“PEOPLE LOVE LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERFECT”
Total Guitar|August 2021
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
“PEOPLE LOVE LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERFECT”

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?

Denne historien er fra August 2021-utgaven av Total Guitar.

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Denne historien er fra August 2021-utgaven av Total Guitar.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

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