The Darkness are gearing up for their ‘The Best of The Darkness’ tour this Winter with the announcement of a greatest hits compilation to accompany it.

‘Crock of Hits’ will be released on November 27^th via Warner Music. It compiles tracks from all eight of the band’s studio albums, spanning from 2003’s classic ‘Permission To Land’ to last year’s chart-smashing ‘Dreams on Toast’. It will also include their festive staple ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)’.

Vocalist/guitarist Justin Hawkins had this to say about the announcement:

 “Listen upon our works ye mighty and rejoice! “Crock of Hits“ will startle you. Hold you as you tremble. And gently force you to succumb to its aural splendour. A “best of” curated by us, so you can be certain it’s the bestest of the bestiest. Suck it up, people…”

The collection will be released in various formats, most notably as 3CDs with an extended amount of treats, including a new version of Masters Of The Universe’ featuring Queen’s Brian May and a whole load of live tracks and radio sessions too.

The tracklist for that extended version of ‘Crock of Hits’ looks like this:

CD1
1. I Believe In A Thing Called Love
2. Love Is Only A Feeling
3. Growing On Me
4. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
5. Black Shuck
6. Friday Night
7. Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) 
8. I Love You 5 Times
9. One Way Ticket (Radio Edit)
10. Is It Just Me?
11. English Country Garden (Live)
12. Knockers
13. Every Inch Of You
14. She Just A Girl, Eddie
15. Street Spirit (Fade Out) (BBC Session)

CD2
1. Barbarian 
2. Open Fire 
3. Hammer & Tongs 
4. Million Dollar Strong
5. Roaring Waters
6. All The Pretty Girls
7. Bucaneers Of Hispaniola (Live)
8. Solid Gold
9. Japanese Prisoner Of Love
10. Lay Down With Me, Barbara
11. Rock ‘N Roll Deserves To Die
12. How Can I Lose Your Love
13. Heart Explodes
14. We Are The Guitarmen
15. Confirmation Bias

CD3
1. Welcome Tae Glasgae
2. Nobody Can See Me Cry
3. Motorheart
4. You Don’t Have To Be Crazy About Me… But It Helps
5. Speed Of The Nite Time
6. The Longest Kiss
7. I Hate Myself
8. Rock And Roll Party Cowboy
9. Hot On My Tail
10. Walking Through Fire
11. Masters Of The Universe (Full Version)
12. Mortal Dread
13. Masters Of The Universe (Featuring Brian May)

Whilst the artwork looks like this:

If that wasn’t enough, the band will also be playing a very intimate show at London’s Moth Club. That’s just 300 people.

Justin had this to say about that particular show:

“The first rule of Moth Club is, don’t fly into the lightbulb. Just kidding – nocturnal Lepidoptera rejoice! We’re coming to play at the Moth Club. That thing about burning yourself to a crisp is more of a guideline than a rule, so come celebrate The Darkness on this special night…”

It will be taking place on September 17 and tickets will be on sale from right here.

If you can’t make that occasion though, you can catch The Darkness playing some much bigger rooms in December. Here are the dates:

DECEMBER

08 – GLASGOW OVO Hydro
09 – LEEDS FD Arena
11 – MANCHESTER AO Arena
12 – BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
13 – CARDIFF Utilita Arena
15 – BRIGHTON Brighton Centre
16 – LONDON The O2