Show C4 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Wednesday February 18 2004 SHERMANS LAGOON YW PONT HON TH( CMINttCFOOPPOroO? CATHY The Darkness aims to lighten up rock music NEW YORK (AP) — Retro rockers The Darkness want to lighten up rock music So far die London-base- d band appears to be succeeding with “Permission to Land” their Atlantic Records debut CD inspired by '70s and '80s rockers It features a peculiar mix of' songs about a mythological hellhound a lover’s spat and genital warts The band has a leading four nominations going into Tuesday’s Brit Music Awards — the equivalent of the Grammys Dido has three nominations “We don’t do generic music” said bassist Frankie Poullain during a recent interview Critics have compared The Darkness and its act to the fictional ’80s hair band in the movie ' parody “Thjs Is Spinal Tap” It's an easy comparison when you take into account Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins’ g catsuit and voice his plunging well big hair Then there’s the music a throwback to arena rock and their stage show cQmplete with David Lee Roth-lik- e leg splits Fans among them British Prime Minister ' Tony Blair have been snapping up thousands of copies of the album since its US release in September It’s No 43 on this week’s Billboard magazine album chart “Many people are calling them a throwback to the Led Zeppelin era But for today they are wildly unique” said Ron Shapiro die Atlantic Records who oversees marketing sales and promotional efforts “Part of the fun with The Darkness is the debate’: Can it be fun and funny and be legiti- mate and serious? The Darkness is the answer to that” he said Already a hit in England the band’s single “I Believe In A Thing Called Love" has begun heavy radio rotation in the United States Its music video — punctuated by laser shooting guitars a giant Crab and a furry monster — Also has earned regular play ' on music television channels Although the music may be light the band is serious about its act The people making ‘‘Spinal Tap” comparisons “don’t know what we’re about” said ' Hawkins 28 ' “We’re not some made up band” Hawkins said “We write our own songs We perform ' our own songs” The Darkness got its start from the ashes of Empire a rock band fronted by Hawkins’ brother guitarist Dad Hawkins and included "Hawkins and Ppullain But Empire fell almost ns soon as it was raised-ONew Year's Eve 1999 Justin Hawkins' was performing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhap-- ' sody” as part of a karaoke contest when tus brother struck on the idea of putting Justin up front They were soon joined by drummer Ed Graham 26 and Poullain 33 The four chose the name The Darkness ’ DID VOU MOP I ONLW ASKED BECAUSE 1 VMS SURE SHE'D SM ‘NO TO HOUR KNEES WHEN SOU PROPOSED IRVINfr?? i oNiN ( IT 1 IT MAS 4 MIRACLE!! THANK SOU I THANK VDU forour mmole! said "'res’ f HE CAUGHT me Off MIARD IMAS AN NAriED IONS SOfflEONE 'HADTOMOPTO MOTHERS TOO ACCIDENT) WS OR HER KNEES Ratio rockers The Darkness from left Frankie Poullain Justin Hawkins Dan Hawkins and Ed Graham pose at Kevin St James Pub in New York band appears to be sucSq far the London-base- d ceeding with ‘Permission to Land their Atlantic Records debut inspired by 70s and ‘80s rockers chest-barin- over-the-t- op BEETLE BAILEY MAYBE X SHOULD HIDE IN THE BROOM CLOSET WHEN SHE BLOWS HER NOSE because they said it was the opposite of what good-tim- e rock the music was about The band’s choice of music was a natural for ' the four of them who came of age listening to Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden Queen AC-D“With today’s music it’s cool to complain and feel sorry for yourself I can’t stand it” Poullain said “I want to have a good time when I listen to music” The band says its lyrics are intentionally laced with humor and irony such as “Love On the Rocks With No Ice” but they are songs people can understand There are no political messages no double meanings no questions : “That’s really the art form isn’t it? The songs are a bit timeless” said Justin Hawkins TOe brothers also said they knew what they wanted from the beginning with The Darkness '— a focus on showmanship For the band image is everything “Who wants to watch some bloke stand and just sing? Your there in jeans and a said Hawkins is ambition” image your But why catsuits? ' r “I like catsuits” Hawkins said simply By 2002 the band was making so much noise record executives started to listen The Darkness which released an EP in 2002 opened on tours for Metallica Alice Cooper and Def Leppard before releasing their debut album Even while seriously discussing themselves the band members were well funny “There are bands that are all icing and no cake We are the cake that gives you icing” said Dan Hawkins 26 Graham chimed in: “And we’re not cheesecake either” The debate continued: Carrot Calm No chocolate cake Noj rum cake C : H AGAR THE HORRIBLE r opvtiial 'FIB you PEANUTS : ‘ irt Shoshone Trail: MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM A oKAVeerouroF Watching for a few moments Thomas com- mented “Looks like you know what you are about” A grim- smile on heir face Sarah' replied “I guess I’ve become quite used to it” Clearing his throat and glancing at his wife Margaret who was peeling several potatoes: near' a window Thomas said “I take it you are j going looking for your man again?” “Yes I am” Sarah replied glancing up from: TT TRVT&WAL AWAWUNE navel by David J Hawkes - : ’pon their return to Franklin : Thomas Bennett had insisted she and Sam stay With him and his family Sam was brought to tears tipon seeing that Moroni was not with-thewhen they returned but Sarah had taken her son aside and explained to him that Moroni could still be alive Seemingly satisfied with that explanation he had quietly eaten a large herwork Vf '! j supper Sister Bennett had prepared Then “Are you sure that is the right thing to do?” crawling into the bed the Bennetts had offered Blue eyes shining'Sarah asked Thomas) ':! ' he had soon fallen asleep Following breakfast ' “What would you do in my place?” Sarah went out into the bitter cold to check on a sigh Thomas whispered !The Heaving the stallion Satisfied he was taken care of and same thingT guess” recovering from the tong run the day before “No guessing about it Thomas” Margaret Sarah humed back into tiro Bennetts’ cabin: said from where she sat “I know you too well1 After taking off her coat Sarah looked at her forthUt” Y: revolver and decided that both her own and:' : his the said! wife older man &$mile Flashing MoroniY spare revolvers" could use a good' “You are right if it were you out there she Bennett cleaning Looking at Brother wouldn’t rest until I found you” To Sarah he! asked if she might use his equip-me“Ma’am the odds are pretty ' continued Giving his leather bag of patches gun We have a good bunch of men but well !ong': most oil' a ramrod and a worm to Sarah he sat at of them here aren’t fightin’ men Oh' really the table and watched as she used the worm to time’s Albeit Finch and Andrew Morrison and ' pull the bullets and powder charges out of the old man Campbell and myself cylinders of both her Walker and Moroni’s spare Colt! After disassembling both Sarah See tomorrow’s Herald Journal for the next installment v: 'V-ofthis story began to clean die revolvers: j- FOXTROT ’ " j' - nt gun-cleani- : REAL LIFE ADVENTURES CLOSE TO HOME Wln nt brldgo MICROCOSM BBC IOF THE DECLINE OFSOCIETY THINK first HI A we atc a By Phillip Alder home-made- :' that he knows his partner’s two suitsj but he wishes to play in his own very long suit :: A textbook example wodd ' ' hip today’s South handAfter North uses a rt Michaels Cue-Bi-d South knowshis partner has a But to “?wn suit so bid$ three clubs North with a super hand launches into Blackwood and bids six dubs What do you think : £ about North’s bidding? 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