The Darkness announce new album and tour after Taylor Swift’s viral moment sent them to No.1 with the pop sensation gushing it is the ‘greatest song ever written’

The Darkness have announced they will release a new album and tour the UK in 2025.

The rock band’s news comes after Taylor Swift performed their hit I Believe in a Thing Called Love with boyfriend Travis Kelce during the 2003 US Open final.

Since the pop sensation’s video went viral, the single The Darkness has skyrocketed to number one in the US, 21 years after its release.

Now lead singer Justin Hawkins has revealed that Taylor wrote him a letter and he heaped praise on the track, calling it “the best song ever written.”

While promoting the band’s eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast, on ITV’s Lorraine show on Wednesday, Justin discussed the special moment.

The news about the rock band comes after Taylor Swift’s iconic viral moment when she sang along to their 2003 hit, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, with boyfriend Travis Kelce in the US Open final

He said, ‘She [Taylor Swift] I just danced away and enjoyed it. They play it a lot at sporting events.

“My daughter is the biggest Swifty I know. I was always cool, but now I’m extra cool.

‘She [Taylor] wrote me a sweet letter and said she thought it was the best song ever written and if she said that it must mean something, she was an expert at writing songs.’

He joked: ‘We saw Taylor singing our song and it went to number one and we thought we’d get in the studio. No we didn’t, we worked on it for a year and a half and today we released the first single.

“I think she’s a role model. She helps young adult women find their way in the world. It gives me peace of mind when my daughter listens to her.”

Earlier this month, Justin shared a video on TikTok in which he revealed that he had woken up to videos of Taylor and Travis circulating online. He thanked the couple for helping him feel like the “dad of the year” while gushing about his young daughter’s joy.

“It was a heartwarming moment for me and my daughter, who can’t wait to tell her friends at school,” Justin said. “So thank you Taylor, thank you Travis.”

At the beginning of the clip, Justin revealed that he had attended Taylor’s Eras Tour performance in Zurich a few weeks earlier. He said his daughter was surprised to receive a personal note from the singer saying she was a fan of the song.

Since the pop sensation’s clip went viral, The Darkness’ single has topped charts worldwide, reaching number one in the US, 21 years after its release

Now lead singer Justin Hawkins has revealed that Taylor wrote him a letter and raved that the song is ‘the best song ever written’

While promoting the band’s eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast, on ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday, Justin discussed the incredible moment

He said, ‘She [Taylor Swift] was just dancing and appreciating it. She wrote me a beautiful letter and said she thinks it’s the best song ever written and if she says that it must mean something, she’s an expert at writing songs’

He said: ‘So a couple of weeks ago I went to see Taylor Swift at the stadium in Zurich and the hospitality they showed us was outstanding. There was a guy on a golf cart who took us to the main stadium, parked by the trucks and they put us in a nice VIP area. I had Chris Rock on one side, Roger Federer on the other, and I was just father of the year.

‘To make it even more spectacular, Taylor Swift even sent me a sweet letter, which was waiting for me in the VIP section. She told me how much she loves the song I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

“I was just father of the year, maybe father of the century, because it was all a big surprise.”

Justin went on to discuss the recent viral moment at the US Open, adding, “Speaking of big surprises, everyone has been sending me footage of I Believe In A Thing Called Love that was played at the US Open where Taylor Swift and her partner Travis were dancing and just enjoying the music.

‘It was a really heartwarming moment for me and my daughter, who can’t wait to tell her school friends.

“So thank you Taylor, thank you Travis, thank you to everyone who loves tennis. That’s a really nice way to start the day. Well done guys, cheers.”

The Darkness will be heading out on their biggest headline tour of the UK in March.

The Dreams On Toast UK headline tour will see them play 17 shows across the country, ending on March 29 at the OVO Wembley Arena in London.