It’s been over two decades since The Darkness burst onto the music scene in a blaze of glitter, falsetto, and unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll. Now, the beloved band is set to make their long-awaited Limerick return with a live show at the majestic Live at the Castle, King John’s Castle on Friday June 20.
Formed in Lowestoft, Suffolk, The Darkness rocketed to fame in 2003 with the release of their iconic debut album Permission to Land. The record stormed to No.1 on the UK Albums Chart, went five-times Platinum, and sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. It spawned anthems that quickly became part of the national soundtrack – from the inimitable ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ to ‘Growing On Me’, ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ and ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’.
Their meteoric rise saw them collect an impressive array of accolades, including three BRIT Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, and an Ivor Novello Award for Songwriters of the Year. With landmark performances, including headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2004, the band became an unstoppable force on the global stage.
In 2006, frontman Justin Hawkins left the band to enter rehab, leading to a temporary disbandment. But true to rock ‘n’ roll legend, The Darkness rose again in 2011, reforming and touring alongside Lady Gaga before releasing a string of new albums including Hot Cakes (2012), Last of Our Kind (2015), and Pinewood Smile (2017), the latter of which saw them return to the Top 10.
They continued their momentum with 2019’s Easter Is Cancelled, ironically foreshadowing the global pause brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Undeterred, the band roared back with Motorheart in 2021, which earned critical praise and cemented their place on the top tiers of festival line-ups, including Download Festival and a string of packed arena shows.
2022 and 2023 marked yet another triumphant chapter, with Justin Hawkins becoming a cult internet icon thanks to his YouTube channel Justin Hawkins Rides Again, while the band celebrated 20 years of Permission to Land with a deluxe anniversary reissue, a sold-out world tour, and a show-stopping performance on BBC One’s New Year’s Eve broadcast. They also shared the stage with rock royalty Guns N’ Roses and KISS, and released their critically acclaimed documentary Welcome to the Darkness to widespread praise.
Now, more than 20 years since they first donned their spandex and stormed the airwaves, The Darkness continue to win over fans old and new with their mix of theatrical flair, outrageous showmanship and – crucially – their sheer rock brilliance.
Their upcoming performance at King John’s Castle promises to be nothing short of electric. Set against the stunning backdrop of one of our most historic landmarks, the night is set to be a celebration of enduring anthems, riotous energy, and the unmistakable magic that only The Darkness can bring.
