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Darkness Singer In Surgery Nightmare

added 21 May 2004 at 11.08

Darkness singer Justin Hawkins has been forced to undergo surgery to save his voice, due to a severe problem with stomach acid that may have ruined his voice completely.

This isn’t the first time Hawkins has had problems with the condition (The Darkness were forced to cancel a series of dates in the US earlier this year because of the complaint) but the problem got so bad that he has to undergo surgery.

"I had a hiatus hernia and acid reflux,” Hawkins told The Sun, “Basically, there's a sphincter inside your throat, as well as up your bottom. It's supposed to control how much acid is let up into your throat.

"But mine was broken so my stomach was spitting acid into the throat. It was literally burning my voice up."

Not only was he diagnosed with one of the most sever cases recorded, but doctors warned that left untreated, he may never have been able to sing again.

"Doctors stuck a tube down my nose to measure the acidity. Three per cent is normal. They operate at 12%,” He continued, "But I clocked a whopping 82%. It was one of the worst cases in medical history. I was taking indigestion tablets to stop it. But they weren't working. So I had to go through with the procedure."

However, the operation was a success, and Hawkins is permanently cured, in fact he reckons his voice has improved.

"I'm definitely back to my best,” he says, “If anything, my voice is now sounding better than ever because I haven't got to hold back."

The Darkness are currently recording the follow up to their 2003 debut album ‘Permission To Land’ with legendary producer Mutt Lange.

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Matt Everitt

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