Documentary about Lowestoft glam rockers The Darkness lands in cinemas

The film charts their rise to fame, their breakup and their attempts at a comeback

Justin Hawkins and Rufus Taylor of the band on stage
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 9th Nov 2023

A documentary about Lowestoft glam rockers The Darkness is being shown in UK cinemas today for one day only.

Welcome to the Darkness charts the groups rise to stardom in 2003 with their single 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love', their split in 2003 and their subsequent reunion and attempts to recapture past fame.

The film, from director Simon Emmett, draws on eight years of interviews as well as archive footage in what's billed as a "tongue-in-cheek reflection on fame, failure, friendship and forgiveness."

Brothers Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins formed the group in 2000 along with Frankie Poullain and Ed Graham.

Their debut album Permission to Land shot to number 2 in the UK charts upon release, selling 1.5 million copies and the band would tour and hit the festival circuit over the following few years.

Follow up One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back debuted too mixed reviews. Justin Hawkins departed the band in 2006 after being admitted to rehab and the band was dropped by label Atlantic in 2007.

The members worked on various other projects before reuniting in 2011.

Rufus Taylor, the son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, joined the band as a drummer in 2015.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.