Watch The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins join The Libertines on stage for ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’

28 August, 2024

two side by side images of The Darkness' Justin Hawkins (left) and The Libertines' Pete Doherty (right) performing live on stage

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins recently joined The Libertines on stage to perform ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ – check out the footage below.

Both bands played at the 2024 Vilar de Mouros Festival in Caminha, Portugal last Saturday (August 24). According to Setlist.FM, Pete Doherty and Carl Barât delivered a 19-song set – airing classics as well as cuts from their latest album, ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’.

The Libertines closed the show with a special rendition of their 2003 single ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’, with Hawkins assisting on electric guitar.

He has since shared footage of the moment on social media. In the caption, Hawkins wrote: “Last week @CAVilardeMouros, I had the unexpected pleasure of joining @libertines on stage as an additional guitarist for their mega hit ‘Don’t Look Back Into the Sun’. Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?”

Another fan-shot video shows Doherty introducing the musician after shouting out “the UK’s musical exports” on the bill, including The Darkness. At the end of the performance, Hawkins takes a bow with the rest of The Libertines.

On Instagram, Hawkins recalled: “The last time we were on the same bill was a CRAZY XFM party back in 2002, I think? Anyway, we spent all night catching up and, to my delight, they were terrific company; bright, sharp, cultured and hilarious. Friends!”

See the posts below.

Last November, Hawkins shared a video titled ‘This Is Why I Changed My Mind About Pete Doherty’ on his popular YouTube channel Justin Hawkins Rides Again.

In the description, he admitted to not having “been much of a fan of The Libertines’ music in the past” and mentioned Doherty’s “notorious persona and reputation”.

However, Hawkins revealed that his “mind may have been changed” and gave his verdict on the band’s 2023 single ‘Run Run Run’.

“So the whole thing about The Libertines – that I used to feel – was that it was a lot of posturing, I suppose,” Hawkins explained, “and presenting this kind of facade of the fucked up, nihilistic kids just doing sloppy music.”

He continued: “And the reason why that was sort of making me dismiss their songs was… I met Pete Doherty, and he was burning holes in his t-shirt with a cigarette to sort of make it look like he’d fallen asleep smoking or something like that.”

The frontman went on to explain that he “couldn’t work out where the line was”, adding: “To me, it just seemed like… it was posing, you know? But I haven’t really got a problem with that – ’cause look at what I do, let’s face that.”

However, Hawkins told his viewers that this stopped him from “really enjoying” The Libertines’ music – although he did concede that there was “something great” about the band: “It’s just infectious and it’s super English.

“The jingoistic, flag-waving Englishman in me is like… I’m disgusted by that side of myself. But there is something to be said about England and its ability to kick up bands like The Libertines in a way that no other country can.”

Later, Hawkins said Doherty’s “public-facing persona must have kicked up a lot of challenges for him in his daily life”. He also explained that The Libertines have “got a certain type of longevity”, and that they were “getting into legendary status”.

“You know what? I wasn’t expecting to enjoy [‘Run Run Run’] as much as I did, and I really did enjoy it,” Hawkins rounded off his review, calling the single “pretty fucking cool and complex, and actually really accomplished”. You can revisit the video above.

Last month saw Hawkins spot an ex-classmate of his in the crowd during The Darkness’ show at Latitude 2024. “I remember you. You were one of the cool kids,” he said.

Elsewhere, The Libertines were recently joined on stage by The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess for another collaborative live version of ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’.

In April, Doherty and co. earned their first UK Number One album in 20 years with ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’.

The Libertines spoke to NME ahead of its release, with Barât explaining that the band were all “facing in the same direction” for the record.

“There’s been a lot of focus and everyone’s been working on finding their own personal place in the world as well,” he said. “Everyone has very different lives and we managed to find something to unite over.”

Watch the full video interview above.

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