MARVIN x The Darkness: Justin Hawkins brings his own flare to rock music.
Photo by Simon Emmett
When The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins gets stopped by people, they usually say one of two things. They either tell him how much they like his Rides Again YouTube channel, on which Hawkins dissects everything from buzzy new bands to musical theory, or they thank him for introducing them to rock music. “The Darkness has always been this gateway to a whole other world,” he says today from his home studio in Switzerland. “We might make unfashionable music, but nothing feels better.”
Photo by Simon Emmett
22 years after their breakout single “I Believe In A Thing Called Love,” The Darkness made a wonderfully outrageous return with their 6th album Dreams On Toast earlier this year. As well as the searing stadium rock they’re known for, the record playfully toys with country (“Cold Hearted Woman”), piano pop (“Don’t Need Sunshine”) and metal operas (“The Battle For Gadget Land”) as the band refuse to become a parody of themselves. “Our label would love it if we just made Permission To Land again,” says Hawkins, rolling his eyes while referencing the band’s debut album.
Read the full feature in the MARVIN British Invasion Issue. Click HERE to purchase.
