Hello to all of the Hive music lovers and #threetunetuesday enjoyers!
This week I have decided to focus on a single band, The Darkness. This particular band are close to my heart, having seen them live a couple of times in Newcastle, a city that they play on a regular basis in November/December close to my birthday. For a band that were often described as a parody band in their early career, they have developed a fantastic discography over the years and become one of the UK's most beloved rock acts. The band's debut album 'Permission to Land' became #1 in the UK album charts and had several hit singles, propelling the band and their flamboyant frontman Justin Hawkins in to instant stardom. The release went on to go quadruple platinum and earn the band 3 Brit Awards including 'Best British Group'.
As is often the case with bands that are thrust to the forefront of public consciousness it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows for the band and in particular Justin. Years of alcohol/drug abuse and demands of their record labels eventually took their toll with the band having several periods of hiatus and tension between JH and his brother Dan Hawkins who is their lead guitarist. They however settled their differences and reformed in 2011 after Hawkins completed rehab and have since gone on to complete a further 5 studio albums making 7 in total.
Hope you all enjoyed that little insight in to the history of the band. For anyone that is further intrigued by the band and in particular Justin, he also has a successful YouTube channel named 'Justin Hawkins Rides Again' where he reacts to music and invites guests to discuss the industry.
Now for the music...
1. Love Is Only A Feeling
Permission to Land - 2003
2. Is It Just Me?
One Way Ticket To Hell...and Back - 2005
3. Solid Gold
Pinewood Smile - 2017
That's my 3 tunes for this Tuesday, wish I could have done more for this awesome band but rules are rules. If you like what you hear I urge you to dig deeper. As the band itself would say 'We're never gonna stop...shitting out solid gold!'
