If you’re from the UK you’d be more familiar with England’s import The Darkness. However, we at Rokology have been following their career ever since their mind blowing Permission to Land breakthrough album arrived in the States in September, 2003. From the AC/DCish ‘Black Shuck’ to the bombastic ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love,’ this band captivated not only the Brits but the States and other corners of the world bringing the FUN back to rock n roll.. I remember seeing them at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Houston on that tour and they were just fantastic delivering real rock n roll at a time when it was sorely missing. Their sophomore effort, One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back, was just as outrageous incorporating more Queen influences including production by Queens very own producer Roy Thomas Baker and strong song writing. Justin the lead singer and his brother Dan really upped their guitar playing. Great tunes such as the title, ‘One Way Ticket,’ ‘Is it Just Me’ and ‘Girlfriend’ which was accompanied by a video of Justin in leg warmers teaching aerobics. Permission to Land went 4 times Platinum and One Way Ticket reached Platinum.
With the recording of a razorblades seemingly cutting lines of cocaine on a mirror to kick off “One Way Ticket….” one should have foreshadowed the bands future. After touring the second album Justin entered rehab for you guessed it, the white mistress. Soon after he left the band which left the rest to start a new band called Stone Gods. Justin also started his own band with other members called Hot Leg. The hiatus lasted nearly 6 years until the boys decided to reunite, the brothers mended fences and rock n roll with The Darkness was back on the tracks. The next album, Hot Cakes was a return to form releasing strong new tunes like ‘Every Inch of You’ and ‘Everybody Have a Good Time.’ Crunchy harmonizing guitars check. Bombastic vocals check. Pounding rhythm section check. All good. The band returned to the road and a couple of years later released Last of Our Kind. Before this release longtime drummer Ed Graham left the band for undisclosed reasons. Ed played the drums that were used in Frankie Goes to Hollywood and had a huge tone. Rufus Taylor, son of famous drummer from Queen Roger Taylor then joined. The band released Last of Our Kind in 2015.
In 2017 the band including Rufus released Pinewood Smile. It was on this tour that I saw them for a second time. This was in Austin at La Zona Rosa. As usual the band had great energy and played a variety of songs throughout their discography. They did an encore with a nod to Def Leppard wearing the Texas Flag imprint on all of their shorts rather than the Union Jack. They played super tight and were highly entertaining. The Darkness return to Texas on the heals of their new album, Easter is Cancelled. They play The Warehouse Live in Houston on April 22nd. We’ll see you there!
