One of my favorite albums of 2005 was the Darkness’ unheralded One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back. With the help of Roy Thomas Baker, the band had finally constructed an entire album of ridonkulous pop-metal moments–but it was tossed aside with minimum publicity thanks to internal meltdowns and label indifference. Since leaving the band in 2006, screaming mimi Justin Hawkins announced a solo album, Panther (now scrapped), and released the song “Do It In The Dark” as a free download to promote energy conservation. But now he has a new band, Hot Leg, and they have an album in the can and a tour kicking off next month.
This astonishing mega-tour begins on August 6th at London’s Proud Galleries, hits the Birmingham Barfly on the 7th, takes in the Manchester Roadhouse on the 8th before the explosive Glasgow King Tuts finale on the 9th. Tickets are expected to sell like hot cakes, so click on the link from our myspace profile to get yours!
To celebrate, we’re giving away ‘Heroes’, a live favourite of the future that will NOT appear on the Leg’s long player. You can download it as a free MP3. All we ask in return is that you provide a genuine email address. Then we can keep you abreast of the Leg’s future activities. Click on the link from our myspace profile to get yours!
Meanwhile, the first Hot Leg music album is now complete and it is absolutely stunning. The album is as yet untitled but don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know. We’re aiming for a release later this year on Barbecue Rock Records.
“Heroes” is pretty good for a non-album promotional MP3, and this behind-the-scenes clip is equally promising.
Still, Hawkins has a lot to live up to. Could anyone top this?
The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins Forms Hot Leg Band [Angry Ape]
Hot Leg [MySpace]
The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love [YouTube]
Hot Leg Video Diary: Episode 1 [YouTube]
The Darkness - Girlfriend [YouTube]
Was it really unheralded? I remember hearing songs from them at just about every silly college house party I went to my senior year.
@Defenestrated: Your senior year sounds like it was fucking awesome!
“Dinner Lady Arms”, now that’s a jam.
@cassidy2099:
Yeah, what college did you go to? Awesome U? I think the sentiment was that the first album was seen as schtick and so the second album was quickly dismissed as a tired gimmick and written off.
“Dinner Lady Arms” was a good one too.
Oh yeah and by the way, if the “Girlfriend” didn’t accurately convey the mindset of the second Darkness album maybe extremely high budget video they made for “Is It Just Me?” where Justin Hawkins marries himself will do the job for you:
“>”Is It Just Me?” video
or maybe the fact that somewhere floating around is a 20 minute MAKING OF featurette for this video
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
If the “Girlfriend” video didn’t accurately convey the vibe of the second Darkness album, perhaps the video for “Is it Just Me?” where Justin marries himself will do the job for you:
“>Is It Just Me?
There’s even a 30 minute “Making Of” feature-ette for this video floating around somewhere. Don’t ask me how I know that.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
Fuck it. Happy Pre-Freedom Day. Google that shit. Like our forefathers would do.
Dear Brian May:
Get rid of that Bad Company buffoon and hire Justin “Dave” Hawkins. Now.
One of my favorite albums of 2005 was the Darkness’ unheralded One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back.
And I think I just put my thumb on precisely why this site is rubbish.
@Aquemini: We’ve missed you!!!!!!
Um, hi. I had never seen that video before. Oh my holy fuck.
@Aquemini: Weren’t you the guy that hated everything except for Jesus Jones? I missed you too.
@Aquemini:
Dude. “Bald” off One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back is my jam. No irony in that statement. Great song. Suck it, coach. There were some pretty weak moments (looking at you, “Hazel Eyes”) but it was an underrated album.
@amandacobra: Whatever. “Hazel Eyes” is one of the best tracks on the record. There, I said it.
I’ve put that song on many a mix CD for friends and it’s always a hit.
Overall, however, I prefer Permission to Land.
@Aquemini: If you promise to go away, I promise to miss you.
@Paul D: no, no, i want aquemini to stay around!! i really have missed the grouchiness all these months.
Great song, great video. Those tracking extreme long shots are epic and awesome.
Wow, I am so happy. I love Justin Hawkins. I loved both Darkness albums. Bring on Hot Leg!! Woohoo!
@Maura Johnston: To each their own.
I have little patience for people who show up on a site merely to leave a comment like
Oh really, Captain Above-it-all?
Feel free to go elsewhere.