The Darkness deny being droped by label

The Darkness has denied reports that it has been dropped by its label, Atlantic Records, according to NME.com. The news followed the disappointing response to the band's sophomore effort, One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back, as well as the recent announcement that singer Justin Hawkins had entered rehab. But a statement posted at the group's official website read, "As everybody found out...Justin has been admitted to a rehabilitation clinic. We would however like to make it clear that this emphatically does not signal the end for The Darkness nor are their label Atlantic Records considering 'dropping' them."

The group insisted in the statement that it would release its third album through Atlantic in early 2007.

As for Hawkins' admission into London's Priory rehab clinic, the statement said, "We are not here to comment on Justin's private life -- or anyone else's for that matter -- but he is feeling better already and as soon as he is ready we will be going straight into the studio to being recording album number three."

The British glam band's 2003 debut, Permission To Land, reached gold sales status in the U.S. and went platinum in the U.K., but last year's follow-up vanished quickly.