00s rock god sports remarkably toned down look in rare public appearance

A 00s rock star who moved overseas after quitting his famous band 18 years ago has been spotted during a low-key public outing.

From 2000 until 2006, Justin Hawkins was the lead vocalist and guitarist for English rock band The Darkness, with the line-up also including his brother Dan Hawkins, as well as Frankie Poullain and Rufus Tiger Taylor.

Their debut album Permission to Land was released in 2003 and sold over 1.3 million copies.

The following year they won three Brit Awards: Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, and Best British Album.

However, a year after the release of their second album in 2006, Justin quit the band.

Although his drug and alcohol addictions were initially reported as the main reason, he later said he was tired of recording and promoting an album and going on tours for months, calling the process ‘monotonous and boring’.

His exit, as well as the album’s poor sales, then saw the band dropped by their label, however the remaining members formed another band – Stone Gods.

Meanwhile Justin went on to form Hot Leg however after the release of their first album in 2009 they went on hiatus just a year later when a The Darkness reunion was announced.

Throughout his career Justin has also competed to represent the UK in Eurovision, produced Saving Aimee’s debut album and played a burnt-out rock star in the 2010 movie Psychosis.

In 2020, he also appeared as Chameleon in The Masked Singer, being voted out in the third episode.

During his time on the show, he performed renditions of Creep by Radiohead, Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man, and True Colors by Cyndi Lauper.

However, a far cry from his partying days as a massive rock star, the 49-year-old now lives in rural Switzerland, where he had moved with his now ex-wife Sarah and their daughter.

When the band first hit the big time, Justin was known for his long curly hair and performing in catsuits that showed off his tattooed chest.

But this week he was spotted in London with a shorter haircut and clean-shaven face during an outing in the capital, choosing a more low-key look rather than draw any attention to himself, a far cry from his flamboyant one-pieces.

The I Believe In A Thing Called Love singer wore a black hoodie and leather jacket, teamed with jeans and trainers as he stepped out into the rain, pairing the outfit with a khaki green Celine rucksack.

Last month, The Darkness announced they were releasing a new album and would tour the UK next year.

The news came after Taylor Swift’s viral moment singing along to their hit 2003 single with boyfriend Travis Kelce at the US Open final, which also saw the song reach number one in the US, 21 years after its release.

While promoting the band’s eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast on Lorraine in September, Justin shared how Taylor wrote him a letter and said his song was ‘the greatest ever written’.

Last year he also spoke to Metro about passionate fans who would throw items like bras and knickers on stage, with one going even further,

‘So, we’ve had things like wallets. Shoes. A bit of chewing gum, which landed in my mouth. I sort of had to respect it because it was such a brilliant shot,’ he remembered.

However, he added it was ‘disgusting’.

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