“We’re Not Here to Be Cool”: Justin Hawkins on The Darkness’s Wild Ride from Glam Gods to Rock Survivors

August 10, 2025 rocknews

Inspired by Jon Weiderhorn’s original feature for Guitar World, published August 2025

In a world where rock bands often drown in their own self-seriousness, The Darkness have always been the flaming glitter cannon in the corner—loud, ludicrous, and unapologetically brilliant. Frontman Justin Hawkins summed it up best in a recent interview with Guitar World’s Jon Weiderhorn: “I’m not a big fan of bands that take themselves too seriously. Look at Angus Young. He’s a grown man who wears a schoolboy uniform.”

That ethos—equal parts irreverence and reverence—has defined The Darkness since their explosive debut, Permission to Land, dropped in 2003. While the alt-rock scene was busy brooding with The Strokes and Kings of Leon, The Darkness burst out of Suffolk like glam-rock phoenixes, armed with power chords, falsetto screams, and outfits that would make Freddie Mercury blush.

Their rise was meteoric. Hawkins, his brother Dan on guitar, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Ed Graham didn’t just play rock—they performed it like a high-voltage pantomime. Tracks like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” became instant classics, not despite their theatricality, but because of it. Yet, as Guitar World’s feature reminds us, the band’s trajectory wasn’t all glitter and glory.

Behind the scenes, Hawkins battled addiction and burnout. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he told Weiderhorn, reflecting on the band’s implosion after their initial success. The Darkness disbanded in 2006, leaving fans wondering if their flamboyant flame had burned out for good.

But rock loves a resurrection story—and The Darkness delivered. Reuniting in 2011, they returned with a renewed hunger and a sharpened sense of purpose. They’ve since become a fixture of the UK rock calendar, especially in Nottingham, where their annual Christmas gigs at Rock City (sometimes not in December) have become a beloved tradition. As Rock News UK puts it: we’ve loved The Darkness from the tiger-riding stadium days to the festive chaos of Rock City, where their arrival signals the start of Christmas—even if they do sing that Christmas song.

What sets The Darkness apart isn’t just their sound—it’s their refusal to conform. Hawkins’s stage presence, often shirtless and strutting like a glam-rock peacock, is a middle finger to the genre’s growing obsession with authenticity. “We’re not here to be cool,” he told Guitar World. “We’re here to entertain.”

And entertain they do. Whether it’s their bombastic live shows, their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, or their unwavering commitment to rock’s theatrical roots, The Darkness continue to defy expectations. They’re not a parody—they’re a celebration. A reminder that rock can be fun, flamboyant, and still pack a punch.

For the full inside scoop, check out Jon Weiderhorn’s original feature on Guitar World.