FOLLOWING their return to stage at the Download Festival, The Darkness have announced their first tour since 2005, which will drop in at the Southampton Guildhall on November 17.

In 2003 the band exploded onto the scene with their debut album, Permission To Land.

Viewed by some as a novelty act, the band soon fell out of favour with fans, who didn’t embrace their second album, One Way Ticket To Hell… and Back with quite as much gusto.

After battling with drink and drugs, lead singer Justin Hawkins went into rehab, postponing their third album which had been scheduled for release in 2007.

Four years later the difficult third album is just around the corner and should be released before their winter tour.