I think the Daily Mail did a feature on this band who were destined to be the next big thing.

The Pleasers.

See also Secret Affair, East 17, B*witched, Generation X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, etc, etc

is claiming the remaining members' new album (under a new name) is a genuinely great rawk record. Go figure.

The thing about the Darkness is that, however one feels about them, they broke through the old fashioned way. They toured their arses off for years building up a fanbase and they self-released the album, so they weren't quite the flash in the pan all-hype outfit the general public might have believed.

I remember after the demise of Britpop the Melody Maker tried to foist a completely fabricated scene on the punters. Damned if I can remember anything beyond it being a bit electo though. Anyway, everyone realised it was completely cynical and failed to bite.

of the south bank show was when Melvin and Dark' we in the pub talking about their home towns terrible drug problem . Melvin then reads some stark lyrics the Justin doo dah had written about the overdose of friend, the film then cut to the band in concert in full flow , the touching lyrics lost in a sea of cod pomp and Justin doo dahs stupidly screechy high voice. It was clear that SBS/MB have never seen Spinal Tap.

They were good I thought. I went to see the Romo tour at Reading Alleycat.

The best example of "The Emperor's New Clothes" I could ever think of. I bet there was so much beard stroking that the Grauniad's music critic developed RSI.

And - never, never - say a bad word about B*Witched. Brought denim back to the masses with an Irish Jig. "Some people say I look like me Da..." Frickin' genius.

...it was fun for a while but as with most novelties/jokes, the appeal soon wears off and I must say I am rather embarassed that I owned their two albums some years on! I don't doubt that they really were genuine rock/metal fans yet there was a nudge-nudge wink-wink feel about the lyrics and vocals which I think grated on people.

Fair play to the rest of that band for turning it around and starting again as The Stone Gods though- I'll give their songs a listen, without the falsetto vocals they might be altogether more credible.

I think part of their success was also due to them being a 'proper' rock band with riffs, guitar solos and the like- there hadn't been one of those for a few years that broke through. There are a few around now though like Wolfmother,
Howlin Rain, Black Mountain and maybe The Raconteurs.

The shiniest example of Emperor's New Clothes ever...and unlike the Darkness, there are no jokes. Now everyone, from the editors of The Word and a healthy chunk of its readership, worldwide media generally, and grown-ups searching for a reminder of what may have excited them and their parents about inventive rock music decades ago cite Radiohead as the bees knees. But there's nothing there. Nary a hint of a tune is to be found on that last record and the lyrics lack any wit or insight into anything. A brilliant management, enlisting the help of media toadies worldwide has created a massive enterprise from little more than a wet fart. Cover articles and 'in-depth' interviews with all the members abound and all and sundry are taken in by their entirely dubious merits. I joined in, raving even through Kid A but have found less and less substance on each release to the point, only now prompted by this string where I am ready to say, "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

The first time I saw the Darkness was in a student union and they were a great night out, on the way up. Second time was from the wings of a great big arena with a mate and I swear if they had us on the big screen (like they did with the other bored punters) the audience would have thought Stadler & Waldorf were in the building. The Darkness were sadly never going to be troubled by the difficult third album. At least the tickets were free.

Someone mention Heresy? Saw their souncheck once! I'm a sad case...

I didn't buy their albums, but were glad they were there. The fact that they'd obviously been around the block for some considerable time meant they didn't take themselves too seriously, indeed at all for most of the time. I'd contend that they knew they were a one-trick kind of band but were grateful for the unexpected fame, and would milk it for as long as fate would have them. And if someone puts on 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' on the pub jukebox, I can't help but grin when, before the guitar solo, Mr Hawkins yelps 'guitar!'
Beats a lot of the earnest, po-faced poltroons currently masquerading as entertainment these days.

Enough Said

Didn't I read that he would be replacing Paul Rogers in Queen? If so, this will be the first time that band has been interesting. Ever.

Methinks it won't be too long (probably after the next album disappoints) that they'll be seen through less rosy-tinted spectacles.