Justin Hawkins talks two decades of the Darkness

The iconic Darkness frontman reflects on the 20th anniversary of the landmark debut album 'Permission to Land,' and the many highs and lows he has experienced in both his personal and professional life, in an exclusive interview with Yahoo Entertainment music editor Lyndsey Parker.
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[@astridxr]

I admire Justin so much, obviously as a musician, but he's also a wonderful person

[@siranfield1966]

As a daily follower of Justin Hawkins Rides Again this was a brilliant interview as far as hearing new and amazing stories from him goes...I'm definitely going to look up Lyndsey Parker because just like Justin, she made it very easy for him to open up...Cheers.

[@stevenyapp2334]

National treasure our Justin. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

[@Ginger_shot]

Thank you for this interview. I’m thoroughly enjoying seeing the band celebrate 20 years of one of the best rock albums out there. My nephew was born the year PTL was released and he’s grown to be an absolutely amazing guitarist and The Darkness are one of his greatest inspirations. As for NME saying the most disgusting things about Justin; what an amazing way to stick two fingers up at them by not only rocking harder than ever two decades later but also ending up having the son of Roger Taylor as your drummer and continuing to sell out tours in hours. See you at The Roundhouse this December guys! You are loved ❤

[@peroskarstorholm4196]

About not being happy until 7 years sober… it’s been said that it takes 7 years to exchange every cell in your body. Makes sense.

[@shady1kenobi]

i love this dude. will never get tired of hearing him talk and tell stories. The best. Thanks for doing this interview Lyndsey!

[@tonybroken6353]

sad to say i was one of those that didn't get the darkness when PTL came out, being a big Queen fan and a big AC/DC fan i took them as being a kind of knock-off copy not to be taken seriously, but after seeing them live a couple times almost by accident i totally changed my mind, i now embrace the AC/DC like riffs and the Brian May like guitar solos and Queen inspired vocals, i see it as a tribute to that music aswell as having their own unique cheekyness and character. Brilliant albums and brilliant live band, what more could anyone want.

[@chrissscottt]

What I like about this interview is that the interviewer asks good questions without trying to get under the interviewee's skin.

[@simoneaster]

I admire Justin for his willingness, often, to be so open & honest ex: His YT channel. It's meant a lot to many people and helped them. 🥰 He should not have to interview & feel like he's being gutted to feed anyone's needs or wants. No one should.

[@tracyswan3419]

Saw the Darkness supporting Def Leppard at the Barrowlands 20 years ago and loved what I saw and heard. Going to see them there again in December. 🎉❤

[@j_freed]

Justin's earlier pre-Darkness band which had only half Darkness members was called The Duskness.

[@red_z8069]

I'm glad dude is sober. He's probably what comes to mind when someone asks who my favorite musician is right now. I like Lyndsey too... wasn't familiar with her, I miss rock music's old stature, but it's still important part of my life,

[@ricohgill6523]

Look, we're all here cos we're fans of Justin, but I swear Lyndsey is the best interviewer I've ever seen. Absolutely deserves to have gotten the shedload of Spotify podcast money instead of Bro Bogus.

[@darrenmayor9378]

if you know you know

[@j_freed]

First time I heard "permission to land" I was very happy. Believe in a thing called love was unbelievable. Nice one!

[@StacyODell]

I mean, "Growing on Me" is clearly about crabs

[@kevinsaturday]

It's actually about genital warts, despite what he said, he did say it in an interview in kerrang back when permission to land first came out

[@elleeme9451]

I wouldn't say that their rise to fame was "seemingly unlikely". They had a banger of a single. A distinctive look and singing style. TONNES of personality. It was an obvious winning combination. I wasn't keen on the lady interviewing him. She seems mean.

[@TheSquidgal]

She also seemed distracted ...looking off to the side, mouthing words to someone and constantly playing with her hair.

[@gefaehrlich]

​@@TheSquidgalshe was fine good questions interesting chat

[@racmonbrown]

Thanks for being so candid Justin. Give me a D, give me an Arkness 🖤

[@markobrien5352]

She makes the classic journalist mistake: talks too much about herself and doesn't let the person who actually matters speak.

[@andydixon2980]

And she's more interested in stroking her hair, pouting for the camera, checking her inbox etc than listening respectfully to Mr hawkins.

[@ColinBoyd-zt2ml]

Justin and the dark ess,,,were,,the new queen,and gnr,,please tell me why the darkness get a strange rap,,,,if I cud play like them and sing like Justin,,,.. ,,,,which has caused me ridicule,,,Justin normalised my way of singing

[@EstherBickerton]

"Overlooking the darkness in The Darkness..." .like not making those connections on "Giving up"

[@morganmoallemian3667]

It’s hilarious that she didn’t know Givin’ Up was about heroin. It says “gimme that smack”! Lol Just means she’s a good girl 😂

[@grahamdrummond2412]

I think shes just ok interviewing, on the catsuit front, if anyones got the body for it, it's Justin.

[@ZuzuTheLemon]

Excellent!

[@robinwallace1399]

The acoustic version of holding my own live was excellent 😉

[@douglasharrohall1101]

Great interview, very respectful and Justin seems really comfortable

[@antonballard2212]

Love you Justin! You inspire me bless you

[@johnhafner2337]

I was surprised to hear her say she is a fan but not know that "Givin up" is about heroine.

[@musicfromtheworld5987]

My favorite band EVER.

[@sherynp9340]

Great interview 😊

[@thefredkalis]

Justin Hawkins Rides Again

[@emmayoung3355]

Great interview, thanks!

[@kim_here]

Venereal Disease. "Growing on me" is about one of them, can't remember, crabs maybe. You said it a pretty long time ago in some interview. Brilliant lyrics, as usual.

[@sharonwheeler1401]

I'm surprised that as a big fan of the Darkness, it never occurred to her that Growing On Me might be about something other than a love relationship. If you actually listen to the lyrics it's pretty obvious it's not a love song.

[@jimbanda]

I'm glad these guys survived the chaos and personal turmoil. Not a big fan of their music but I think they are good guys just like Def Leopard.

[@j_freed]

I love your hair color, Lyndsey! Great look going on there... I remember Lee Aaron was wearing pants that colour in 1982, at a show and I think I was in love. She's still a cool performer. Oh yeah I met her backstage at that show and she was really cool chatting with us dropping by, three music geeks. Sweetheart.

[@sah-win]

Good overall summary of the time since the first record came out, thank you! Very excited to my get my hands on the Permission To Land…Again vinyl and see the show. Hopefully “Open Fire” makes the second set. That song is one my personal GOAT tunes.

[@bentleybrowningmusic7431]

Justin does smoking harm your voice?

[@bigbrother1986]

2 years of them tops... 2003-2004

[@pattimann1541]

I agree with Lyndsey that although I Believe In A Thing Called Love is a fantastic song, there were many greater songs on Permission To Land - really brilliant, brilliant songs. From the very start, 20 years ago, it was quite odd to me that IBIATCL was the big hit - in America, at least. Maybe that wasn't the case in the UK and other countries. Fantastic interview, except for grilling Justin about his personal life, that was a bit uncomfortable but we all survived.

[@grahamdrummond2412]

I agree, it ain't my favourite, but if you understand music, even a little bit, you can see why it was the biggest hit, it had (& still does ) have massive crossover appeal, it's just unbelievably catchy, & not as heavy as some of the other tracks on the debut, my absolute favourite being 'Growing On Me '

[@flea1972]

🤘👍✌️

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

guy has no issue critiquing vocalists but he won't share a personal moment....WEAK

[@emmayoung3355]

Irony I presume