A 2000s rock star looks unrecognisable wearing a long wig in their band’s latest music video, covering up his short curly locks.

The famous singer – who was famous for his long hair, before getting it cut off a couple of years ago, stares straight down the camera lens for the duration of the three-and-a-half minute song, enтιтled I Hate Myself.

His group twice reached second place in the UK charts with the 2003 singles I Believe In A Thing Called Love and Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End).

Hailing from Lowestoft in Suffolk, the band broke through with their debut album Permission To Land which was certified quadruple platinum and led to them winning four BRIT Awards.

Their founder, lead singer, and lead guitarist, now 49, quit the group in 2006 after successfully completing a rehabilitation course for drugs and alcohol, becoming the frontman of band H๏τ Leg two years later.

The star brought the original group back together in 2011 and they have since been on a number of tours and released four albums.

Can you guess who the rock icon is? 

2000s rock star looks unrecognisable in a wig after dramatically changing up his appearance – but can you guess who it is? 

The intense performance saw the famous singer stare straight down the camera lens for the duration of the three-and-a-half minute song as he alternated between puffing away at a cigarette and belting out the words

It is none other than The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins.

In the band’s new video, the singer brought back his long locks using a wig in a shock move ahead of the release of their new album Dreams on Toast.

In October, Justin looked unrecognisable as he stepped out of the BBC Broadcasting House studios in London with a darker, shorter hairdo and clean shaven face.

Back in the day, the operatic singer used to wear flamboyant metallic catsuits which showed off his bare tattooed chest.

But Justin ditched his signature stage costume for a more casual look during his recent outing.

The musician famously spent £150,000 of his estimated £6million fortune on cocaine, living a life of excess which caused him to quit The Darkness in 2006 and go into recovery.

He is now reportedly a vegan father of one living a quiet life in rural Switzerland and looks worlds away from his once-flamboyant on-stage persona. MailOnline reported in 2023 that he divorced his wife Sarah, with whom his shares a child, some time ago.

In September, The Darkness announced they are releasing a new album and set to go on tour around the UK in 2025. 

It’s The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins! Back in the day, the singer used to wear flamboyant catsuits, (left), which showed off his bare tattooed chest but in October, Justin looked unrecognisable as he stepped out of the BBC Broadcasting House studios in London with a darker, shorter hairdo and clean shaven face

His group twice reached second place in the UK charts with the 2003 singles I Believe In A Thing Called Love and Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)

Justin, now 49, quit the group in 2006 after successfully completing a rehabilitation course for drugs and alcohol, becoming the frontman of band H๏τ Leg two years later (pictured)

The musician famously spent £150,000 of his estimated £6million fortune on cocaine, living a life of excess which caused him to go into recovery 

The rock band’s news came after Taylor Swift’s viral moment singing along to I Believe in a Thing Called Love with boyfriend Travis Kelce at the US Open final.

Afer the clip of the pop sensation went viral The Darkness’s single soared up the charts across the world and reached number one in the US, 21 years after its release.

Justin later revealed that Taylor wrote him a letter and gushed the track is the ‘greatest song ever written’.

While promoting the bands eighth studio album on ITV’s Lorraine, Justin discussed the incredible moment.

He said: ‘She [Taylor Swift] was just dancing and appreciating it and they play it at sporting events a lot.

‘My daughter is the biggest Swifty I know, I was always cool but now I’m extra cool.

‘She [Taylor] wrote me a lovely letter and said she thinks it is the greatest song ever written and if she said that it must mean something, she is an expert at writing songs.’

He joked: ‘We saw Taylor singing out song and it went to number one and we thought quick get in the studio. No we actually didn’t, we’ve been working on this for a year and a half and we dropped the first single today. 

The star pictured in 2010 with his ex-wife Sarah who he reportedly divorced some time ago

He is now a vegan father of one reportedly living a quiet life in rural Switzerland and looks worlds away from his once-flamboyant on-stage persona

‘I think she is a role model, she helps young adult women navigate that world, it makes me feel reᴀssured when my daughter listens to her.’

Justin previously shared a video to TikTok , revealing he had woken up to the videos circulating online of Taylor and Travis. He thanked the couple for helping him feel like the ‘dad of the year’ as he gushed over the delight of his young daughter.

‘It was a really heartwarming moment for me and my little girl, who can’t wait to tell her friends at school,’ Justin said. ‘So thanks Taylor, thanks Travis.’

As the clip began, Justin revealed he had watched Taylor’s Eras Tour show in Zurich weeks earlier – and how a personalised note from the singer saying she was a fan of the song had amazed his daughter.

He said: ‘So a few weeks ago I went to see Taylor Swift at the stadium in Zurich and the hospitality they showed us was extraordinary. 

‘There was a man on a golf buggy guiding us into the main stadium bit, parked up near the trucks and they put us in a lovely VIP area. I had Chris Rock on one side, Roger Federer on the other side, and I was just dad of the year.

‘To make matters even more spectacular, Taylor Swift even sent me a lovely letter, which was waiting for me in the VIP section, taking about how much she loves the song I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

‘I was just dad of the year, maybe dad of the century, because all of that was a big surprise.’ 

The rock band’s news came after Taylor Swift’s viral moment singing along to I Believe in a Thing Called Love with boyfriend Travis Kelce at the US Open final

Justin later revealed that Taylor wrote him a letter and gushed the track is the ‘greatest song ever written’

Read More Rock star is completely unrecognisable with a short dark hair-do – but can YOU guess who it is?

Going on to discuss the recent viral moment at the US Open, Justin added: ‘Speaking of big surprises, everybody has forwarded me some footage of I Believe In A Thing Called Love being played at the US Open and Taylor Swift and her partner Travis dancing along to it, just enjoying the music.

‘So it was a really heartwarming moment for me and my little girl, who can’t wait to tell her friends at school.

‘So thanks Taylor, thanks Travis, thanks to everybody who enjoys tennis. 

‘That’s a really lovely start to the day. Nice one guys, cheers.’