Lady GaGa has announced a series of huge UK shows as part of her Born This Way Ball tour, though the American pop icon picked a surprising band to act as her support. Though most of the biggest UK acts would no doubt have been itching to land the support slot for Gaga's stadium shows, it's the reformer Suffolk rockers The Darkness who have been given the job.
The band reformed in 2011 after a hiatus that saw singer Justin Hawkins head to rehabilitation. The musician told Bbc Newsbeat of the tour, "I don't expect it to be plain sailing, but it never is. It's not supposed to be". The Darkness will support Lady Gaga on dates that include Manchester and London, and Hawkins spoke of the easy decision he had to make when offered the gig, saying, "It was put to me as a question - do we want to be a main support band on one of the biggest - if not the biggest - stadium, worldwide mega-tours that have ever been? And, I think I replied, 'Yes please". The reason for Gaga picking the British rockers is unclear and Hawkins admits he has never met the star, adding, "I'm surprised that we're considered heavy enough for it.I think she likes a lot of stuff that's more extreme than what we do. Obviously, I'm delighted".