Rock group The Darkness are reforming - but without lead singer Justin Hawkins.
The three remaining members of the rock act, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, have announced that they have begun work recording a new album.
The new material will be released by the band under a different name. Hawkins quit the band after reportedly revealing a £150,000 cocaine addiction.
He checked into celebrity rehab clinic The Priory. The band's bassist, Richie Edwards, will take over as singer.
Confirming the news on his MySpace web page, Edwards told fans: "It's finally happened, the big red record button has been pressed and we've officially started our album."
The Darkness rose to fame in 2003 when they released debut album Permission to Land, achieving chart success with hits I Believe In a Thing Called Love and Growing On Me.
They went on to win three Brit Awards in 2004 and looked set to cement their place as one of the biggest bands in the world.
But fame took its toll and original bass player Frankie Poullain left the band in May 2005, blaming increased tensions with Justin Hawkins on his departure.
Hawkins was admitted to The Priory last August and two months later announced he had quit the band.
How strange.. The news that The Darkness are reforming without Justin Hawkins, has annoyed me more than when I heard the news that Queen were reforming with Paul Rodgers.
Er, this was all announced at the time. They said they'd carry on, they said the bassist would sing.
How can it be a reformation if they never disbanded?
Penetration_Guru wrote: Er, this was all announced at the time. They said they'd carry on, they said the bassist would sing.
How can it be a reformation if they never disbanded?
I think its more the fact that they have decided to use a different name.
I really like the sound of The Darkness, but I'm not a fan of Justin's overdone falsetto. Thus, this new project sounds interesting to me.
I trust someone will post here when the album is released... :P