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Dan Hawkins.
Dan talks about pop moshing, Frankettes, and forgetting his own single release....
How has the tour been so far?
Dan: It's been good! Except for last night, as you can probably see, I slit my finger open! I tried to glue it back together for the next gig. All the glue came apart in the second song the next night, opened up even more, so I spent the whole gig with a string in the cut! I spent half the Sheffield gig screaming in agony as the equivalent of cheese wire sliced down an open wound! But yes, apart from that it's been amazing really! The crowds are amazing, I've never seen anything like it!
How did it feel to have every gig sell out? Some of your tickets are going for over £100 on ebay now...
Dan: We did a homecoming gig, and tickets are going for over £200 it's insane! We're denying ourselves our own history if we don't do these small venues. But at the same time, it's frustrating that so many supporters can't get in! I can't wait to do the big venues though!
Whenever a band has got a strong image, you usually get some of the fans adopting it. Have there been any sightings of fans sporting catsuits yet?
Dan: I haven't yet actually! It says something about the balls that Justin has in a way that even the most hardcore fan won't turn up in a catsuit! laughs. I've seen quite a few people turn up dressed as Frank. You see at least two or three people with the fake tasch and bandana, there are a lot of Frankettes!
What do you think is the biggest misconception that people have about The Darkness?
Dan: I think people who just read about us but haven't got the album probably think we're like Kiss or something or think that we've only got a few half decent songs or something! They think we're shallow people, they don't see that we're a proper band with proper songs and we're going to be around for a long time. I think that's the biggest misconception, that we're not going to be around for a long time, they think it's just a gimmick, like a novelty thing. It's not, it's going to get a lot bigger!
The majority of the attention is on Justin, how do you feel about this? Do you resent it or are you grateful for it?
Dan: No, I'm grateful! He's a total star, I'm not that way inclined, I like to sit back and watch it all!
Have you been given any strange presents or had any unusual requests?
Dan: We get a lot of 12 year old girls giving us their phone numbers and saying "call me, call me once! Please!" It's like "'Why?!?" laughs We get given a lot of good luck tokens, crystals and stuff. People seem to feel that we need help or we're in danger, they don't want us to come to harm. In a way, it's quite scary! I'm not one of these people who likes clutter, I live out of a suitcase so I chuck stuff away as I go, but you don't want to throw these charms away because you might end up with a curse on you or something!
How did it feel to get to number 2 in the charts?
Dan: Not as good as being number one in the album charts! We're an albums band, we're much more about the album than the singles. The fact we didn't get to number one with the single is a godsend in a way, in that all the people who supported us with that single will support us even more on the next and go for it just as much if not more! To be honest I actually forgot it was being released on the Monday it came out! I was like "eh?" as we get these little texts that come through on Sunday telling us where we're at in the charts how many we've sold, and I was like "They've sent this twice, I thought the album had sold this many and we were at number one?" then realised it was the single. laughs
What was it like on TOTP?
Dan: It's exactly what you think it's going to be like! It's funny seeing all these little pop kids jumping up and down, "pop moshing", just jumping straight up then down again not actually touching anyone else, not like proper moshing, it's great! They make such a high pitched noise as well, it's great fun!
What would you say is The Darkness manifesto?
Dan: Blimey.... I don't think we have one to be honest! We're not a reaction to anything, we're not trying to change things. We're just doing what we really love. I guess we're trying to open peoples minds to the fact music is supposed to be enjoyed, we're having fun while we're doing it. I mean take the things that are supposed to be serious, seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously while you're doing it!
What should people expect from a Darkness gig?
Dan:A lot of excitement, it's a lot heavier than the record. It's going to be one of the loudest gigs you've been to! A lot of handclapping and interaction. We're not going to get onstage and do a recital of our songs, it's a free for all! It's really exciting, I'm more excited than they are usually!
Have you had any embarrassing moments?
Dan: Y'know we bring our own stage stuff and rig and things? The first few gigs we didn't have any carpet onstage, so I was just sliding around, literally like ice skates as these shoes have got no grip on whatsoever! I kept missing my pedals, I went to put my foot on the monitor, and it just slid forward and I nearly fell off the stage! After that they put a footmark on where it was safe to put your foot on the monitor laughs.
Justin had to be get cut out of one of his suits the other day!! He got so hot it stuck to his legs, we were playing the intro to "stuck in a rut" that we play while he goes to get changed and this intro went on for about four and a half minutes as he had to be cut out of this suit, and there's all these people going "What's going on? What's gone wrong?" as me and Frank just stood there playing the same thing again and again and again laughs. Oh yeah! Another one.... At the beginning of the gig a curtain falls down, at the first gig only the left hand corner fell down so you could just see me standing there like waves, while the rest of the band were behind the curtain! The security had to climb up and pull it down, it was hilarious!
What has been your best gig?
Dan: We did a really good gig in New York recently, it was really important as well as all the radio people were there! It's like "right. we're going to prove it live!". It doesn't matter if we're playing in front of 1000 people or 100. T In The Park was good as well, we all have our high points and low points.
How about the worst?
Dan: I don't actually mind when things go wrong! A recent gig it was so hot, far too hot, felt like I was going to pass out! After having played festivals and massive stages, we suddenly played this little stage with a massive lighting rig. It was boiling. You get used to it though, but it's just like going to the gym for an hour and a half, but in a sauna at the same time!
What are your ambitions for the coming year?
Dan: We're working our arses off in America for the coming year, we want to get the next album out next year, and we're going probably one of the biggest arena tours ever at the end of next year. Because you have to plan them so far in advance we already know we're doing it, we've got three Wembleys back to back. It'll be cool! It's a shame they won't have finished Wembley stadium or we'd play there! Can't wait to get the next album out. We'll probably pull back a bit then as the debut is all about cramming everything on, making sure people know what you're about and why we're here. The second album we'll come back out of people's faces and let the album do the talking. It's fun doing press but it'd be nice to pull it back a bit so we're not in every copy of NME.
The thing is though, we don't even talk to the NME!
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a band?
Dan: Be yourself. That's a difficult one. Stick at it is the key. So many bands don't make it, or change their line up. One thing that will guarantee that you're never going to make it is if you give up! Just do what you love, you have to make a commiment. I made a commitment when I was 9 that I was going to do this, then when I was 16 I went out and did it. Ten years later I signed a record deal! It takes a lot of shitty bedsits, starving and being on the dole, but if you don't try you'll never get anywhere.
How has the tour been so far?
Dan: It's been good! Except for last night, as you can probably see, I slit my finger open! I tried to glue it back together for the next gig. All the glue came apart in the second song the next night, opened up even more, so I spent the whole gig with a string in the cut! I spent half the Sheffield gig screaming in agony as the equivalent of cheese wire sliced down an open wound! But yes, apart from that it's been amazing really! The crowds are amazing, I've never seen anything like it!
How did it feel to have every gig sell out? Some of your tickets are going for over £100 on ebay now...
Dan: We did a homecoming gig, and tickets are going for over £200 it's insane! We're denying ourselves our own history if we don't do these small venues. But at the same time, it's frustrating that so many supporters can't get in! I can't wait to do the big venues though!
Whenever a band has got a strong image, you usually get some of the fans adopting it. Have there been any sightings of fans sporting catsuits yet?
Dan: I haven't yet actually! It says something about the balls that Justin has in a way that even the most hardcore fan won't turn up in a catsuit! laughs. I've seen quite a few people turn up dressed as Frank. You see at least two or three people with the fake tasch and bandana, there are a lot of Frankettes!
What do you think is the biggest misconception that people have about The Darkness?
Dan: I think people who just read about us but haven't got the album probably think we're like Kiss or something or think that we've only got a few half decent songs or something! They think we're shallow people, they don't see that we're a proper band with proper songs and we're going to be around for a long time. I think that's the biggest misconception, that we're not going to be around for a long time, they think it's just a gimmick, like a novelty thing. It's not, it's going to get a lot bigger!
The majority of the attention is on Justin, how do you feel about this? Do you resent it or are you grateful for it?
Dan: No, I'm grateful! He's a total star, I'm not that way inclined, I like to sit back and watch it all!
Have you been given any strange presents or had any unusual requests?
Dan: We get a lot of 12 year old girls giving us their phone numbers and saying "call me, call me once! Please!" It's like "'Why?!?" laughs We get given a lot of good luck tokens, crystals and stuff. People seem to feel that we need help or we're in danger, they don't want us to come to harm. In a way, it's quite scary! I'm not one of these people who likes clutter, I live out of a suitcase so I chuck stuff away as I go, but you don't want to throw these charms away because you might end up with a curse on you or something!
How did it feel to get to number 2 in the charts?
Dan: Not as good as being number one in the album charts! We're an albums band, we're much more about the album than the singles. The fact we didn't get to number one with the single is a godsend in a way, in that all the people who supported us with that single will support us even more on the next and go for it just as much if not more! To be honest I actually forgot it was being released on the Monday it came out! I was like "eh?" as we get these little texts that come through on Sunday telling us where we're at in the charts how many we've sold, and I was like "They've sent this twice, I thought the album had sold this many and we were at number one?" then realised it was the single. laughs
What was it like on TOTP?
Dan: It's exactly what you think it's going to be like! It's funny seeing all these little pop kids jumping up and down, "pop moshing", just jumping straight up then down again not actually touching anyone else, not like proper moshing, it's great! They make such a high pitched noise as well, it's great fun!
What would you say is The Darkness manifesto?
Dan: Blimey.... I don't think we have one to be honest! We're not a reaction to anything, we're not trying to change things. We're just doing what we really love. I guess we're trying to open peoples minds to the fact music is supposed to be enjoyed, we're having fun while we're doing it. I mean take the things that are supposed to be serious, seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously while you're doing it!
What should people expect from a Darkness gig?
Dan:A lot of excitement, it's a lot heavier than the record. It's going to be one of the loudest gigs you've been to! A lot of handclapping and interaction. We're not going to get onstage and do a recital of our songs, it's a free for all! It's really exciting, I'm more excited than they are usually!
Have you had any embarrassing moments?
Dan: Y'know we bring our own stage stuff and rig and things? The first few gigs we didn't have any carpet onstage, so I was just sliding around, literally like ice skates as these shoes have got no grip on whatsoever! I kept missing my pedals, I went to put my foot on the monitor, and it just slid forward and I nearly fell off the stage! After that they put a footmark on where it was safe to put your foot on the monitor laughs.
Justin had to be get cut out of one of his suits the other day!! He got so hot it stuck to his legs, we were playing the intro to "stuck in a rut" that we play while he goes to get changed and this intro went on for about four and a half minutes as he had to be cut out of this suit, and there's all these people going "What's going on? What's gone wrong?" as me and Frank just stood there playing the same thing again and again and again laughs. Oh yeah! Another one.... At the beginning of the gig a curtain falls down, at the first gig only the left hand corner fell down so you could just see me standing there like waves, while the rest of the band were behind the curtain! The security had to climb up and pull it down, it was hilarious!
What has been your best gig?
Dan: We did a really good gig in New York recently, it was really important as well as all the radio people were there! It's like "right. we're going to prove it live!". It doesn't matter if we're playing in front of 1000 people or 100. T In The Park was good as well, we all have our high points and low points.
How about the worst?
Dan: I don't actually mind when things go wrong! A recent gig it was so hot, far too hot, felt like I was going to pass out! After having played festivals and massive stages, we suddenly played this little stage with a massive lighting rig. It was boiling. You get used to it though, but it's just like going to the gym for an hour and a half, but in a sauna at the same time!
What are your ambitions for the coming year?
Dan: We're working our arses off in America for the coming year, we want to get the next album out next year, and we're going probably one of the biggest arena tours ever at the end of next year. Because you have to plan them so far in advance we already know we're doing it, we've got three Wembleys back to back. It'll be cool! It's a shame they won't have finished Wembley stadium or we'd play there! Can't wait to get the next album out. We'll probably pull back a bit then as the debut is all about cramming everything on, making sure people know what you're about and why we're here. The second album we'll come back out of people's faces and let the album do the talking. It's fun doing press but it'd be nice to pull it back a bit so we're not in every copy of NME.
The thing is though, we don't even talk to the NME!
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a band?
Dan: Be yourself. That's a difficult one. Stick at it is the key. So many bands don't make it, or change their line up. One thing that will guarantee that you're never going to make it is if you give up! Just do what you love, you have to make a commiment. I made a commitment when I was 9 that I was going to do this, then when I was 16 I went out and did it. Ten years later I signed a record deal! It takes a lot of shitty bedsits, starving and being on the dole, but if you don't try you'll never get anywhere.
© 2003 Jen Thomas
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