The Darkness Unleash Epic ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ Cover

December 6, 2025 rocknews

As the 2025 holiday season ignites, British glam-rock legends The Darkness have dropped a riotous, shoegaze-infused cover of Cliff Richard’s eternal festive hit “Mistletoe and Wine.” Released December 5 via Cooking Vinyl, this bonus track from their Dreams on Toast Christmas edition transforms the 1988 yuletide staple into a bombastic riff-fest, complete with dancing synths, heavy guitars, and Justin Hawkins’ soaring falsetto. Stream it on Spotify or Apple Music, and dive into the official video here for visuals of Hawkins channeling holiday chaos with bells, choirs, and unbridled energy.

Hot on the heels of their chart-smashing eighth album, this release teases an explosive 2026: a massive UK arena tour—their biggest in two decades—plus a slot supporting Iron Maiden at Knebworth. In this guide, we unpack the track’s origins, The Darkness’s glam revival, and why this cover is the merry mayhem your playlist craves.

The Story Behind The Darkness’s “Mistletoe and Wine” Cover

Arriving on the fifth day of Advent, The Darkness’s take on “Mistletoe and Wine” is a “musical departure,” blending their signature pomp with shoegaze haze and droning riffs. As crackers pop and bells ring, Hawkins’ passionate vocals erupt over a rhythmic stomp, backed by choral harmonies that nod to the song’s carol roots.

“Season’s greetings! Children, roasting on an open fire, their eyeballs all aglow, are weeping in awe of our latest seasonal offering,” quips Hawkins. “‘Mistletoe and Wine’ represents a musical departure for The Darkness as we reimagine Richie Clifton’s timeless classic and add a few sprinkles of shoegaze and drone. Jack Frost staring at his toes? You will be too. In a good way.”

This isn’t their first festive flirtation—they teased a stripped-back version at London’s St Pancras station on November 25, 2025, during an impromptu set celebrating One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back‘s 20th anniversary. Critics hail it as a “life-affirming, glam-soaked riff-fest” that rescues polite playlists from blandness, delivering catsuit-clad falsetto shrieks and Flying V wizardry. It’s the ultimate closer to a triumphant 2025, following sold-out tours and their highest-charting album since debut days.

Cliff Richard’s Original “Mistletoe and Wine”: From Dark Tale to Holiday Staple

To grasp The Darkness’s spin, rewind to the source: a poignant critique wrapped in carol guise. Penned by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart, and Keith Strachan for the 1976 musical Scraps (later The Little Match Girl, adapting Hans Christian Andersen’s tragic tale), the song debuted as ironic pub ditty sung by a whore, mocking middle-class hypocrisy as a freezing girl perishes outside.

By the 1987 HTV TV adaptation, it evolved into a lusty anthem. Enter Cliff Richard: His manager snagged a demo, and Richard—aged 48—revamped lyrics from boozy pagan vibes to a faith-filled family ode (“The child is a king, the carolers sing / The old is past, there’s a new beginning”). Released November 21, 1988, via EMI, it exploded: UK’s Christmas No. 1 for four weeks, 750,000+ copies sold, and 1988’s top single overall.

Peaking at No. 30 in Australia and charting across Europe, it starred in anti-drink-driving PSAs and Richard’s 1991 live special. Covers followed (e.g., Collabro’s 2021 duet), but The Darkness’s version—dark, daft, and dazzling—honors its ironic edge while amplifying the joy.

From Lowestoft Lads to Arena Gods: The Darkness’s Rock Odyssey

Formed in 2000 in Lowestoft, Suffolk, by brothers Justin (vocals/guitar) and Dan Hawkins (guitar), with Frankie Poullain (bass) and Rufus Tiger Taylor (drums, son of Queen’s Roger), The Darkness channeled Queen, AC/DC, and ’70s glam into a tongue-in-cheek hard-rock spectacle. Hawkins drew guitar inspiration from Brian May, evolving from prog covers to buzzworthy demos via manager Sue Whitehouse.

Their 2003 debut Permission to Land (No. 1 UK, 4x platinum, 1.3M+ sales) spawned hits like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” (No. 2) and “Growing on Me” (No. 11), netting three BRIT Awards and tours with Metallica. Named the top British rock album of the 21st century (No. 3 overall rock/metal, 1.45M units), it redefined them as glam revivalists.

A 2006 hiatus followed One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back‘s excess-fueled mixed reviews, spawning side projects (Hot Leg, Stone Gods). Reunited in 2011, they’ve unleashed seven more albums, blending absurdity and anthems. Their discography:

Album Title	Release Year	Key Highlights
Permission to Land	2003	No. 1 UK; 4x platinum; BRIT Awards sweep; “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.”
One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back	2005	No. 11 UK; Festive single “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” No. 2.
Hot Cakes	2012	Reunion LP; No. 11 UK; “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us.”
Last of Our Kind	2015	No. 10 UK; Theatrical rock revival.
Pinewood Smile	2017	No. 7 UK; Synth-infused glam.
Easter Is Cancelled	2019	No. 5 UK; Satirical title track.
Motorheart	2021	No. 5 UK; Post-pandemic energy.
Dreams on Toast	2025	No. 2 UK (highest since debut); No. 1 Vinyl/Indie; “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy.”

Dreams on Toast (March 28, 2025; produced by Dan Hawkins) satirizes rock tropes (“gay undercurrent” in “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy”) while grappling with time and ambition, earning a 68/100 Metacritic score. Backed by sold-out Wembley and global runs, it proves their enduring swagger.

The Darkness’s 2026 Tour: Biggest Headline Run in 20 Years

Capping 2025’s triumphs, The Darkness announced their “Band of Brothers” arena tour—seven UK dates in December 2026, their largest headline stint since 2006. Kicking off at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, it culminates in a debut O2 headline, supported by Grammy-winning Brothers Osborne and Lowestoft’s A (the Perrys).

Hawkins: “Powerful rock was designed to be played in huge rectangular buildings… driven by three bands consisting of seven brothers.” Pre-sale: November 26, 2025 (10am, mailing list); general sale: November 28 (10am) via thedarknesslive.com. Plus, catch them supporting Iron Maiden at Knebworth Park on July 11, 2026.

Full dates:

Date	Venue	City	Support Acts
July 11, 2026	Knebworth Park	Knebworth	Iron Maiden (special guest)
Dec 8, 2026	OVO Hydro	Glasgow	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 9, 2026	First Direct Arena	Leeds	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 11, 2026	AO Arena	Manchester	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 12, 2026	Utilita Arena	Birmingham	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 13, 2026	Utilita Arena	Cardiff	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 15, 2026	Brighton Centre	Brighton	Brothers Osborne, A
Dec 16, 2026	The O2	London	Brothers Osborne, A

Why This Cover and Tour Signal The Darkness’s Festive Renaissance

In a post-pandemic era craving escapism, The Darkness’s “Mistletoe and Wine” revives the original’s subversive spirit with glam bombast—perfect for toasting Dreams on Toast‘s No. 2 peak and Permission to Land‘s legacy. As Hawkins bikes through absurdity, they’re not just covering a carol; they’re reclaiming rock’s joyful chaos for 2026’s arenas.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When was The Darkness’s “Mistletoe and Wine” cover released?

December 5, 2025, as a bonus track on the Dreams on Toast Christmas edition via Cooking Vinyl.

How does The Darkness’s version differ from Cliff Richard’s original?

It’s a glam-rock explosion with shoegaze/drone elements, heavy riffs, and Hawkins’ falsetto—less pious carol, more chaotic festivity—while retaining choral warmth.