The Darkness have shared details of a new album called ‘Dreams On Toast’ from which the lead single ‘The Longest Kiss’ is taken as well as announcing an upcoming UK tour.

photo credit – Simon Emmett

More than 20 years after The Darkness exploded with the big bang that changed the face of British rock music, their cheeky, spandex-clad anthems continue to capture hearts, and a new generation of fans, around the world. None more so than Taylor Swift who sparked yet another internet meltdown last week by singing along with the band’s eternal mega-hit ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ at the US Open. As a result her legions of fans sent the track hurtling up charts across the world, including reaching Number 1 in the US iTunes Rock Chart, 21 years after its release!

And now with ‘Dreams On Toast ‘, The Darkness deliver another triumphant collection of solid gold rock bangers and heart exploding concerts in March 2025. 

Glam rock legends, The Darkness are back to to set the stage alight once more as they gear up to release their eight studio album ‘Dreams On Toast‘ via Cooking Vinyl in March 2025. The album is available to pre-order now at  https://TheDarkness.lnk.to/dreamsontoastPR

‘Dreams On Toast’ will mark the band’s first full-length album since they shared ‘Motorheart’ back in 2021. According to Justin Hawkins, the new tracks were inspired by “the life-changing music of the ages”.

The frontman went onto comment:

“You know that thing when God’s breath tickles your soul and tells you to create? Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can’t resist,” comments frontman Justin Hawkins. “God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?  

“So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries… ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dreams On Toast!”

‘Dreams On Toast’  is sure to be a pack-a-punch album, a sonic tapersty of glam rock sound for which this band are so well known and this is no better demonstrated than by the lead single which is released from the album today (18th September) ‘The Longest Kiss’.

‘The Longest Kiss’ is an upbeat, pop anthem with definite trademark nods to the 1970’s glam rock era and to bands such as Queen and it clearly demontsrates that The Darkness are on top form and indeed ready to Rock!!

Justin explains, “Misty Orchards! That’s not my porn name, that’s the kind of scenery that I love. I awakened to such a vista in the delightful Scottish highland town of Nairn on the morning that inspiration for ‘The Longest Kiss’ lyric struck. I was bleary eyed and locked in an unending embrace with my (mid)life partner. Weird that I can still sing, but that’s a testament to the resilience of humans, especially lead singers. 

The music itself is a piano-led composition, the chorus of which my brother and I came up with after he’d taken a long time to empty his bladder during some impressive pub endurance. The verses were transposed from a song I’ve been working on for decades as part of a musical about the collapse of the Lowestoft fishing industry, called ‘The Collapse Of The Lowestoft Fishing Industry’.  

The musical isn’t finished yet. But ‘The Longest Kiss’ is. The results are astounding. We’re all very proud of this. Please, do enjoy!”

Alongside the release of Dreams On Toast, The Darkness will also be hitting the road next March for their largest headline tour for several years.

The Dreams On Toast UK headline tour will see them play 17 shows across the country starting at Regent’s Theatre in Ipswich on March 7 and travelling to Oxford, Hull, Liverpool, York, Edinburgh, Manchester and more throughout the remainder of the month finishing at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on March 29th. Support comes from Northern Irish indie-rock heroes Ash, who first supported The Darkness on their legendary ‘Permission To Land Tour’ over 20 years ago. 

Ash comment, “In 2004 we toured the UK’s arenas with The Darkness as ‘Permission to Land’ catapulted them into the big league. Next March, 21 years later, we will reunite to tear across Britain before an epic crescendo at Wembley Arena. We believe in a thing called Rock!”

Fans who pre-order Dreams On Toast from the band’s official store at www.thedarknesslive.com/ will receive access to a pre-sale for the tour. The pre-sale, including VIP upgrades, will open at 10am on Wednesday, September 25th with tickets going on general sale at 10am on Friday, September 27th September.

MARCH 2025 UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES

07/03 – Ipswich, Regent’s Theatre

08/03 – Oxford, New Theatre 

09/03 – Swansea, Arena

11/03 – Guildford, G Live 

12/03 – Hull, Connexin Arena

14/03 – Liverpool, Guild Of Students 

15/03 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall 

17/03 – York, Barbican 

18/03 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall 

20/03 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall 

21/03 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall 

22/03 – Manchester, O2 Apollo 

24/03 – Bristol, Beacon Theatre 

25/03 – Portsmouth, Guildhall 

27/03 – Leicester, De Montford Hall 

28/03 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange 

29/03 – London, OVO Arena Wembley

The Songbird HQ

  • All photohgraphs by GARY WALKER (@thisis.garyphotography) for The Songbird HQ