The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins recently addressed his extended absence from his YouTube channel. He explained the reasons behind his hiatus in a new episode of Justin Hawkins Rides Again.
Hawkins opened up about the demanding touring schedule that prevented him from maintaining his regular online presence.
“Today’s episode is uh entitled, ‘Where the hell have I been?’ Because I haven’t done anything on this channel for a long time. And I want to explain why,” Hawkins said. “In January, February, I actually did the live version of Justin Hawkins Rides Again. Started off in Jersey and then went all around the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Few shows in Scotland. It was riotous on occasion and every night was completely different.”
The musician explained how the live touring format differed significantly from his usual video content creation.
“We had a lot of great guests and stuff like that. I had the inclination to do stuff like this, but I didn’t really have the ability and I wasn’t traveling with all my stuff and it’s just so demanding,” he continued. “I mean that was a difficult tour in the sense that doing this live in front of an audience is completely different to doing it to the camera. It’s completely different to fronting a band.”
Hawkins detailed the extensive touring commitments that kept him away from his channel.
“But the live iteration of Justin Hawkins Rides Again was challenging and I didn’t really have the headspace to try and maintain the channel at the same time. So something had to give. And I was on the road. So that was that. Then I went to Australia, but I started off in New Zealand. I’ve been on the road basically for 5 to 6 months. Two tours of America with the Darkness, tour of Europe with the Darkness, the Rise Again tour, and then Australia, and New Zealand,” he explained.
The frontman confirmed his return to regular content creation while acknowledging his desire to evolve the channel’s format.
“Well, I’m back and there will be more episodes coming from this very week. The weird thing is I think before I took this hiatus, I mentioned in an episode here that I want to sort of change the way I use this channel and I do still feel that way, but then certain things come up. And I’m made aware of in the music realm that I really think needs reacting to or I’d love to share my thoughts with you,” Hawkins concluded.
The extensive touring schedule Hawkins referenced represents one of The Darkness’ most ambitious global campaigns in recent years. It spanned multiple continents and showcased their enduring appeal across diverse markets.
The band’s recent Australian leg was part of their Dreams on Toast tour. First3NoFlash reported that they returned to Sydney to prove they’re still “the greatest rock-n-roll band around.” The tour included major Australian cities with stops in Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide in early 2026. These performances followed their New Zealand shows.
During these Australian shows, fans witnessed the band’s signature high-energy performances featuring classic tracks alongside newer material. Setlist.fm documented that their recent performances included fan favorites like “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” and “Growing on Me.” This demonstrated their commitment to delivering both nostalgic hits and fresh content from their Dreams on Toast album.
The intensity of their touring schedule was particularly evident during their Australian performances. Xpress Magazine noted that drummer Rufus Taylor “punishes his skins with genuine ferocity” and took over vocals for “My Only” as the band continued to cast aside their heavy touring schedule with relentless energy.
These recent performances highlight why Hawkins found it challenging to maintain his YouTube presence while on the road. The Darkness continues to deliver the theatrical, crowd-diving spectacles that have defined their live reputation for over two decades.
