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The Darkness Announced Replacement Bassist

added 14 June 2005 at 17.04

Following the departure of The Darkness’ original bassist, Xfm can now reveal that the band have made a decision as to who will be Frankie Poullain’s replacement.

Bassist Poullain had parted company with the band late last month (May 23) with an official statement citing irrevocable “musical differences” as the reason for the spilt. There has been massive speculation as to his replacement but a statement from the band on the official website www.thedarknessrock.com issued this afternoon (June 14) reads:

“We are delighted to announce that a replacement for departed bassist Frankie Poullain has been chosen and The Darkness are now back to being a four-man rock machine. Inheriting Frankie's mantle will be Richie Edwards
who, until now, has been guitarist Dan Hawkins' tech.

“After weeks of auditioning replacement bass players, Justin and Dan kept coming back to the man they had had in mind all along. No one else came close. Frankie Poullain, who is now pursuing other projects, was difficult to replace but Richie Edwards was the only man for the job.”

"Richie's a good laugh and he's really good at playing bass, and at this stage that's all that matters," frontman Justin Hawkins said.

"It's difficult to put into words just how incredible it is.” Edwards added, “Music has been my life forever, and the only thing I've ever wanted to do is be in a band. After years spent trying to 'make it', in your late twenties you assume it's not going to happen and to be thrown this lifeline, to finally be given this opportunity... It's awesome, I just feel very lucky."

According to the statement, Edwards was born and raised in Lichfield near Birmingham and has been working for the band as the band's backline tech for almost two years. Its also reveals that he’s a former member of “heavy rock legends” Onion Trump, and stands an imposing 6 feet 4 inches tall (superseding 6' 2" Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins as the band’s tallest band member).

More information, along with exclusive picture of the sessions can be found on www.thedarknessrock.com.

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