Have you missed the Justin Hawkins’outlandish get-ups and falsetto belting? Don’t worry, so have we and boy do have we got some great news for fans of The Darkness.
Following on from their sell-out 2012 tour, The Darkness will return to our shores in 2013, and they’re bringing legendary rock goddess Joan Jett and her band The Blackhearts along for four very special co-headline shows in April.
The rise, fall, and rise again of The Darkness contains all the ingredients of a classic rock opera. The basics are a matter of public record: unfashionable good-time hard rock band from Lowestoft slog their way around the Camden pub circuit, build a word-of-mouth following that can fill theatres without a record deal, then rocket to world stardom selling over 3 million copies of their debut album worldwide, becoming one of the biggest British rock bands of the noughties in the process.
After their dramatic demise in 2006, The Darkness returned triumphantly to the world stage to the open arms of fans and critics alike, delivering their world famous live sets, and their third studio album Hot Cakes which our Tone Deaf reviewer called “a great comeback for the UK quartet”, and there’s no doubt their tour will be much the same.
The original line up of Justin Hawkins (vocals/ guitar), Dan Hawkins (guitars/ backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass), and Ed Graham (drums) return to Australia. The band have previously proclaimed their love of Aussie audiences and seem to like making a habit of visiting us here in the Southern Hemisphere having travelled down our way in May of last year including a show at The Palace, which had everyone on their feet and screaming in delight.
Joan Jett is an originator, an innovator and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts, she’s had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles including the classics ‘Bad Reputation’, ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’, ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’, and ‘Crimson and Clover’, and she sits at the head of her own independent label, Blackheart Records.
Since co-founding the Runaways, the pioneering all-girl punk quintet, at age 15, Jett’s determination and drive have kept her in the public eye. Jett was able to see her story told in The Runaways, the film based on (lead singer of The Runaways) Cherie Currie’s book Neon Angel starring Kristen Stewart as Jett, and her fellow A-lister Dakota Fanning as Currie. Jett was close to the project: She served as an executive producer.
In 2010 Joan Jett and The Blackhearts came to Australia after a 15 year absence to headline The Falls Music and Arts Festivals in VIC and TAS, and Sunset Sounds in Brisbane, gathering a whole new generation of Aussie fans who fell in love with her classic tunes and unflappable punk rock attitude.
Joining the co-headliners on all dates will be Mildura’s finest rock adventurers Jackson Firebird, who are getting a rep for touring with big name acts with their balls-out rock, following a successful run upstaging supporting Nickelback on their latest Australian tour; their dates with The Darkness and Joan Jett will also follow after the band’s visit to SXSW 2013 as one of 40 bands flying the flag for Australia at the Austin, Texas annual music conference.
The Darkness & Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Australian Tour 2013 Dates
With Special Guests Jackson Firebird
Tickets On Sale Monday February 11th 9am
Tue April 2 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre ADELAIDE SA
Tix $99 + BF from Ticketek.com.au 132 849
Doors open 5.30pm
Thur April 4 – Hisense Arena MELBOURNE VIC
Tix $99 + BF from Ticketek.com.au 132 849
Doors open 5.30pm
Fri April 5 – Hordern Pavilion SYDNEY NSW
Tix $99 + BF from Ticketek.com.au 132 849
Doors open 5.30pm
Sat April 6 – The Riverstage BRISBANE QLD
Tix $99 + BF from Ticketmaster.com.au 136 100
Doors open 5.00pm
