich Open - 30 Nov 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Cambridge Corn Exchange - 1 Dec 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Nottingham Rock City - 2 Dec 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Newcastle O2 Academy - 4 Dec 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - Glasgow O2 Academy - 5 Dec 2015 2015
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - London Roundhouse - 20 Dec 2015 2016
- Blast Of Our Kind Tour - The Best Of USB 2016
- Pinewood Smile 2017
- Live at Hammersmith 2018
- Easter Is Cancelled 2019
- Motorheart 2021
- Streaming of a White Christmas 2021
- Dreams on Toast 2025
- One Way Ticket to Birmingham: Live at the NEC 2006 2026