2 weeks ago
6
This frontman soared to fame with his band's debut album, made £1million in just a month from his Christmas number one and had a sold out world tour with hair as big as his career.
The singer, 49, famously spent £150,000 of his estimated £6million fortune on cocaine, living a life of excess which caused him to quit his band in 2006, and go into recovery.
He is now a vegan, married, father of one living a quiet life in rural Switzerland and looks worlds away from his once-flamboyant on-stage persona.
Twenty years on from when his band's hit song was released, the huge rock star looks completely unrecognisable.
Known for his long curly hair, the rocker sported a whole new look as he stepped out with a darker, shorter do and clean shaven face as he left the BBC Broadcasting House studios in London on Tuesday.
But can YOU guess who it is?
A huge rock star looks completely unrecognisable 20 years on from when their hit song was released
The singer looked worlds away from his wild rock and roll days as he left the BBC Broadcasting House studios in London on Tuesday
That's right! It's Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.
Back in the day, the operatic I Believe In A Thing Called Love singer used to wear flamboyant metallic catsuits which showed off his bare tattooed chest.
But Justin ditched his signature stage costume for a more casual look during his recent outing.
He wore a black hoodie and leather jacket, teamed with jeans and trainers as he stepped out into the rain.
Justin proved he had expensive taste as he carried a khaki green Celine rucksack.
Last month, The Darkness announced they are releasing a new album and set to go on tour around the UK in 2025.
The rock band's news comes after Taylor Swift 's viral moment singing along to their hit 2003 track, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, with boyfriend Travis Kelce at the US Open final.
Since the clip of the pop sensation went viral The Darkness' single has soared up the charts across the world and reached number one in the US, 21 years after its release.
Now lead singer Justin Hawkins has revealed that Taylor wrote him a letter and gushed the track is the 'greatest song ever written'.
While promoting the bands eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast on ITV 's Lorraine on Wednesday, Justin discussed the incredible moment.
Known for his long curly hair (left in 2003) , the rocker sported a whole new look as he stepped out with a darker, shorter do and clean shaven face
Justin ditched his signature stage costume for a more casual look during his recent outing
Justin famously spent £150,000 cocaine, living a life of excess which caused him to quit The Darkness in 2006, and go into recovery (pictured in 2017, six years after they reunited)
He said: 'She [Taylor Swift] was just dancing and appreciating it and they play it at sporting events a lot.
'My daughter is the biggest Swifty I know, I was always cool but now I'm extra cool.
'She [Taylor] wrote me a lovely letter and said she thinks it is the greatest song ever written and if she said that it must mean something, she is an expert at writing songs.'
He joked: 'We saw Taylor singing out song and it went to number one and we thought quick get in the studio. No we actually didn't, we've been working on this for a year and a half and we dropped the first single today.
'I think she is a role model, she helps young adult women navigate that world, it makes me feel reassured when my daughter listens to her.'
Earlier this month, Justin shared a video to TikTok , revealing he had woken up to the videos circulating online of Taylor and Travis. He thanked the couple for helping him feel like the 'dad of the year' as he gushed over the delight of his young daughter.
'It was a really heartwarming moment for me and my little girl, who can't wait to tell her friends at school,' Justin said. 'So thanks Taylor, thanks Travis.'
As the clip began, Justin revealed he had watched Taylor's Eras Tour show in Zurich weeks earlier - and how a personalised note from the singer saying she was a fan of the song had amazed his daughter.
He said: 'So a few weeks ago I went to see Taylor Swift at the stadium in Zurich and the hospitality they showed us was extraordinary. There was a man on a golf buggy guiding us into the main stadium bit, parked up near the trucks and they put us in a lovely VIP area. I had Chris Rock on one side, Roger Federer on the other side, and I was just dad of the year.
'To make matters even more spectacular, Taylor Swift even sent me a lovely letter, which was waiting for me in the VIP section, taking about how much she loves the song I Believe In A Thing Called Love.
Justin said he was glad to leave The Masked Singer in the second week of the show back in 2020 as it meant he didn't miss his daughter's birthday as she lives in Switzerland
During the height of his fame, Justin wasted £150,000 on cocaine in just three years and it became a source of friction within the group (pictured 2004)
Most recently Justin performed for the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert (September 2022)
'I was just dad of the year, maybe dad of the century, because all of that was a big surprise.'
Going on to discuss the recent viral moment at the US Open, Justin added: 'Speaking of big surprises, everybody has forwarded me some footage of I Believe In A Thing Called Love being played at the US Open and Taylor Swift and her partner Travis dancing along to it, just enjoying the music.
'So it was a really heartwarming moment for me and my little girl, who can't wait to tell her friends at school.
'So thanks Taylor, thanks Travis, thanks to everybody who enjoys tennis. That's a really lovely start to the day. Nice one guys, cheers.'
The Darkness will be hitting the road next March for their largest headline tour of the UK.
The Dreams On Toast UK headline tour will see them play 17 shows across the country finishing at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on March 29th.
English (US) ·