Justin Hawkins has quit pastiche rockers The Darkness, leaving the band with an uncertain future.
The falsetto singer's stage presence was the defining part of the band, but after successfully undergoing nine weeks rehabilitation for drink and drug problems, he says he can't continue.
"It would be damaging to my recovery to stay on," he tells the Sun today in a lengthy interview. "I'm not blaming the band for my problem - I am an addict. There are people who can be in bands and stay clean, but I'm not one of them."
"I am going to do a solo record at some point and get into scoring films. But this is all new so the future is still uncertain."
Hawkins reveals new bassist Ritchie Edwards will take over on singing duties. "I feel bad for the others. It will be an upheaval. But it's time for me to move on. "I feel like I've lost three years of my life. I'm only just coming to terms with what has happened because I was always off my face."
