NEVER mind The Darkness, here's The Darkest.

The top rock band are now so famous, they have their own tribute band!

Such copycats are generally reserved for well-established music heroes.

So the arrival of Aberdeen's The Darkest is another yardstick of the group's momentous rise to greatness.

This year The Darkness triumphed at the Brits and headlined the Carling Festival at Leeds and Reading.

The tribute act, including Paul Mackie as ex-Huddersfield Technical College student Justin Hawkins, are now touring the country after their first gigs in the Shetland Isles attracted hundreds of rock fans.

The group's other halves spent hours sewing their stagewear and they bought Gibson guitars just like the ones played by The Darkness, plus Marshall amps and effects pedals.

Paul, who's had to work hard in the gym to get a slim physique like Justin's, says: "The Darkness are a fantastic live band, far from a three-chord rock group.

"We're doing everything as close to the real thing as we possibly can - including the jewellery, the boxing boots and the hairstyles."

Their Permission To Offend tour comes to Manchester Academy on October 18 and Sheffield University on November 7.

Go to www.thedarkest.com