Tuesday, December 30, 2008 12:07PM – By davidhall @ beatcrave.com

Amid rampant rumors that Brit-rockers The Darkness will reform in 2009 with their original line up, lead singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins has announced the rise of a new Spinal Tap – inspired group, Hot Leg.

Hot Leg will unleash its brand of new-age classic rock on the world with its debut album, “Red Light Fever,” in January.

With his flawless falsetto, which he refers to as the “Truth Larynx,” Hawkins will lead the new band with help from guitarist Pete Rinaldi, bassist Samuel SJ Stokes and drummer Darby Todd.

On their MySpace, Hot Leg describes themselves as “an entirely hairier beast” than The Darkness, but the band’s powerhouse Queen and AC/DC infused ballads seem to pick up right where the latter band left off when it split in 2006.

If anyone is wondering what the hell happened to the other guys in The Darkness (cause I thought they’d totally dropped off the face of the planet!), they’re producing a more raw, southern-rock-style sound in their own band, Stone Gods.

Brother to Justin, guitarist Dan Hawkins, and The Darkness ex-bassist Richie Edwards, co-write the songs for Stone Gods, who released their debut “Silver Spoons and Broken Bones” in July.

The formation of two different bands seems to represent a clear parting-of-ways for the Hawkins brothers, but with the advent of Hot Leg in 2009, who will reign as kings of UK man-rock?

Who knows, but its nice to see that there’s still room in rock n’ roll for out-of-control hair, epic thrashing and a bit of comedic relief.

Check out five songs and a list of tour dates on Hot Leg’s MySpace.

Purchase Stone Gods’ album, “Silver Spoons and Broken Bones” on iTunes or Amazon.com.

From the EDP- Darkness record studio to expand

09 December 2008 16:54

It is a local success story and boasts a client list of some of the great names in modern pop music.

Now, after only a year in business, the Norfolk recording studio run by producer Nick Brine and ex-Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins is expanding.

A second studio is being created at Leeders Farm at Spooner Row, near Wymondham, following an over-whelming response to the offer of a lifetime for an unsigned local band to have their music released and promoted on KAN Records, the studio’s independent record label.

Two months ago Nick revealed that he was offering his favourite unsigned local band recording at the studio between October and the end of February next year the chance to have their recording released and promoted.

Yesterday he said there had been such an overwhelming response to the offer that the studio simply could not accommodate most of the artists who came forward wanting to use the venue. He said the solution was to create a second studio at the property which will be geared towards local musicians and bands.

Nick said: �I recently offered local unsigned bands the opportunity to have their Leeders Farm recordings released. We had an overwhelming response to this and could not accommodate most of the artists because we simply didn’t have enough studio time available.

�As a result of this and my growing enthusiasm and admiration for East Anglia’s current music scene, we have decided to open up a second studio here at Leeders Farm. Not bad after only one year in business!

�This will be a smaller, much more affordable studio aimed at local musicians and bands.

�The equipment will still be to a very high standard, they will still have use of myself and other leading industry producers and engineers and an added bonus of maybe recording in the next room to The Arctic Monkeys! I’m really excited about this project and the opportunities it brings for the local music scene.�

Nick said that work on the new studio was under way and that it would open in January.

Leeders Farm recording studio has gone from strength to strength since opening and famous names such as the Arctic Monkeys, KT Tunstall and US blues maestro Seasick Steve have all recorded there.

Nick said recent visitors include Bill Oddie’s daughter Rosie, who is becoming well-known on the London music scene, and Scottish band Teenage Fanclub.

For more information, visit www.leedersfarm.com.