Justin Hawkins
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Justin Danger Hawkins (born Justin David Hawkins on March 17, 1975) is the former lead guitarist and singer of The Darkness. He plans to begin writing music for films.
Hawkins fully developed his love of rock music while playing with the now defunct heavy metal band The Commander. They are affectionately credited on The Darkness' début album Permission To Land — (your wish is my Commander).
He is known for wearing catsuits, and his flamboyance and exaggeration. His playfulness has seen him fired by his brother Dan Hawkins from several different bands. He considered himself a lead guitarist until Dan saw him performing an interpretative mime to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in The Swan public house, in Beccles, on 31 December 1999 whereupon they realised his potential as a frontman.
In 2005 Justin set up a solo project, called British Whale. His debut single, This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us, a cover of the 1974 hit by Sparks, was released on August 15th 2005 reached Number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2006 Hawkins released a second single, available only on download, an unofficial World Cup anthem called England].
In October 2006, Hawkins left The Darkness band, but the band will carry on without their lead singer. It is reported that bassist Richie Edwards (who replaced former band member Frankie Poullain) will take over the vocal position.
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[edit] Background
Hawkins was born in 1975 in Chertsey, Surrey, England. Growing up in Lowestoft, he studied at Kirkley High School (notably the venue for the second series of Channel 4's Rock School programme; although any reference to The Darkness was consipicuously erased in that series in spite of their having donated thousands of pounds' worth of equipment to the school), he left part-way through his 'A' Levels to study Music Technology at Huddersfield Technical College while living in Sowerby Bridge near Halifax, West Yorkshire. His brother Dan Hawkins is the rhythm guitarist in The Darkness.
[edit] Personal life
In August 2006 it was reported (and later confirmed by The Darkness' management) that Justin Hawkins had been admitted to 'The Priory', a rehabilitation clinic. On October 11, 2006 Hawkins revealed spending thousands of pounds on cocaine after cracking the charts in 2003 with their single Growing On Me. When he realised he was no longer in control of himself due to drugs and alcohol, he joined a one month addiction-treatment in The Priory.
Despite his decision to quit, Hawkins said that the band will carry on without him, with bassist Richie Edwards, who replaced former band member Frankie Poullain, taking over the vocal duties.
Hawkins is reportedly a friend of Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot and appeared on their 2006 album in the song "Hellraiser", a cover of seventies band Sweet.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Justin Hawkins quits The Darkness", NME.com, New Musical Express, 2006-10-11. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
