The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins shared his thoughts on rock music’s current state in a recent interview with Kerrang!.
“It’s about getting to a certain age and realizing that the world’s changing, and you’ve gotta change or that’s you f*cked, you get left behind. And that’s rock,” Hawkins said. “It’s actually from the perspective of rock – rock is a middle-aged guy in a world full of people who are just generation… whatever the f*ck it is now, and it has to wake up and be part of it.”
“I think we restarted an interest in it, and some bands started doing it because of us, but a lot of that music has quite a retrospective approach,” he continued. “It doesn’t really push any boundaries, and it will always be sort of marginalized, until people start thinking about it differently and changing the way to perceive it.”
“It’s very misogynist, it’s very homophobic, it’s very white, it’s really niche in an old-fashioned way,” Hawkins explained. “It’s not the prevailing moment, and music [in general] is not the prevailing art form as it used to be. We need bands who do that kind of bombast and have that kind of approach to the composition, but with a lyric and with attitudes that aren’t f*cking from the ’80s.”
“I’m not saying that our album is that, but I’m saying that if [rock as a genre] wants to flourish and be the best again, it has to sort of pull its head out of its arse and realize that, yeah, Led Zeppelin existed, The Rolling Stones existed, AC/DC existed, but you have to do that for now,” he concluded. “That’s what we are. I think that’s why we’re doing Wembley.”
These comments emerge at a pivotal moment for both his band and the rock genre as The Darkness continues to challenge conventional rock music boundaries.
The Independent revealed that The Darkness has released their eighth studio album, ‘Dreams on Toast.’ The new record demonstrates their commitment to musical evolution through diverse rock styles and themes.
The band’s live performances reflect their innovative spirit. Kerrang! highlighted The Darkness’s energetic shows that avoid pre-recorded elements. The band maintains their dedication to authentic performance style.
Through his YouTube channel, ‘Justin Hawkins Rides Again,’ Hawkins has established himself as a leading voice in rock music discussions. He regularly offers insights on contemporary music industry trends and challenges.
The Creative Independent noted Hawkins’s focus on personal artistic fulfillment. He prioritizes authentic expression over commercial success in his creative process.
