The Darkness

The Darkness is a spectacular English band, active since 2000 in the world of music. It is known for rock and metal music that often combines glam metal and rock with heavy metal and hard rock. Many a record label have released its music, in the UK, US and Europe including Atlantic Records, Warner, Must Destroy, PIAS Wind–up Records and East West Records. From Lowestoft in Suffolk, within England, the band has played with many other bands including Hot Leg, Onion Trump, Stone Gods and British Whale. For those looking for a good dose of rock and metal, this is a band to catch live via The Darkness tickets.

The Darkness’ members today are lead vocalist and guitarist Justin Hawkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Dan Hawkins, bassist and backing vocalist Frankie Poullain and drummer Ed Graham. The band is known for its distinctly classic rock like style of performing on stage, influenced by such groups as Led Zeppelin. The band rose to fame after the release of their 2003 album, Permission to Land, which spawned such hit singles as Love is Only a Feeling, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Get Your Hands off My Woman and Growing On Me. It was soon certified five times platinum in the UK, selling more than one million copies. The Darkness went on to win three Brit Awards for their debut album, in the Best British Group, Best British Album and Best British Rock Act categories.

The Darkness began under the leadership of manager Sue Whitehouse, who had been leading the band since their time as Empire. They became famous for their live shows, so much so that they played a Carling Homecoming concert at the London Astoria well before being signed onto a record label. Their songs were featured a number of times by The Tip Sheet, who featured them as the Record of the Day and at SXSW. They were then signed onto Atlantic Records, through whom they released their first album, which would not only sell more than one and a half million copies in the UK but also rank first on the UK charts and hold this position for four long weeks.

After the release of this chart topping album, they toured with Metalllica as part of the heavy metal band’s Summer Sanitarium Tour held in 2003. They were headliners at the prestigious Carling Festival, held in 2004, and won two Kerrang! Awards for the Best British Band and Best Live Act, added to their three BRIT Awards, in 2004. Singles from their first album also ranked first and second on the UK charts.  Their second album, One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back was released in 2005 with its first single, One Way Ticket, ranking eighth on the UK Singles chart. The album itself also rose high up the charts.

After the release of their second album, they went on a world tour, visiting Australia then going to Japan for a number of concerts. They also visited several European countries. In 2006, the band disbanded but reunited in 2011. They played a number of concerts in various London venues, such as Bush Empire, and then performed at the Download Festival. They played at the 100 Club in London and then visited Japan for a series of concerts. By late 2011, they had toured much of the UK and Ireland, played over seventeen concerts.

In 2012, they toured the US and Canada, as well as performed in Sweden at the Sweden Rock Festival and then in Poland at the Przystanek Woodstock. They also played at the Isle of Wight Festival and released their third studio album in 2012, titled Hot Cakes. They opened up for the famous Lady Gaga in her The Born This Way Ball tour in Europe and Africa. With four Kerrang! Awards, three BRIT Awards, two Metal Hammer Awards, one MTV Europe Music Award, one IFPI Platinum Europe Award, one Elle Style Award, one Smash Hits! Award, one RIAA Award and two VH1 Awards to their name, this is a band that deserves to be seen live via The Darkness tickets.