The Darkness Out Of The Shadows

Last week I was lucky enough to photograph The Hollywood Vampires, featuring Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp. With such a star-studded cast, it’s no surprise that they occupied the majority of the RockShot photography real estate. But (shhh… don’t tell anybody…) from a photographers’ perspective, the really entertaining pictures were served up by the primary support act, The Darkness.

For a start, they were introduced by Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. That was unexpected and had us all scrabbling for our cameras.

Then there’s Taylor’s namesake Justin Hawkins – he of the high-pitched vocal. Justin is a brilliant front man, completely relaxed in front of a huge crowd and supremely entertaining. He makes jokes, he struts, he preens, he continually launches guitar picks into the audience – and when he gets bored of just throwing them, he back heels them too.

As the performance progresses, he sheds more and more clothes. By the end he’s naked from the waist up, tattoos proudly on display. My favourite (and one of the the finest tattoos I’ve ever seen) has the word ‘Lowestoft’ (his home town) splashed across his front, circumnavigating his navel. Before the evening is out, he will be doing headstands on the drum riser, but for the first three songs (which is all we get to shoot), Hawkins remains fully clad.

The Darkness aren’t just a one man band though. Stage right stands Justin’s brother, guitarist Dan Hawkins. Unlike Justin, he’s not rocking the kind of white suit that kept Bjorn and Benny toasty in the 1970s. Dan sports the more traditional Rock God black leather…

… and he’s not afraid to pull the odd pose or two of his own.

And whilst Dan gets up close and personal with the monitors on his side of the stage, bassist Frankie Poullain does the same on his, seemingly defying the laws of physics in the process.

I expect drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor (son of Queen stick man Roger) was doing all kinds of crazy things too but I’ve no real pictures of him since (a) he was an awful long way away, and (b) with the three up front pulling wheelies every few seconds, it’s hard to find time to look anywhere else. My bad.

I didn’t use to take The Darkness seriously. Then I saw them live for the first time and realised that that is entirely the point. Go and see them. You’ll be so glad you did. They are brilliant.

The Darkness photographed by Simon Reed at SSE Arena, Wembley on 20 June 2018. Simon has his own music photography website at: https://www.musicalpictures.co.uk/

Garbage Celebrate Three Decades Of Defiance At London’s Roundhouse

Thirty years into a career built on challenging convention, Garbage arrive at London’s Roundhouse looking anything but content to trade on nostalgia. Despite three decades of touring the capital, tonight marks the band’s first appearance at the iconic Camden venue, and from the moment Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, Butch Vig and touring bassist Nicole Fiorentino step onto the stage, they perform with the urgency of a band still determined to push forwards rather than look back.

Nathan Leaze EP Launch @ Strand Palace Hotel (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Dreaming Of A Memory: Nathan Leazer’s Songs, Stories And Second Chances

There are album launches, and then there are evenings that feel more like an invitation into somebody’s life. Nathan Leazer’s Dreaming Of A Memory EP launch at The Strand Palace Hotel was firmly the latter.

Alison Goldfrapp @ Summer Series Somerset House 2023 (Simon Reed)

Somerset House Summer Series Gets Underway As 2026 Festival Brings Eleven Nights Of Live Music To London

One of London's most eagerly anticipated outdoor concert series returns today (16 July) as Somerset House Summer...

Lifehouse @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (Kalpesh Patel)

Full Circle At O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire: Lifehouse Return To London In Intimate Acoustic Triumph

There are gigs that simply entertain, and then there are gigs that transport you. Lifehouse’s long-overdue return to London at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire is very much the latter. Eleven years since their last visit to the capital, Jason Wade and longtime guitarist Steve Stout strip everything back for the second of two London acoustic shows—following the previous evening’s performance at nearby Bush Hall—and in doing so remind a packed Shepherd’s Bush Empire exactly why these songs have endured for a quarter of a century.

Metallica Double Up For A No Repeat Weekend At London Stadium

It’s the first weekend in July and The Metal has taken over Westfield Stratford. Friday evening shoppers mingle with sweaty black clad rockers, because Metallica have brought their No Repeat Weekend M72 tour to this corner of East London. Now into it’s fourth year, the final weekend of this tour will see the metal giants play two completely different sets over Friday and Sunday night at London Stadium — an immense treat for the diehards, and introducing some deeper cuts for the casuals, providing something for everyone.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Builds On Breakthrough Success With Intimate New Single ‘Track Team’

Rising singer-songwriter Sydney Rose has returned with her latest single, Track Team, continuing the remarkable momentum that has transformed the Georgia-born, Nashville-based artist into one of alternative pop’s fastest-rising new voices.

Duran Duran @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Sienna Lorraine Gray)

Duran Duran Crown A Sun-Soaked Day Of Pop Royalty At BST Hyde Park 2026

It was yet another warm, sunny London day, the start of the country’s next heatwave, as thousands descended on Hyde Park for the final day of the second BST Hyde Park weekend of 2026. There was another event looming over the evening too: England’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with Mexico, kicking off at the decidedly unsociable hour of 1am. Football could wait though. Sunday belonged to disco legends, glam-pop icons and one of Britain’s most enduring bands as Duran Duran headlined a day that effortlessly balanced nostalgia with timeless musicianship.

The Script Celebrate Friendship And Forgiveness On New Single ‘The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall’

The Script have shared the latest preview of their forthcoming album The User’s Guide To Being Human with the release of the uplifting new single The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall. Arriving ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated new album on 14th August, the track follows the anthemic lead single Man In The Arena and continues to showcase a record that promises to balance heartfelt storytelling with the arena-sized choruses that have become synonymous with The Script throughout their career.