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 Def Leppard initially reached stardom in the UK with their debut album ‘On Through The Night‘, though by the late 80’s they reached worldwide fame, with singles such as ‘Photograph’ and ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ becoming glam-rock classics. ‘Hysteria‘, released in 1987, sold over 25 million copies worldwide and became a defining moment for the band. Since then, they have been a household name, with people still wearing the band’s merchandise 40 years later.

Def Leppard’s journey has not been without challenges. Most notably, drummer Rick Allen’s comeback after losing his left arm in a car accident remains one of rock music’s most inspiring stories. Using a custom electronic drum kit, Allen’s innovative approach helped the band continue their rise and maintain their signature sound.

Frontman Joe Elliott shared his excitement about playing to their home crowd with a brand-new show featuring both classic hits and surprises, while guitarist Phil Collen expressed joy about touring again with long time friends Extreme.

Def Leppard have also suggested the release of a new album sometime at the end of this year or early next year. In an interview on ‘The Eddie Trunk Podcast’, Vivian Campbell, one of the band’s guitarists, he said about the release of an album this year “Could be. We’ve got around 17 to 18 songs in development—and a few more coming. We’ll finish it when it’s right. I think of Hysteria—”Pour Some Sugar On Me” was the last song written for that album, but became the hit. We’re giving it the same patience now.” The release of this album may coincide with their summer tour dates so it is a great chance to hear some new Def Leppard releases. Listen to the podcast episode below:

Def Leppard will begin the UK leg of their European Tour in Belfast on June 26. They will then visit Glasgow (June 28) and their hometown of Sheffield (June 30). The band will top off their tour in Birmingham (July 4) before the final date in Manchester on July 6. They will be supported by the US band Extreme, most well-known from their 1990 single ‘More Than Words’. Extreme are hair-metal legends and will be an attraction in their own right.

Tickets for the tour go on general sale on September 4, though members of the band’s fan club can buy tickets tomorrow, September 2. Tickets are available here. Def Leppard are also headlining Radio 2 in the Park festival on September 7 if you want to see them earlier.

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The title track, ‘Walking Through Fire’, is full of the Darkness attitude you’d expect, with the glam-rock guitar that shot them to fame in 2003, and Hawkins’ lyrics are both humorous and cutting. The track is a commentary on the band’s songwriting process, and features lines such as “We’re only doing this cause it’s fun/ Don’t even think my mum bought the last one.”  

‘The Longest Kiss’ was the first track to debut, doing so in September 2024, and was accompanied by a radio edit and an acoustic demo, though no versions charted. ‘I Hate Myself’ followed in December, and ‘Rock and Roll Party Cowboy’ was released on 24 January, exactly one month before the release of this EP.

The upcoming album will be their first full-length release since 2021’s ‘Motorheart’. That release was received well, earning a 7/10 from Classic Rock Magazine, who described it as “a daft-as-a-brush cheer-up we all need right now.” The new album will feature all four tracks included on the EP, as well as four new ones.  

Supporting the new album, The Darkness will be heading out on a 43-date tour around the UK and Europe. Beginning at Ipswich’s Regent Theatre on 6 March and concluding in Germany in October, the band will also be performing at two festivals. They will play Download Festival in June, and Italy’s Festival di Majano later in the summer.

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The new songs have been met with a positive response from fans, with some fans comparing ‘The Longest Kiss’ to early Queen material. On the newest track, ‘Walking through Fire’, one fan took to X, commenting, “This is my fave from the new [EP] for sure. Love the languid-loping groove and melodic riff.”

Alright! This is my fave from the new album for sure. Love the languid-loping groove and melodic riff. Cheers!

— Kevin Gamble Music (@KevGambleMusic) February 24, 2025

Next month’s album will be released under Cooking Vinyl, a label also representing acts such as Billy Bragg, The Prodigy, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, as well as various other legacy acts. 

Justin Hawkins has also found fame online through his YouTube channel, Justin Hawkins Rides Again. Set up in 2021, the channel has amassed almost 600,000 subscribers, and finds the frontman commentating on various subjects from across the music landscape.

With the EP now available to stream and the band ready to embark on their tour, ‘Dreams on Toast’ is set to be one of the year’s most exciting releases.

⚡NEW SHOWS ADDED ⚡
Due to the phenomenal demand that resulted in us selling out our UK tour in a day! We’ve added some new dates to the Permission to Land 20th Anniversary tour. Tickets on sale 9am this Friday 14th. Don’t miss out this time, get them here:… pic.twitter.com/95Xt0Php6t

— The Darkness (@thedarkness) July 11, 2023

The winter tour, set to begin in Belfast on December 2nd, will now see shows in four new locations, including Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds and Brighton, while the Roundhouse in London and Rock City in Nottingham will now play hosts to two dates. The addition of these new shows now means that the tour will stretch until December 22nd, a fact that will surely impress fans of the much-loved glam rock outfit.

The tour will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of The Darkness’ debut, and much loved, seminal album Permission To Land. An expanded Permission To Land deluxe album is also set to be released later this year via Warner Music especially for the anniversary, with details to be released by the band soon.

The Darkness formed in 2000 in Lowestoft with an initial line-up of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, lead guitar) , his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums). The group released their debut album, Permission To Land, in 2003 to widespread critical acclaim, with the album topping the UK Albums Chart and achieving quadruple platinum status after 1.3 million copies were sold. This album also contained the hit single “I Believe in a Thing Called Love“, by far the band’s most popular track.

Watch the music video for “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” below:

The group have gone on to release a further six albums, despite a five year hiatus, with their latest album, Motorheart, being released in 2021. Since their hiatus they have released five albums, and have even released a special Christmas beer in collaboration with brewery Signature Brew.

Watch the music video for “Motorheart” below:

See below for the updated series of tour dates:

02/12/2023 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
03/12 – 3Olympia – Dublin
05/12 – O2 Academy – Edinburgh (new show)
07/12 – O2 City Hall – Newcastle (new show)
08/12 – UEA – Norwich
09/12 – Roundhouse – London
11/12 – Barrowland – Glasgow
12/12 – New Century Hall – Manchester
14/12 – Beacon – Bristol
15/12 – Rock City – Nottingham
16/12 – The Wulfrum At The Halls – Wolverhampton
18/12 – O2 Academy – Leeds (new show)
19/12 – Rock city – Nottingham (new show)
20/12 – Dome – Brighton (new show)
22/12 – Roundhouse – London (new show)

Tour tickets for the new shows go on sale from 9am on Friday 14th July and can be purchased here.

⚡️UK & Ireland Tour 2023⚡️
You have all been very patient. We are VERY EXCITED to announce the dates for our Permission to Land 20th Anniversary UK & Ireland Tour! We can’t wait to celebrate this very important birthday with you. See you all soon!

Tickets go on sale Friday at… pic.twitter.com/OsWLYHxIsr

— The Darkness (@thedarkness) July 3, 2023

Lead singer and frontman Justin Hawkins, in a recent press release, has said of the tour, “We, The Darkness, are delighted to announce that we’ll be hitting the road in the U.K. once again. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Permission to Land, our set will include every song from our debut album faithfully reproduced (with additional clam notes and meanderings) in the order in which they appear on the record. We’ll also play all of your favourite Darkness songs from the rest of our illustrious and tipsy turvy career. It will be the best show you’ll see this year. I should know, I’m the singer and also a YouTube music expert.”

The Darkness formed in 2000 in Lowestoft with an initial line-up of Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, lead guitar) , his brother Dan Hawkins (guitar), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums). The group released their debut seminal album, Permission To Land, in 2003 to widespread critical acclaim, with the album topping the UK Albums Chart and achieving quadruple platinum status after 1.3 million copies were sold. This album also contained the hit single “I Believe in a Thing Called Love“, by far the band’s most popular track.

Watch the music video for “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” below:

The group released their second album, One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back in 2005 but disbanded in 2006 following the departure of Justin Hawkins. The group reunited in 2011, however, and have gone on to release a further five albums, all to reasonably favourable receptions. Their latest album, Motorheart, was released in October 2021.

Watch the music video for “Motorheart” below:

An expanded Permission To Land deluxe album is also set to be released later this year via Warner Music, with details to be released by the band soon.

See below for tour dates:

02/12/2023 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
03/12 – 3Olympia – Dublin
08/12 – UEA – Norwich
09/12 – Roundhouse – London
11/12 – Barrowland – Glasgow
12/12 – New Century Hall – Manchester
14/12 – Beacon – Bristol
15/12 – Rock City – Nottingham
16/12 – The Wulfrum At The Halls – Wolverhampton

Tour tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 7th July and can be purchased here.

The band, who have been known in the past to take delight in the absurd, combine glam and prog rock to create a chaotic 40-minute epic. Inside the belly of the worm, England has evolved into a feudal system ruled by “the Devertebrates” – lords who have removed their spines to honour the great beast. Henry Spychalski, the lead singer of the ensemble, transforms himself into the heroic leader of the counter-resistant group called “the Grunters” who attempt to escape from the creature.

The frontman explained: “The Worm here is both a metaphor for capitalist greed, and the embodiment of a whole generation’s anxiety, dread and fear in the face of ever-looming apocalypse and world-ending natural disasters”. A manifesto further explaining the great mythical lore behind the album is also available to purchase alongside a physical copy here.

Music videos for “The End Is Now”, “Wyrmland”, and “The Worm” have brought to life the nightmarish England all directed by Spychalski.

Watch the video for “The End Is Now” below:

HMLTD started off as Happy Meal Ltd. in London in 2015. However, the band didn’t release their debut EP, Hate Music Last Time Delete, until 2018, and their debut album, West of Eden, until 2020. Having signed to the major label Sony in 2017, the band were dropped after inconsolable disagreements between the label and the band on their image and direction. Their first and second albums have been released through the London-based independent label Lucky Number.

Back in 2017, the flamboyant band, who often play with gendered dress codes, came under fire for what some perceived as queer baiting. “We’re trying to challenge toxic masculinity and we’re doing that from the perspective we can do that from, as the human beings we were born into being, which is predominantly straight cis men,” lead singer Henry Spychalski told DIY Magazine. “But I don’t think having that role should exclude or prohibit you from taking on that political perspective and from taking on what is probably the most violent, toxic, cruel force in our society. We’re learning from queer methods and we always try to express that indebtedness”.

The theatrical band is sure to put on a show during their two consecutive dates at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London this May. They will also be taking the stage at End of the Road Festival this summer. For tickets see here.

For HMTLD’s UK dates see below:

18/05/23 – Institute of Contemporary Arts – London
19/05 – Institute of Contemporary Arts – London
31/08 – End of the Road Festival – Salisbury

The Struts are certainly 2020’s answer to glam rock, and the video upholds this energy throughout. There are glittery shirts, blazers and self-assured dancing (maybe the word is actually ‘posing’. ‘Strutting’ would probably do just fine). Interspersed with what could be footage of a photoshoot, though, we watch The Struts perform with the kind of urgency that you often get from guitar bands. With the addition of Robbie Williams twirling his umbrella around, and Gethin Davies’ union jack drum kit, it seems to bring a touch of Britpop to Southern California.

Against the backdrop of the video, ‘Strange Days’ is a ballad that builds steadily until explosive end. As soon as stadiums are ready to be filled, you can imagine this single doing it. Its repeated idea, ‘strange days, strange times’, is a nod to the upheaval of normality in the last few months. Robbie Williams and Luke Spiller’s elbow bump – a coronavirus greeting – only reinforces this.

Speaking about the last five or six months, the chorus goes “oh these are strange days / in many strange ways / science fiction, I believe / has become reality.” COVID-19, though, has not seemed to dampen The Struts’ spirit; Strange Days was actually written and recorded in a ten-day stint in a studio after 2020 began to shape up as a year of cancelled plans. In a tweet, the band called it “undoubtedly a magical ten days for us”.

Finding all of our plans for 2020 canceled or postponed, we gathered together safely in the studio and wrote and recorded the entire album in just ten days. It was undoubtedly a magical ten days for us—and we hope when you hear the album, it gives you a taste of that magic too.

— The Struts (@TheStruts) September 2, 2020

Strange Days, the album by the same name, will reportedly feature something of an illustrious line-up. When asked about collaborating with Williams, Spiller said, “I was doing Quarantine Radio [an Instagram Live show launched by The Struts] and Robbie hit me up out of the blue asking if we could talk …We ended up Face-Timing for about two hours the first time we’d ever spoken, talking about life and music and UFOs and everything else you can think of. I asked if he’d like to work together at some point, and while we were making the album, he graciously let us come over and record him singing on his front porch.”

Williams adds sincerely: “we did a vocal for a wonderful song that has been gifted my way. It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to listen to this man sing. It’s great to be a fan of someone and then a part of this recording. It’s like having a hero here and I genuinely mean that.”

Strange Days, the album, comes out October 16 with Interscope/Polydor. ‘Strange Days’ follows ‘Another Hit of Showmanship’ featuring Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes). Hammond Jr. and Robbie Williams will be joined by an enviable string of guest appearances including Joe Elliott and Phil Collen of Def Leppard, and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.