While Justin Hawkins continues his drug rehab, he's told London's Sun newspaper that he's left The Darkness for a solo career.
It's another sorry chapter in the compressed musical lifecycle of the glam rock posers. Their first album was a smash hit. Their second was a gigantic flop. In August this year Hawkins went into drug rehabilitation and now he's entertaining pitiable notions of a solo career.Billboard reports that his addictions to drugs and alcohol are not yet ameliorated. "It would be damaging to my recovery to stay on," Hawkins told The Sun, "I'm not blaming the band for my problem - I am an addict."
The band stated on their message board that "we were hoping until the last minute that this - Justin's exit - wasn't going to happen. We - Dan, Ed and Richie - are still in total shock and can't say at this stage what the future holds."
When asked if The Darkness will put out another album, the Undercover magic 8-ball said, "No." When asked if Hawkins will have any solo success, it said "Don't count on it."
