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A born entertainer and shameless crowd pleaser, Justin's live shows with The Darkness were legendary and involved props such as a giant stuffed tiger and flying around the stage on wires.

But his gigs with Hot Leg don't yet have the budget or facilities for that sort of thing. Justin explains: 'We do the biggest shows we can. It's always been that way.

'Obviously at smaller venues pyro (pyrotechnics) is a no no because of health and safety and there's no hanging above the stage because there's not adequate rigging. We're restricted by the equipment at each venue, but it's good because every show's different.

Read more | 20 Mar 2009 |

Actually, I didn't even look that hard, and I discovered Cut Off Your Hands, a New Zealand band who get the job done just as nicely even though that's only kinda British and dude only kinda sounds like Robert Smith. Whatever, I'm easy. And for ye olde kicks let's just say I have to try to see Hot Leg, the new band from former Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins. I'm not saying it'll be any good, I'm just saying I have to see it.

Read more | 20 Mar 2009 |

You're closing the tour in Norwich - is there anything special planned?

“Only that my whole family will be there, it's special in that respect. After it finishes we've got a day off and then we're off to America, it's very exciting.”

Your whole family still comes to your gigs? Does that include your brother?

“They do where they can. I'm not sure about Dan, he might be on tour himself then.”

I guess you played a lot of the venues around here when you were younger?

“Largely in places in Lowestoft, like the Fighting Cox and the Brewery, all the country pubs around there. Norwich I only played once I think…the Butchers Arms - is that right?”

click read more to read the full interview

Read more | 20 Mar 2009 |

Failure hasn’t dented Hawkins’ faith in the power of pastiche rock. Hot Leg are basically The Darkness redux. Flanked by bandmates with big hair and glammy outfits, Hawkins was resplendent in a leather catsuit and huge poodle-rock coiffure, whose supernova of permed curls suggested, a la Norma Desmond, that the stages had got smaller, not him.

Read more | 19 Mar 2009 |

"The darkness is upon us, yes a pretty dark venue to tell the truth, barely any front light to admire Justin Hawkins’ new outfit, and what an outfit I say! That was Hot Leg last night at Islington Academy, with plenty of hair and guitar solos."

See photos from the gig at http://www.loudpixels.net/blog/?p=223 (click on the large photo)

Also, check out Hot Leg regular photographer, James Sellar's photos from the London gig at http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalpyrotechnics/sets/72157615176450844/

| 19 Mar 2009 |

Yes, it's Justin Dave Hawkins' Birthday! (and it's also St Patrick's Day, so even more reason to celebrate) Hope you have had a great day Justin

| 17 Mar 2009 |

Hot Leg will apparently be doing a signing session at the Edge of the Wedge, Portsmouth ahead of their gig tonight at the Wedgewood Rooms (friday 13th) between 6pm - 7pm

| 13 Mar 2009 |

Playing with his new band Hot Leg in front of a modest-sized Oxford crowd on Tuesday, Hawkins looked fitter and younger than in his Darkness heyday. With his bleach-blond moptop and tiger-print leggings, he self-consciously summoned up the cheesy grandeur of 1980s pop-metal titans such as Van Halen or Poison. Likewise the other three band members, all sporting the regulation Sunset Strip poodle-rock uniform of headbands and scarves.

Read more | 12 Mar 2009 |