Permission To Land...Again

Product Information

When we were writing these songs in 2001, 2002, we had nothing,” Hawkins tells Apple Music. “And we knew that what we were doing was hopelessly unfashionable. But I think the idea was just to make some music that was reminiscent of the stuff that we enjoyed when we were learning our instruments and growing up—and the stuff that our dads showed us. And I think the only objective, really, was to not give up.” Alongside the world tour, The Darkness will be unleashing an expanded deluxe edition of ‘Permission to Land’ via Warner Music later this year. The Darkness’ ‘Permission to Land’ tour dates: The reissue will be available in a range of formats. The 4xCD+DVD deluxe reissue will feature rare B-sides, previously unreleased demos, and live albums from three of the Darkness’ early 2000s London shows: one at the Astoria in 2003, one at Knebworth Park in support of Robbie Williams in 2003, and a 2004 Wembley Arena concert. The DVD portion of Permission to Land… Again will include footage of the Knebworth and Astoria shows, a History of the Darkness documentary, music videos, and behind-the-scenes footage from the years surrounding Permission to Land’s release. Commenting on the shows, The Darkness’ frontman Justin Hawkins says, “We, The Darkness, are delighted to announce that we’ll be hitting the road in the UK once again. The shows promise to be a grand spectacle with the band playing the foot-stomping, guitar-wailing, groove-making masterpiece album in full, alongside a ‘Best Of The Rest’ set, stuffed to the gills with all the hits and fan favourites from their six subsequent studio albums.

Of the three separate live recordings compiled on Permission To Land… Again, supporting Robbie Williams on his huge summer 2003 shows at Knebworth, a high-intensity Astoria show and a triumphant Wembley headline set, it’s the first that makes the most interesting listening. Here, the band are heard playing to a crowd of 100,000, few of whom one assumes were actually there to see them, and in real time you can hear Justin Hawkins winning over vast swathes of them. Towards the end he asks outright who amongst them has been converted, receiving a great roar in response. “Everybody else, repeat after me,” he declares. “’I. AM. WRONG.’” Footage of the Knebworth and Astoria shows are captured on the DVD, as well as the music videos for their hit singles including ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’, ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’, ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)’ and more. There is also a ‘History Of The Darkness’ documentary plus various behind the scenes footage and outtakes from the Permission To Land era… The announcement of the reissue comes nearly 20 years to the day that Permission to Land was released (July 7th, 2003). Permission to Land… Again will be available in a 5-LP version and a 4-CD/DVD edition. The album has been out of print on vinyl since its original pressing.Love this album and I’m super excited for this. All the B-Sides were great too, and the live material from this era was killer. This is about living in a small town but leaving to adventure elsewhere in a van. There’s two roads out of Lowestoft, the town where we grew up. One of them is called Barnby Bends, and, as you’d imagine, a lot of people wipe out. The other is completely straight, but then people try to overtake agricultural vehicles coming out of the field and get wiped out by that. So getting out of that town in a hurry is actually pretty difficult to do with your life and body intact. It’s a bit like ‘Hotel California’, really. Perhaps I shouldn’t mention that because we’ll all get sued.”

The original album was huge success for the British band, thanks in large part to the worldwide hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Other singles like “Growing on Me” and “Love Is Only a Feeling” topped the charts in the UK. There will also be a very special expanded "Permission To Land" deluxe album release coming later this year via Warner Music, with further details to be revealed soon. The Darkness have announced the European leg of their planned 20th anniversary Permission To Land tour.Alongside the tour, there will also be a very special expanded ‘Permission To Land’ deluxe album release coming later this year via Warner Music, with full details to be revealed soon. The Darkness’ ‘Permission to Land’ 20th anniversary UK & Ireland tour dates: Today the band are delighted to announce 13 European dates on the Permission To Land 20 tour, with many more jaw-dropping, show-stopping concerts around the world to be revealed shortly. The Darkness announce Permission To Land… Again; a special 20 th Anniversary reissue collection, to be released on October 6 th 2023 via Warner Music on a 2CD.