JUSTIN HAWKINS RETURNS TO THE STAGE

The flamboyant frontman left the Brit award-winners in 2006 after suffering a drug-induced breakdown but played his first gig with his new band in north London on Wednesday night.

Hot Leg took to the stage at the Proud Galleries in Camden and performed a mix of original material and covers.

Kicking off a mini-tour which also takes in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, Hot Leg played their own efforts Trojan Guitar and Heroes as well as covers of both Jennifer Rush’s and Huey Lewis and the News’ The Power of Love.

And they closed the set with a rendition of I Believe In A Thing Called Love, one of the Darkness’ biggest hits during their remarkable run of success in 2004, which saw the foursome win three Brit awards, achieve five UK top ten hits and a 5x platinum album.

“It’s the first time I’ve done a proper music concert in a couple of years,” Hawkins told the BBC after the show.

“I think in the time since then I’ve suffered what you might call a breakdown.”