20/12. The Darkness formed in Lowestoft in 2000 and soon created a buzz from their energetic live shows. Despite the music business at the time thinking they were uncool, the band built a strong following and, such was their popularity, they were booked to play the London Astoria before they even had a record deal. They eventually signed to Atlantic Records and scored a massive hit with I Believe in a Thing Called Love and a Christmas No.1 in 2003. In 2006 singer Justin Hawkins left the band and pursued various solo projects which included a bid to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2009 the four original band members reunited and released their third album. They have continued to make music together and are celebrating twenty years since the release of their debut album, Permission to Land, with a tour that touches down in Brighton tonight. brightondome.org
