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The Darkness has returned.

Playing before an intimate crowd of just 200 at the Norwich Waterfront Sunday night, the reunited British rockers played their first gig since 2006.

The sold-out Norwich show is just one of three the band has lined up before hitting the Download Festival this weekend as special guests of headliners Def Leppard.

“Obviously, nobody would be foolish enough to play their first show in over 5 years in front of 80,000 people,” the band advised fans via their website. “So a good run-up at it is needed.”

The return of The Darkness features the band’s best-known line-up: singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins, guitarist Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Ed Graham.

Prior to returning to live action, The Darkness were in an East Anglian studio working on tracks that will, in time, become the band's third album.

The Darkness’ 2003 debut, "Permission To Land," hit #1 on the U.K. charts and went on to sell 1.5 million copies in the UK; the success propelled the group to three BRIT Awards in 2004 - Best Group, Best Rock Group and Best Album – while also snagging two 2004 Kerrang! Awards for Best Live Act and Best British Band.

The band’s second album, 2006’s “One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back,” proved prophetic, as it earned mixed reviews; coupled with sagging public interest and low ticket sales, lineup changes began and, eventually, the band shut down when Justin Hawkins went into rehab to deal with cocaine and alcohol issues.

The Darkness premiered three new songs at the Norwich show - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us," “Concrete” and "Cannonball."

The Darkness
Norwich Waterfront
Norwich, UK – June 5, 2011

01 - Bareback
02 - Black Shuck
03 - Growing On Me
04 - Get Your Hands Off My Woman
05 - One Way Ticket
06 - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us
07 - Love Is Only A Feeling
08 - Is It Just Me?
09 - Concrete
10 - Cannonball
11 - Stuck In A Rut
12 - Givin' Up
13 - Friday Night
14 - I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Encore:
15 - Love On The Rocks With No Ice