The Darkness

Since the early 2000s, classic rock revivalists The Darkness have turned their love for ’70s glam excess and falsetto vocals into UK Top 20 LPs and chart-topping singles. ∙ Permission to Land, the band’s 2003 debut LP, went quadruple-Platinum in the UK on the heels of their international hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” ∙ Their 2003 holiday song, “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End),” rose to No. 2 on the UK charts, thanks to its clever mix of sentimentality and double entendres. ∙ The Darkness won 14 different honors in 2004, including three BRIT Awards for Best British Group, Best Rock Act, and Best British Album (Permission to Land). ∙ After a five-year hiatus, they reunited and released their third LP, 2012’s Hot Cakes, which featured a cover of Radiohead’s 1995 hit “Street Spirit (Fade Out).” ∙ In 2014, frontman Justin Hawkins—known for his campy onstage attire and signature plunging jumpsuits—sold a variety of his most flamboyant outfits to raise money for charity. ∙ The band released their fan-favorite live album, Live at Hammersmith, which topped the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart in 2018.