The Darkness News

Former Darkness frontman starts over with Hot Leg

Reuters, Oct 14, 2008 4:00 am PDT
The collapse of his former band, the Darkness, and an unsuccessful attempt to represent the United Kingdom in 2007's Eurovision Song Contest have hardly dampened Justin Hawkins' drive.

But the frontman of new rock quartet Hot Leg has quite an act to follow. The Darkness' huge U.K. success saw the band's 2003 U.K. chart-topping debut album, "Permission to Land" (Atlantic), sell 1.4 million copies domestically, according to the Official Charts Co.; Nielsen SoundScan puts U.S. sales at 710,000.

The band also collected five top 10 U.K. singles, three BRIT Awards and an Ivor Novello songwriting award. However, after second album "One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back" (2005) failed to scale the same heights, the Darkness imploded in 2006.

"We overachieved, really," Hawkins said. "But I didn't love it anymore." After an extended sabbatical that included a stint in rehab, Hawkins returns with Hot Leg's debut single, "Trojan Guitar," an October 20 U.K. release through his own Universal-distributed label, Barbeque Rock Records. A January album follows.

"Some people are going to dismiss it because of the Darkness thing, but that's just the way it is," Hawkins said.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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The Darkness to reform in 2009?

Dec 22, 2008 10:00 pm PST

The Darkness are considering reforming for a new album and tour, according to newspaper reports. The band, which split in 2006, is apparently considering an offer made by the U.S. entrepreneur behind the Dubai Desert Rocks festival to tou...

Justin Hawkins to enter Eurovision contest?

Feb 28, 2007 12:00 pm PST

Justin Hawkins is competing to appear at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, it has emerged. The former Darkness frontman is understood to be one of six acts in the running to represent the U.K. at the event in Finland. Hawkins, who quit...

Hawkins Leaves the Darkness

Oct 12, 2006 3:09 pm PDT

The Darkness' once bright future is suddenly gloomy. Fresh off a stint in rehab, the band's cat suit-wearing frontman and cofounder shocked fans by announcing he's quitting the glam-rock outfit he led to chart-topping success. In ...

Justin Hawkins quits the Darkness

Oct 11, 2006 11:00 am PDT

Justin Hawkins has quit the Darkness after admitting blowing over $300,000 on cocaine in the past three years. The singer has been undergoing treatment in Britsh rehab clinic the Priory in recent months after being admitted with drug and ...

The Darkness speak out about singer

Aug 18, 2006 1:00 pm PDT

The Darkness have cancelled a string of upcoming live shows and confirmed that frontman Justin Hawkins is in rehab. It was announced yesterday that the singer's doctor had advised Hawkins to take two weeks off from the band, amid suggesti...

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