Darkness getting there in US
Published January 12, 2004
Via CMU reports:
The Darkness are busy doing the promo circuit in the US and it might just be paying off - though there is still some work to be done. The buzz band of
2003 in the UK are the so called 'pacesetter' on this weeks US Billboard chart - that is to say their album has made the biggest leap up the chart. Then again they are only at number 92, so don't get too excited about UK rock domination just yet.
That said the buzz is growing around the band and an appearance on the David
Letterman show over the weekend can only help. Media in the US seem a little
bemused by the band, but generally positive of their music.
One report revealed that the band had refused to do a photo shoot because the photographer wanted to shoot them pouring champagne over 15 naked models. Two reasons were given for that decision. One source quoted guitarist Daniel Hawkins as saying "we don't like to degrade women". Another quoted the band as explaining: "They were trying to give us that Moet & fucking Chandon crap, but we don't pour anything less than Cristal."
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Darkness getting there in US
- Published: January 12, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
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I think they need to be seen on live for you to really make a decision. I blow hot and tepid on them. Even their Xmas single made want to vomit on first hearing until I heard a few more times.
I absolutely adore the Darkness. They have brought back everything that makes classic/hard rock so awesome. Some may argue that the band is a joke, citing their outlandish dress and style. I think they are serious musicians who also know a little humor ups the entertainment value. They aren't pretentious, and they finally signify a return of rock.
I've rarely heard such off-key, run-from-the-room vocals in my life than those of this band's singer on Letterman the other night.
It was as though I had been returned in time to an alternate 1977, where everything looked and seemed exactly the same, except that rock stars could not sing at all.
The music seemed like competetnt guitar rock, but his vocals were excruciating. Bad. Worse than the red-striped unitard. Worse even than the Frampton-combs-alive hairdo.
Fantastic band! THE band & album of 2003!
Rock is dead, Long live ROCK!
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i saw their appearance on letterman the other night...can't decide if i like them or not.
at first i was put off by that falsetto thing. but the more i heard it the more it reminded me of Focus (at least that Hocus Pocus song, anyway)