In 2003, a new presence entered the music scene: The Darkness. The classic rockers' debut album ‘Permission to Land’ - complete with catsuit and tongue-in-cheek humour - reached No.1 in the UK, eventually going five times platinum.

On Monday (June 1) the group returned to the fray with their fourth record ‘Last of Our Kind’, and it sees The Darkness crank up the riffs, yet maintain all of the melody that made them a massive success in the 2000s.

Pressparty caught up with frontman Justin Hawkins to find out more about the album, new drummer Rufus Taylor and touring with Lady Gaga.

Is ‘Last of Our Kind’ the band’s best album yet?

"I think it is, yeah. We spent time concentrating on the songs and making sure they were as good as the first album, and we all love every song. I think it’s great. And I’m our sternest critic - I didn’t like the last two albums."

So what was it about the last two records that you didn’t really like?

"I felt like we were what our fans wanted us to be and we were trying to think about what had made us successful and famous."

I take it then you’re not too bothered where the new one lands in the charts?

"I don’t think it’s going to get to number one - I think Florence + The Machine will."

Your former drummer Emily Davies left earlier this year after joining in 2014. You said previously that she found it a bit 'demanding'?

"No, I didn’t say that. I think that might be a misquote. There’s different demands on someone who’s in a band like The Darkness, because she’s used to doing session work."

Did you get a sense quite quickly that things weren’t really working out with her?

"Not really. She’s a lovely person. When negotiations break down, I think you should just move on and get someone else to do it."

You’ve got Rufus Taylor now, son of Queen drummer Roger. Are you honoured to have Taylor blood in the band?

"I think his heritage is second to none. He’s definitely got a lot of his father’s attitude and he’s definitely rock and roll in the way he certainly doesn’t give a f*ck. And I appreciate those qualities. He’s just a brilliant drummer in his own right as well, and he’s a good guy too. So it’s a win all round."

Queen are a big influence on The Darkness, so what do you make of Adam Lambert’s stint in the band?

"He's one of the few people out there that could do that sort of thing. He's got the range to be able to sing the more demanding Queen songs. I do admire his talents. I wrote a song on his first album, so I've known him for a while now. I'm really happy for him."

Why has the classic rock genre endured for so long?

"I think that the bands who were originally doing classic rock - when it was just called rock - were geniuses and they wrote fantastic, enduring songs. And as a result of that they experienced a lifestyle that made people aspire to be in bands and do music. There is something about being a rockstar that people of all ages admire and long for. It’s a beautiful existence, doing what you love. And who doesn’t want to do that?"

You used to work as a jingle writer - did you harbour dreams to be this rockstar when you were doing that?

"My ambition in those days was to do music for films. I was sort of making good progress in that world, but then the band happened and it fell by the wayside. But I had thought I was too old for bands."

Do you find it harder to write a ten second jingle or a four minute rock song?

"They’re as equally difficult. The jingle - you’ve got a kernel of an idea that can be elaborated on that could be made into a ten minute rock epic, if you wanted to. I think if there’s too many ideas in a song, then it’s overwhelming. Anyway, the person that wrote ‘Mmm Danone’ - that just screams yoghurt. That is a great jingle. Amazing."

You supported Lady Gaga on tour a few years ago. Did her fans take kindly to your set?

Some of them did, some of them didn’t. We made a lot of friends on that tour, and I think we made a few enemies too. But it was a great experience.

Did you get to meet her?

Yeah, she took us on holiday at one point. We went with her to Amsterdam, it was lovely.

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Watch The Darkness' latest music video below: