In June 2003 The Darkness opened the mainstage at Glastonbury. A little over a year later in August 2004 they headlined Reading Festival. In between they won four of the main awards at the 2004 Brit Awards – Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, Best British Breakthrough and Best British Album. It was an extraordinary year for an extraordinary band – their 2003 debut album “Permission To Land” went five times platinum in the UK alone.
The Darkness were one of the most talked about, highly anticipated and loved bands of the moment. They built on the success of their debut album with the release of a follow up “One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back” in 2005 and a whirlwind of global tours and madness.
In 2006 lead singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins left the band, checking into rehab and The Darkness fell apart.
In 2014 the band reformed and are set to release their fifth studio album in late 2017.
World renowned photographer and filmmaker Simon Emmett (Jay-Z, Matt Damon, Helen Mirren) met the band when they reformed and realised they had a story to tell – an incredible journey from the bottom to the top and back again and more. He has recorded over 250 hours of footage to date capturing the past, present and future of The Darkness, what happened after they imploded in 2006 and most importantly their unique comeback story.
“As soon as “Permission To Land” was wrapped up I already knew it was going to be a Mega Smash. But I also knew that the second album would not be, and that we’d split up, and I knew we’d come back together and I knew the comeback would be fabulous. The fabulous element of the comeback hasn’t materialised as yet, but it’s all a work in progress…” – Justin Hawkins
It’s going to be a huge treat for fans and music and documentary lovers alike, revealing the bands members in a way you’ve never seen them before. But it will also be funny, philosophical, personal, insightful, sad and, as always with The Darkness, massively entertaining. Justin, Dan, Frankie and the key players both inside and outside the band each give deeply personal interviews and access to chart this incredible story. The film will also be a real insight into the unique mind of Justin Hawkins – one of the most distinctive, loved and out there vocalists of our time.
Until 31st July 2017 the film is garnering funding through Indiegogo. For a variety of pre-order items available to help fund this stunning film – everything from a copy of the film plus outtakes to a preview screening with the band and an executive producer credit.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-darkness-documentary-film-music#/
