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The Darkness are an English rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, formed in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass, backing vocals) and Rufus Taylor son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor on drums.
The Darkness were founded by the Hawkins brothers, Poullain and drummer Ed Graham, and they came to prominence with the release of their debut album, 'Permission to Land', in 2003. Backed by the singles "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", "Growing on Me", "Get Your Hands off My Woman", and "Love is Only a Feeling", the album was certified quadruple platinum in the United Kingdom, with sales of over 1,300,000. In 2004 the band won three Brit Awards: Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, and Best British Album.
After extensive touring in support of their debut album, Poullain left the band in 2005, and was replaced by former guitar technician Richie Edwards. The band's second studio album, 'One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back', was released in November 2005. The following year, Justin Hawkins departed from the band after successfully completing a course of rehabilitation from alcohol and cocaine abuse. As a result, the remaining members formed Stone Gods, and continued to perform and record without Hawkins, who subsequently fronted his own project, Hot Leg.
On 15 March 2011, The Darkness announced reunion shows, with original bassist Frankie Poullain, including Download Festival 2011, and the Isle of Wight Festival 2012. Their third album, 'Hot Cakes', was released on 20 August 2012. Founder member, drummer Ed Graham has since left the band, feeling the strain of touring was impacting his personal life, in which he had pressing issues. In 2015 a fourth studio album was announced, entitled 'Last of Our Kind', which was released on June 2, 2015, with a new drummer, Emily Dolan Davies, who soon after the record was released left the band and was replaced by Taylor.
