CLEVELAND — British rock band The Darkness is celebrating a significant milestone: 25 years of making music. The band, known for its flamboyant style and energetic performances, recently released their latest album, “Dreams on Toast,” in March. Ahead of their concert at the Agora on September 21, 2023, guitarist Dan Hawkins reflected on the journey alongside his brother and frontman, Justin Hawkins.
“It feels a bit surreal,” Dan Hawkins shared during a phone interview from his home in England. At 48, he is taking stock of a career that has seen him navigate both personal and professional milestones. “Twenty-five years feels like such a long time,” he noted, recalling significant life events such as marriage and raising three children alongside the demands of touring. “Life has been so furiously paced… but the last 25 years has just flown past. It really does feel like just yesterday.”
The Darkness burst onto the music scene in 2003 with their debut album, “Permission to Land,” which topped the U.K. charts, achieved gold status in the U.S., and included the hit single, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Over the years, they have released seven additional albums, including the newly launched “Dreams on Toast,” and have garnered numerous accolades, including awards from the Brit Awards and the Kerrang! Awards.
Despite their success, Dan Hawkins insists that the essence of their collaboration with Justin has remained unchanged. “We still live for taking the piss out of each other and having a laugh,” he remarked. He added humorously, “I guess I feel less hung over, generally, now… but the most important thing, still, is having fun with the whole process.”
The band has not shied away from expressing their opinions on contemporary music trends. Recently, Dan Hawkins criticized a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV Video Music Awards, calling it “another nail in the coffin of rock ‘n’ roll” via social media. Justin, in a subsequent YouTube video, echoed his brother’s sentiments, although he emphasized their intention was to poke fun rather than to offend.
Creating “Dreams on Toast” was a labor of love for the band. Dan explained that their creative process alternates between high-energy jam sessions and more elaborate studio work. “This one is one of the latter ones,” he said, mentioning that the album drew inspiration from The Beatles’ 1968 “White Album.” “I loved the idea that anyone can bring anything in and work on it,” he noted, highlighting the collaborative spirit that shaped the album.
The hard work has paid off. “Dreams on Toast” has achieved impressive chart success, reaching No. 2 on the U.K. album charts, marking their best performance since their debut. It also topped both the Rock & Metal Albums and Independent Albums charts. Some tracks on the album, like “The Longest Kiss,” have been in the band’s repertoire for years. “It’s good to have stuff in the bank,” Dan reflected, adding, “If you can remember it after 25 years, then it means it was good.”
Looking ahead, Dan Hawkins is excited about the prospect of new music. He mentioned a wealth of unrecorded material still exists, referring to it as “the black hole.” While “Dreams on Toast” has kept The Darkness busy on tour this year, he anticipates a return to the studio under different circumstances. “The process lends itself to better songwriting,” he noted. “You have to have a good song and everyone in the band has to recognize that it’s a good song before you go in the studio.”
The Darkness is set to perform at the Agora in Cleveland on September 21, with doors opening at 19:00. Tickets are available starting at $50. For more details, visit agoracleveland.com or call 216-881-2221. The band’s journey over the past 25 years continues to resonate with fans, blending nostalgia with a commitment to creating new and exciting music.
