A huge rock star looks completely unrecognizable 20 years after the release of their hit.
The singer looked a long way from his wild rock ‘n’ roll days when he stepped out in Mayfair on Wednesday to check out a few designer shops.
The 48-year-old singer reportedly spent £150,000 of his estimated £6 million fortune on cocaine and led a life of excess, leading him to leave his band in 2006 and recover.
But now the rocker is a vegan, married father of one living a quiet life in rural Switzerland.
But can YOU guess who it is?
Worlds apart: a huge rock star looks completely unrecognizable 20 years after the release of their hit
Otherwise: The singer seemed a long way from his wild rock ‘n’ roll days as he stepped out in Mayfair on Wednesday to hit some designer shops
That’s right! It’s Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.
Known for his long curly hair, the rocker sported a whole new look when he stepped out with a darker, shorter haircut and a clean shave.
The rocker used to wear flamboyant metallic catsuits that showed off his bare tattooed chest.
Although Justin wasn’t wearing his signature stage costume, the rocker still showed interest in fashion as he stepped into designer store Marni before waving down a cab.
Justin proved he had expensive taste when he wore a Celine backpack but kept his outfit casual with a plaid baseball cap, black hoodie and plaid pants.
In an exclusive chat with MailOnline last year, Justin said he spent a few hours a day teaching himself how to play slide guitar during lockdown, but wished he learned how to play the piano and perhaps the language of the country where he now lives – Switzerland.
Married to Sarah Hawkins, with whom he shares an eight-year-old daughter whose name has not been made public, he said: ‘They are the reason I live there. [because that’s where his family live].
‘I live in a fairly rural area, so the only time I come into contact with someone who speaks English is when I see my daughter.
Unrecognizable: Known for his long curly hair (abandoned in 2003), the rocker sported a brand new look when he stepped out with a darker, shorter haircut and a clean shaven
Designer Clothes: Justin proved he had expensive taste when he wore a Celine backpack but kept his outfit casual in a tartan baseball cap, black hoodie and plaid pants
Expensive taste: Although Justin didn’t wear his signature stage costume, the rocker still showed an interest in fashion when he visited designer store Marni before waving down a cab
Changed: Justin famously spent £150,000 of cocaine, led a life of excess, leading him to quit The Darkness in 2006 and recover (2017 photo, six years after they reunited)
Surprise! Justin said he was happy to leave The Masked Singer in the second week of the show in 2020 as it meant he didn’t miss his daughter’s birthday – she lives in Switzerland
“So those times are very important to me. I always block her birthday in the calendar.’
Justin said he was elated when he was eliminated from The Masked Singer – in which he appeared as The Chameleon, in 2020, just two weeks after the series started, as otherwise he would have missed his daughter’s birthday, as he was in the series should have stayed. the UK to film.
He said, “She thinks I’m cool for now. I think I have a year or so before that works out.
‘I look forward to the hormones kicking in. I really enjoy those moments when she is rebellious.
“It’s hard for fathers, especially absent fathers, [because he is often on tour]. I think the uprising that’s happening is,,, I don’t think I’m really going to get the full force of it. At least I encouraged it.’
He’s still found ways to spend his royalties from hits like I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) and let it be known that he bought a flashy custom water feature.
He said, “It comes with a marble statue of myself as the Belgian peeing boy, which I keep in my front yard.
“I often pose in front of it and startle the neighbors by moving when they least expect it.”