With frontman Justin Hawkins’s falsetto tones, it may be more than 14 years since rockers The Darkness treated us to I Believe In a Thing Called Love, but their distinctive sound is still well remembered.

Their debut album, Permission to Land, went straight up to No.2 in the UK charts when it was released in July 2003, before going to No.1 and staying there for four weeks.

After splits and reunions, the band are back with the addition of the drumming and vocal talents of Rufus Tiger Taylor, son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who shares vocal duties with Justin on two of their new tracks.

Their date in Kent comes hot on the heels of the release of their fifth album, Pinewood Smile. It includes the autobiographical All The Pretty Girls, which looks at the issue of interest from women when stars become famous, and Solid Gold, which addresses the turbulent nature of the music industry and the band’s flamboyant highs and spectacular lows.

To celebrate the release of the comeback album, which was recorded in Cornwall and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), the band are touring, coming to Margate next week, supported by the Blackfoot Gypsies.

DETAILS

The Darkness will be at Margate Winter Gardens on Wednesday, December 6 at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm. For standing tickets at £27.50 visit margatewintergardens.co.uk