After The Darkness Split, The Hawkins Brothers Didn’t Speak for Years

Although the Hawkins brothers of The Darkness appear to be inseparable, the two British rock musicians reveal that they went through a “two-year period of not really communicating” to each other after the band’s 2006 dissolution.

In a retrospective interview published last week, both frontman Justin Hawkins and guitarist Dan Hawkins — The Darkness’ primary driving powers — recalled the incident (Jan. 8). They also talked about the “tender” moment that inspired the glam-powered hard rock band to reunite in 2011.

“When the Darkness [first] formed [in 2000], Dan was a driving force in terms of ambition, whereas I was doing it in a defiant way,” Justin tells The Guardian.

However, by 2004, everything I did was determined by drug addiction,” the lead singer continues. “It was really damaging; we would have achieved much more if I’d been able to keep it together. When I went into recovery, I had to leave the whole infrastructure around The Darkness, the lifestyle and people — everything was a trigger. My heart would have exploded if I didn’t. My brother and I went through a two-year period of not really speaking. That was after I left The Darkness. ”

Justin entered rehab in August 2006, and the band disbanded soon after, amid reports that they could re-form with a new singer. The Darkness reformed five years later with both Hawkins brothers and released the album Hot Cakes in 2012.

But it was a significant health issue that laid the seeds for The Darkness’ reunion before that. In 2011, Dan was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and despite their strained relationship, Justin offered to accompany him through chemotherapy.

But it was a significant health issue that laid the seeds for The Darkness’ reunion before that. In 2011, Dan was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and despite their strained relationship, Justin offered to accompany him through chemotherapy.

“While I was recovering, I stayed away from my family, so I was going to get chemo on my own. Justin said, ‘I’ll go. I’ll take you.’ I remember sitting there in the hospital and wondering how many people realize that this bond is still there between us. People didn’t even know we were friends,” Dan remembers.

“It was a tender moment,” the guitarist continues.

Justin explains, “Blood is thicker than water; everyone knew we would be all right. We just needed a bit of time. These days, my relationship with Dan is fearsome. We’re the Hawkins brothers. People are terrified of us.”

The Darkness’ latest album, Motorheart, was released in November of last year. This spring, they’ll go on a tour with The Dead Deads in America.