The Darkness
- This page deals with The Darkness, a band. For information about the comic book title published by Top Cow Productions, see The Darkness (comics).
The Darkness hails from the UK and is comprised of brothers Justin (lead guitar and vocals) and Dan (guitar) Hawkins, Frankie Poullain (bassist) and Ed Graham (drums).
Their single "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" reached number two in the UK music charts, and their album Permission to Land, which sold over a million copies, was shortlisted for the 2003 Mercury Music Prize. Their Christmas single "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" was narrowly beaten to the 2003 UK Christmas number 1 slot by "Mad World" from Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules.
They are considered to be influenced by 1970s rock bands like AC/DC, Van Halen, Queen, T. Rex and Led Zeppelin. Hawkins' soaring falsetto makes them immediately distinguishable from other present-day rock bands.
The band won three Brit Awards in 2004, including Best Group, Best rock group and Best album.
In the summer of 2004, The Darkness headlined the Carling Festivals in Reading and Leeds along with White Stripes and Green Day
