The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins addressed criticism he received for his lack of familiarity with Deftones in a new video on Justin Hawkins Rides Again.
The apology came after viewers expressed confusion and dismay over Hawkins’ apparent unfamiliarity with the band during his previous review. In the follow-up video titled “Deftones: I’m Trying, I’m Sorry,” Hawkins directly responded to the criticism.
“This is something I don’t usually do here on Justin Hawkins Rides Again, but there many questions under my review of Deftones that I feel I ought to address,” Hawkins said. “So, in the last episode, there were a number of comments expressing bewilderment, confusion, and horror at my apparent lack of knowledge of Deftones.”
He clarified that his unfamiliarity with the band was genuine rather than an act.
“Someone said, ‘Is he pretending this is the first time he’s heard Deftones?’ No, I wasn’t pretending,” he said. “That is probably well, to my knowledge at least, the first time I’ve heard them. I’d always known the name Deftones, but I just don’t think I’d ever had put a sonic image to the uh to the name itself.”
Hawkins acknowledged that his lack of knowledge might seem unusual given the band’s current popularity.
“Another person said, ‘Struggling with the fact that Justin had never listened to the Deftones. Ignorance or just odd?’ Well, it could be ignorance I suppose. Odd as well though, I think,” he said. “I mean as I was saying to you like I feel like they’re having a bit of a moment and everybody that I know is talking about them and that’s very unusual.”
He also explained his preconceptions about the band based on their name.
“There’s something about the name Deftones I think is misleading. Probably in the same way that The Darkness is misleading. In the sense that I think I always thought that’d be like just a punk band,” he said.
Hawkins concluded by suggesting his unfamiliarity might actually provide a more impartial perspective.
“I hope that I’ve managed to address some of your dismay as to as to not really knowing who I was covering, but maybe that gives me less maybe it makes me more impartial. And I think I’ve said some nice stuff,” he said.
The reaction from fans highlights the significant cultural impact Deftones has maintained throughout their career. This makes Hawkins’ unfamiliarity particularly surprising to longtime followers of the alternative metal scene.
Wikipedia reported that Deftones formed in 1988 in Sacramento, California. The band has become one of the most influential groups in the alternative metal genre. The band’s experimental approach to heavy music has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase over more than three decades.
Their breakthrough came with the 2000 album White Pony. Kiddle noted that this album marked a significant shift toward a more experimental sound and won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the song “Elite.” This album was their first to achieve platinum certification in the United States. It sold over one million copies and established them as major players in the alternative metal scene.
The band’s continued relevance is evident in their recent work. Last.fm documented that their 2020 album Ohms received widespread praise for returning to their heavier roots while maintaining their experimental edge. This recent success explains why many fans found Hawkins’ initial unfamiliarity with the band particularly bewildering.
Deftones’ influence extends beyond their recorded output. They have consistently pushed the boundaries of what alternative metal can be, incorporating elements of shoegaze, post-rock, and electronic music into their sound. Their ability to evolve while maintaining their core identity has kept them relevant across multiple generations of rock fans. This makes Hawkins’ admission all the more notable in the current musical landscape.
