“PEOPLE LOVE LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERFECT”

The Darkness have played everywhere – from pubs and clubs to the giant stages of Download and Glastonbury. And so, as they get ready to rock again, frontman Justin Hawkins presents a handy refresher course for TG readers – on how, and how not, to play live. His motto: “A note played with supreme confidence, no matter how wrong it is, will always be the right one.”

- Amit Sharma

Justin Hawkins is more than a little excited about getting back on stage with The Darkness. His only concern is that it might prove a little too exciting. “Life has been so boring without live music,” the high-singing, guitar-slinging frontman says. “So it’s going to be a real culture shock when gigs startup. Nothing can prepare you for the thrill of seeing all those faces. So you need to prepare purely on a medical level, especially when you get to my age... 28! I might explode, you know?”

Justin is speaking to TG from the place where The Darkness record and rehearse - the studio at the Sussex home of his brother Dan, the band’s rhythm guitarist. Here, a new album, titled Motorheart, has just been finished. It’s also where the band - completed by bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Taylor - are working up a new setlist for their upcoming tour.

And, as a true master of the stage, Justin has plenty of sound advice to offer - on performance, gear, warmups, and how to “embrace” the embarrassment of a bum note. But he has this stark warning for those about to rock again: “No matter how much you prepare, the first show will always be absolute chaos...”

Much like the Young brothers of AC/DC, you and Dan have always had an explosive chemistry on stage. What’s the secret?