Justin Hawkins: The story of 'Permission to Land'

[@mackin26]

2003. I moved back to Manchester to study music after my Dad died earlier that year. I met an amazing friend called Pete. He drove me to college nearly every day and we listened to ‘Permission To Land’ every time. After that devastating event of losing Dad, that guy made me laugh every single day I was there and that Darkness album was the soundtrack to those morning commutes.

[@staalhard666]

Class act. In between university and corporate job I briefly worked in a hardrock/metal recordshop, right after Permission To Land came out. Justin casually walked in one day, all by himself, the afternoon before the show in our town. I gave him a nice discount on a rare KISS boxset. Then he called his manager to put me on the guestlist haha

[@Lt.Loomis]

What an entertaining conversation with a modern day legend. Such a humble guy and creative resourceful artist. I love how much Justin loves the way the band ended up being what it was. He's def more proud than he lets on. Who wouldn't be?

[@ardethellis8930]

Just found this interview. I expected Justin to be awesome because I watch his channel. What really impressed me was the interviewer. Thoughtful questions and he actually listened to the answers. Rock on dude.

[@rockivassalino9276]

Justin Hawkins is just the most delightful gent ever. 🖤🖤

[@pulse4503]

The looks hes Sporting suits him the best

[@pulse4503]

Short hair+ clean shaven he looks youthful

[@MrReese]

What an eloquent and smart person Justin is, it's a blast listening to him talk.

[@johnkramer8205]

I was there at Reading Festival in 2004 as a scrawny 18 year old with long hair when The Darkness headlined. And I loved every second! You guys are still awesome 20 years later!

[@stevem-h3562]

I like Justin. Never takes it or himself too seriously, but understands it. He gets it. He can look back on it and see it for what it was but is still rightly proud but at the same time philosophical about what The Darkness acheived.

[@concretel10n]

When Justin said "you don't wanna sell songs, you wanna be a rockstar" I was like, damn, I think I do

[@265TEE]

One of the great debut albums, still play it regularly.

[@sah-win]

More great insights from JH, thanks!

[@Liverpool-axeman]

My first album. Changed my life, I’m a professional guitarist because of these guys. Forever thankful ❤

[@dbapto6994]

Justin thank you for talking about :permission to land. I listened to it for the 1st time two days ago....good stuff, man....

[@racmonbrown]

Loved this. I could listen to Justin for hours. And I do

[@dennisgabriel9641]

Great first record. I bought it, and every one after. Top stuff.

[@naniagodilla2220]

what an awesome interview, questions were well casual but were well thought and focused. i still listen to Permission to Land back and forth, love that album

[@andydufresne1602]

I never would’ve thought that the high pitched falsetto fellow from the Darkness, whomst I used to hear on the radio in my youth, would go on to become one of my favorite KZbinrs

[@moreheff]

Justin is such a legend and always been true to himself, even when he went off the rails slightly. PTL is a bonafide classic and I would love to have heard more of the back stories to the songs on the album. Great stuff and The Darkness deserve all the plaudits and celebrations of PTL that they are more than due. The best thing about them is they are still making great music that THEY want to make and have never made a duff album.

[@mattchewhacker6412]

Permission to land was the right album at the right time for rock! Still holds up to the greats and I spin it often so happy there still together and making great records.

[@dbapto6994]

Its fantastic that your mom gave you the insight for your signature cat suit.......brilliant.

[@MichaelDBruce]

I remember picking up permission to land and listening to it on the train on the way to work. And then i moved to the US in 2004. Came back in 2009 and was pleased to see there were more albums. Fast forward to this week and i managed to get tickets to see the darkness in San Francisco. I never thought id be lucky enough to see them play live. Incredible show

[@jonwanrocks]

This record came out the year I graduated high school. It LIVED in my cd player. Still one of my top 10 rock records of all time. Never mind debut records.

[@vinskeeter]

Brilliant album. Several songs I found to be outstanding, especially Holding my Own. Beautifully done. Thank you.

[@Blunderbumda]

Holding my own has to be my personal favourite from that album

[@hammerinexile]

It’s incredible!!! They don’t get any credit for the quality of some of their songs…this one is wonderful…big lean towards kiss…but wonderful all the same

[@garethandrews6339]

I remember seeing you support def leppard in 2003, you came through the crowd past me on the shoulders of this guy . You where phenomenal for a support act you where like the main act .

[@karensneddon8307]

Went to see them last night at O2 Academy in Edinburgh, what a show!

[@richiep3520]

Always be to me, one of the greatest albums of all time. Banger after banger. I love all the darkness albums like if they were my own children. Each one unique in their own way and love them all equally PTL was on playback in 2004 for me for my secondary school leaving cert (A levels equivilant) and it fired me up to actually study and got me my course in college which I owe to the Band. Can't wait to see you in Dublin 2023 🤟

[@lordlewb3484]

Genuinely one of the most insightful people. Inspiring stuff!

[@maryfields1111]

That was THE BEST interview ever!! I totally loved every second of it! Perfect! I smiled thru the whole thing! Bravo! 👏

[@RolandDeschain1]

An absolute all-time banger from front to back.

[@ravinthered]

This was brilliant!! Love Permission to Land and all that followed!! Great conversation!!

[@sandrahaight7278]

Superb interview. Great questions and as always Justin Hawkins never fails to captivate us. ❤️

[@kp4588]

It’s a perfect album.

[@Ginger_shot]

Can someone please bottle Justin’s laugh and start selling it. Id buy it ~ 35:45 😊 Gloriously infectious ❤

[@deadfool3344]

Listen..I'm into bands like Oasis, the Roses, Rolling Stones, Verve ect..but The darkness are class 😂 that first album was massive. I've booked tickets for Edinburgh in December can't wait 🤘

[@jswstella]

I had to pause this and check out the solo on Jools' piano. This is why rock is the best genre.

[@paulelverstone8677]

There are a couple of take-a-ways from this. Firstly; Love on the Rocks (with no ice) is one of the greatest rock riffs of the last 20yrs and those last two power chords are pure metal. Secondly; my overwhelming memory of Thing Called Love is of Dan, in his Thin Lizzy t-shirt, infront of a wall of Marshalls and lastly; Loz is a dead ringer for a young John Peel. Great album, great memories. Lovely to hear them chew this one over....

[@jimir68]

Totally agree Love On The Rocks is an absolute classic.

[@pulse4503]

Yep the Song turns into a pure heavy metal Song in the end ahhaahah

[@pulse4503]

Black shuck, love Is Only a feeling prolly the best rock ballad of 2000s, Great cd, I Wondering how many millions has sold so far, Also One way ticket and LOOK deserved more

[@zoraz4867]

Love this album to pieces. Bought it when it came out and am playing it constantly at the moment. Just brilliant!! And you're right, puts a massive smile on my face. Just makes my heart happy ❤😃😃 seeing them for the first time in Dec!! I had to come to this gig as it's the PTL gig!! Can't wait 😆

[@SteveTong22]

Brilliant interview really enjoyed it. Left me thinking, wish I had seen those early gigs!

[@Ginger_shot]

Enjoying the 20th anniversary celebrations 🎉 Epic band ❤

[@VitaEx]

Just is such a genuine nice and awesome person and I think that’s way cool

[@gemmanicholl1883]

Loved this interview. Such a nice trip down memory lane.

[@thelolguy007]

Brilliant. Loved this 👏👏👏

[@guinnessharvey4476]

What a great attitude his dad had!

[@JR-tg1vg]

Such an important album to me….It’s one of the finest albums from start to finish imo, and I followed you guys on tour for a year in the states….Amazing times! The first song that I heard was “Get your hands off of my woman”….and I knew right away! Lol 🤘🏻💯👍

[@SeanTWright]

Great interview guys. Thank you

[@andrewbarker9773]

that was around the time a mate of mine said he had seen a band at a music festival in Australia here and saw some band where the singer was in pink lycra body suit called The Darkness and playing my type of music , so I went looking and found that gem of an album , "Permission To Land " , I still have that cd and it still gets blasted today

[@dave-jk6en]

Brilliant album, there isn’t a bad song on it

[@sherynp9340]

Brilliant interview

[@MusicArcade]

Got my tickets booked to see you (for the third time) at Rocky City. Can't bloody wait. Top 5 albums of all time for me.

[@VitaEx]

I found out about foxy Shazam when they opened at a darkness concert absolutely loved them make sense when Justin talks about bands out there doing things unlike anything else defiantly knew instantly they were special one of the most memorable concerts of my life start to finish seeing the darkness became a core memory!

[@StevenTwoTwo]

Great interview, from both sides 👍

[@rebeccathurtle]

I forgot about wicked wardrobe in Lowesroft!

[@Nayz13]

Excellent, will go to the Aussie show!

[@coyotestarship7412]

I want to hear more about the two bands that formed after the darkness broke up. The stone gods and The hot leg, both bands had decent debut albums that, I believe,if you combined them and had Justin singing (no offense mr poor you did a great job on the stone gods ) it would have been the follow up album to permission that fans really wanted , not that I didn’t enjoy one way ticket and hot cakes

[@JoeSmith-zv4ic]

I really wish they would go back to sounding like their first album. I was disappointing with the second. The first album was like Queen/Guns and Roses combined but better, with more humor. Absolutely love that album. Saw them at Download in 2003 and fell inlove.

[@josephplatania5593]

You nailed it. It is masterful. I love it.

[@bloffs3352]

RealIy great chat. I think it was "Growing on me" that i first heard on our national youth station JJJ here in Australia. I like many thought "are these guys for real?" So glad to find out they were and I of course bought PTL. They spun it yesterday on the elderly off shoot of JJJ which is JJ and a chat with Frankie in celebration.It got cranked up and was so good to hear. An absolute cracker and here's to the next 20 years of our favouite rock band.

[@pulse4503]

Which Is about pubic crabs lol Any foool can seeee hilarious LOL

[@musicfromtheworld5987]

Best album ever dude

[@Shelly-op1kx]

AMAZING STILL!!

[@alastairwhiteside2065]

Justin, the first time I heard your music was at the Dublin Castle, when fuzz played your record as the background music whilst we were setting up. It really was a brilliant fart in a lift moment because it cleared out the boring 4th hand Brit pop imitators & we actually laughed - not at how preposterous it was, but laughing with joy that ott rock n roll was suddenly‘allowed’ again. You were the saviours of rock when everyone was saying it was passé

[@clairotway6045]

Great album❤

[@chickenlickin3820]

Noice one guys!

[@pulse4503]

Permission Is the their peaks definetly, I rank LOOK nearly at the same level

[@pulse4503]

My ranking 1-permission 2-LOOK 3-one way... 4-hot cakes 5-pinewood 6-motorheart 7-EIC

[@slymebuoy]

I was at reading 2003, The Darkeness blew everyone away, amazing set in the beautiful sunset

[@RhetoricalMuse]

Modern classic.

[@CharlieOBrienTF]

Thumbnail is the split of a younger Alejandro Dolina! Hes an Argentine writer.

[@peterferraro6021]

The Darkness saved hard rock music in 2003. Happy Birthday, Permission to Land.

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

No, they're another spoof band that sent real metal music up.

[@paulleonard8509]

Vent was Billy Duffy,miles hunt,Morgan Nichols and Pete Howard,fucking top band !

[@guinnessharvey4476]

Didn’t the Brits create a Best Rock Album category because of The Darkness?

[@ChrisSztybel]

Justin ya gotta preserve that voice! Ditch the ciggies.

[@deadfishboy]

Proppa Job! \m/

[@Zakkrifice]

DjUUUUUUstinhawkinsRIIIIIIIIIdes aaahhhhh-gainnnnnn..... againnnnnn.

[@paulf2898]

I thought that was Stephen Jones of babybird😮

[@MikeGervasi]

I have trouble understanding how they put out a staggering debut and then everything after sounded like it was written by them.... ;)

[@steviemac8075]

I listen to it in full weekly at work along with live at Hammersmith it’s in my MP3 player and I’m an old school 54 year old full album or fuck all, skipping tracks is for modern mincing soy boys 💪

[@jameskahi]

Outlandish, r(h)awkish, brilliant musicians in a sea of mediocre!