The Darkness singer opens school recording studio

The frontman of rock band The Darkness visited a Herefordshire school to open a recording studio named after him.

The Justin Hawkins Recording Studio at Hereford Cathedral School will allow students to record and produce using professional equipment.

The school's history with music dates back to its founding in 676 AD, when it began as a song school for choristers.

"On a purely ego basis, it means the world to have a studio named after me. It's a great feeling. I wish we'd had something like this at my school," Hawkins said.

The school said the addition of the studio blended the school's music heritage with a modern, forward-thinking vision for music education.

After cutting the ribbon, Hawkins spent time with A-level musicians as well as one of the school's rock bands, Minerva, which performed for him.

"Recording is a totally different experience to performing live," he said.

"For me, there's a tendency to overthink that stuff. But there's something magical about the first performances.

"Once you're comfortable in this space, don't overthink it, just enjoy it."

Executive headmaster Dr Michael Gray said: "The opening of The Justin Hawkins Recording Studio is an exciting development in our musical offering.

"Blending our ancient choral traditions with a contemporary provision is at the heart of our broad curriculum which attracts the best musicians from across both the county and further afield."

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