Why Failure Is Important. 

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At a train station in London I saw a big Hen Party singing I Believe in a Thing Called Love at the bride to be. That song has Transcended in the same way that Seven Nation Army or Mr Brightside has. It's practically a folk song now.

really enjoyed the part about failing is when you do not act/embody your values or not listening to your true authentic self. ✨💛✨

Nice to see and hear Jenny again. You guys have a great dynamic.

As a band that has been going for 20 years, this discussion has come up a few times. I think our aims started out differently at the beginning, when we were young and more naive, but our aims have changed over time, so it's difficult to see ourselves as having failed since we're still producing music and heading in a direction that we are all happy with and have complete control over. Society also measures success in a very weird way that, almost inevitably, sets people up for feeling like they've failed. Success should be found in the smaller things - like the fact that we're still friends, making and releasing music, is a success. Really enjoyed the podcast. It's a great topic of conversation.

It baffles me how some people see the darkness as a falliure, the way i see it you put out music that has entertained someone (in some cases millions). How can that be a failed endevour?

Another great show. It takes some character to lay yourself bare like you have in the last couple of these shows. I tip my hat to you Sir.

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” -Samuel Beckett

I love this podcast and I don't know why. You're wonderful, Justin.

I'd see retirement as an end product of succes. Being working class you just expect to work until you drop down dead but to be able to retire shows some level of financial and life security.

Jenny almost sang!! So close!

But I love you. I was never a fan of your music, because I wasn't there, but you have a great personality and an intriguing show. My musical failures always made every song that came next even better.

58:45 Love Speed of the Night time... Such an 80s vibe!

I do quite like it when you find a new song you can have on repeat - great feeling

I read somewhere that not learning from your mistakes is considered failure.

Didnt see it yet but title is wrong... you are not a failure... you are a myth to me and that's enough for me🤘

I love your theme tune, it changes daily, usually you add different expressions related to how you feel, how much you want to put in into it, and what your discussing, also i see you experimenting and also just singing practice!

You and the Darkness are an absolute success. But not because you had a hit or because people come to your shows, but because you do what you want to do, what makes you happy, for a living, and you have a body of work that endures, something to show for it all. My problem is by my own standards I'm a failure. And given that I'm in that state of utter failure, every single day, it's really quite hard to talk about it. So I distract myself so I won't just😭because that doesn't solve anything either.

Another wonderful chat…and Speed of the nite time is a brilliant song. Everything about it. The music, the lyrics, the theme, the vocals.

I remember seeing you on TV quite a bit in the early to mid 00’s and you mostly looked like you weren’t enjoying the TV studio experience or just resented the interviewers inane questions. At the time I probably thought you were being a rockstar diva but since becoming a rockstar diva myself and learning about the various rock genres I now know you were in fact being a *glam* rockstar diva.

Oh my you are definitely NOT a failure never ever believe that about yourself you did an awesome job and have more success to come we experience we learn we grow from all we lived and done that’s not ever a failure and anyone who believes that doesn’t understand life and what we are all here for and what we are all about!! You created such a look sound and experience so uniquely you not everyone can do that so NO definitely not a failure ever my dear!!🤗😘💗👍💪💗🥰🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Your hair's looking great in the intro 👍😃

I'm sorry you hate video making, you're so good at it though compared to what we usually get nowadays. Is It Just Me, In Another Life, Growing On Me, Open Fire, Last of Our Kind, all of these were great videos! I love the animated ones too like Barbarian, Happiness, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, absolutely FIRE!! Wish you'd done ones for Speed of the Nite Time and maybe Living Each Day Blind as my 2 favorite non-single songs. Our of curiosity which video were you referring to that you were actually happy with?

Contentness is, in a sense, the opposite of covetousness, which equates to doing things on your own terms and by your own standards. This is why so many people watch this show. It's authentic, nonpretentious, and original. It is a SUCCESS.

I absolutely loved this. Haven't been able to finish many of your other podcast-type videos, but this one was just captivating. Love the honesty and insight from you both.

I loved this conversation.. I could hear you both for hours. Glad I found your RU-vid channel ❤️

Great episode, as a side point, I also think Speed Of The Nite Time is fookin class! That is all 😊

Confirmation Bias and Speed of the Nite Time was something I never expected from The Darkness. Yet, it's some of my absolute favourites for such good reason.

My father is a multimillionaire and I am nearly penniless, but I would never want to live his life. The measure of success is different for everyone. It's a matter of how you gauge happiness against wealth, recognition and experience. Also, that fit is so good Jenny! You look amazing!

I'm so happy to hear you talking about Foxy and so grateful to you guys for introducing me to them. The only downside is they've never come back to the UK since I got into them. So if you'd consider touring with them again, it'd be like the best night ever... (Not that darkness gigs aren't always the best nights ever of course!)

In every aspect of life there are failures and successes. People say that you only fail when you give up but your example of Eurovision - shows you would have felt more successful if you had quit, rather than performed - which is very understandable. Saying no when you are under lots of pressure to say yes can feel like a personal success sometimes. As you said it is true that success is a personal feeling. It should not be measured either materially (in terms of wealth) or externally (in terms of what other people think) which is often difficult in a world full of ratings and comparisons. This was a good discussion because it illustrates that failure and success are not always as opposite as they appear. Thank you Jenny and Justin - it was good watching you talk on this topic. 👍

What a wonderfully frank discussion, good on you for being so comfortable in your own skin.

I paused this and watched The Masked Singer. Wow! 🤯 Such a beautiful voice. Anyway, im back now.

I salute and wholeheartedly agree with Jenny's view of men (or partners in general) and their importance in one's life. One really shouldn't have their happiness depend on whether or not they have a partner.

Hope to catch you next month at the show in LA, crossing fingers that your back doesn’t get iffy.

I agree. I grew up as a dancer living in New York City. I was starving and living with two other dancers, getting rejected left and right, but those were probably my most fun days. Fortunately, I don’t think, even at that young age, I took it to heart. It helps to have that attitude, I suppose. I definitely did not feel like a failure! But I think it is good to fail, it makes you enjoy the times you succeed. Keep reinventing yourself. You are brilliant at that. ❤

I have a friend who had a minor domestic hit in the 1980s. He still works on the periphery of the entertainment industry and reckons he's got another hit in him. Not sure if this counts as failure but I admire his tenacity.

I found your performance for Eurovision, and I thought you did a really great job. I really liked that you took the high harmony.

Speed of the Nite Time is amazing!

I had a band for 8 years and was convinced we would make it .. I was so focused on this goal that was never achieved I forgot to enjoy the process of touring, recording,shooting videos whilst doing all the mundane stuff like booking venues,advertising , flyers and all whilst paying for mortgage and raising a family. Only after all of this did I realise the fun is in the journey not the destination .

That obituary slowly we rot tee shirt is badass. I went to the marquee club in 1990 i think and saw them. Great shirt sir

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." Cpt.J.L. Picard/Star Trek/TNG

"I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

Speed of the Nite Time is ace 🖤

Listening to you two is always enlightening, you always give me stuff to think about!

I like to think that a person cant really be a "failure" how people usually use the word, because to gain success, whatever that word means to you, you're going to fail many times on that journey. You can only reach your version of success if you learn from the failures you experience and use that knowledge to better yourself. You're only a failure if you don't even try.

Oh and your intro song is very good, perhaps the best on RU-vid. I’ve been singing it everywhere for 2 weeks straight. My dad was like what’s wrong with you? You should write jingles for commercials. Just in time for dinner again…… agaaaaaain…… then zooms in on a delicious dish

Musical success is surely tuning into the zeitgeist of the time. The collision of societal timeframes and a band accidentally taking up the mantle and riding the success. Success soon passes by (record label unit shifting) but the musical standards aren’t compromised. Success is not compromising artistically. Failure is compromising and selling out for success. Losing personal identity is tantamount to selling out.

I think Justin looks brilliant without the moustache and longer hair ❤

I’m apart of it arent I? I donno… what are you doing? I’m laughing so loud. You’re naturally hilarious.

Great discussion. You were a lot younger on the 2nd record. You learned to collaborate as you grew. A million is not a failure

The best advice I ever received was from a colleague of mine. His edict was, "Never do business with anyone who hasn't had their ass kicked before." its a funny way of making the point. I don't think I could trust someone who's never failed (in their eyes, especially). I tend to think of them as those who lie to themselves, which has no payoff in the end, whether it be; financial, fame, popularity, respect, love (of sorts), they never get to that. They are busy assuring they do not fail in anyone's eyes.

SO EXCITED!! Tickets go on sale for your Melbourne show in 1 day, 12 hours, 33minutes and 35 seconds. Can't F*&king Wait!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

I've come to enjoy these talks a lot. Also some kind of successs, isn't it? Yes,Stefan Raab was a big thing in German TV in the early 2000s, and he was also the man behind Lena Mayer-Landrut winning the Eurovision for Germany. Some years ago, he just stopped all his public activities. No idea what he is doing these days, but he sure knew how to stop.

Our new kitten will not stop jumping on the bloody counter, its very distracting, will need to watch again!

God I LOOOOVE putting great tunes on repeat 🤩

Well, we're all a failure at something or other!

Funny thing- One Way Ticket was my first Darkness album and I thought it was phenomenal. Had no idea it was considered a "flop." As an American, I don't quite get Eurovision, but bummer it was such a negative experience...also, I am not ashamed to admit that I also watch these to check out Jenny May's lovely manicure. She always has the coolest nails.

You might be a failure sir, but at least you have an obituary shirt. That's something!

this was the best one so far

As an artist I find that whenever I’m not creating something is when I’m failing because I’m wasting time not creating, rather than when I make something that I feel isn’t good enough. That’s where I put too much pressure on myself.

Failure is a pretty great underrated band. The Power of Failing is a great Mineral album though Endserenading is their best.

Thank you for this, feeling like so many areas of my life are failing, this has been a lift. Many thankings bestowed upon you both

Justin, love your hair in this video intro! You look great...

If you have managed to blag through life doing what you want, and making a career for yourself out of it, then you definitely haven't failed. I consider myself a failed musician in as much as I never made a career out of it ( did sign the record contract though, but that's a whole other story! ), but then I have made a career out of doing other stuff, so didn't fail there.

The successful people of sport who have been my role models are publicly respected, so when this doesn’t happen with others it usually rings a bell to me. We are examples in all moments of our lives and responsible of our own choices.

Bro you are not a failure, I loveeee your band "The Darkness" i still jam to those songs

Minidisc between CD and MP3. Super format. Still use mine today. Been buying up discs and players over the years for future security.

Maybe success isn't correlated with failure. It could be two separate meters, not one. We talk about people failing into success a lot. And often success comes with many failures.

I wouldn't consider "missing out" on Eurovision a failure. I would consider it "dodging a bullet". 😄

I'd like to imagine that Jenny was wearing crushed velvet purple bell-bottoms to complete the early 70s look that vest hints at

A mistake is an experience, choice or concept we must have or make to evolve beyond it. Errors can be the launchpad of great ideas. Jenny is like your shrink Justin and I do like these in-depth meaning-of-life chats. Too much trivial crap out there, good to have something of substance to really get your teeth into and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Dubliner like Jenny.

One often has to fail in order to succeed - try, something goes wrong, learn, try again, hopefully succeed or try again. Failure is such a harsh word, there are mostly many components playing an important role as well, which might hinder the road to success. So I consider failure to be only the empty half of the glass that is half full.

I was at the Riverside Ca show April 2016. There was like 25 peeps there and it was one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen in my life. Even caught the guit pick 🥳

25:26 the mask singer was great you were great as the chameleon. it would have been fun to see you longer, but the judges, especially the female judges, and Rita Ora in particular was litterly drooling over your physique, to the point she could not stop blushing. Everyone was impressed and focused on how 🔥🔥🔥🔥 you looked in your tight costume, even Jonathan Ross made comments. Everyone was so taken by your looks & swagger , that they did not focus on your singing. Also what was interesting was, that most guesses were that you were a black athlete/ actor. I thought it was a very successful performance 👏👏👏

I think every day that a person survives and does the best he/she/they can is a success.

16:38 justins reaction to the comment made me laughed so much.

I woke up at 6:00 am…put my ear buds in, and cranked #DefLeppard all the way up !! 🎶

You always wear the coolest gear 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Celebrating failure...? I didn't know I had SO much to celebrate 😅

I'd recommend the books by Neil Peart about his life, they give interesting views on much of what you talk about in this session

A great discussion, thank you.

This whole conversation reminds me of the novel 'Espedair Street' by Iain Banks. I feel like you guys would enjoy it.

The Producers (movie) a musical that is designed to be a failure that is instead a success.

I wish you weren’t so down on One Way Ticket… I appreciate you have your reasons, but that record (still) beats Permission for me… the wit in the lyrics makes me piss and au contrare - the melodies are BRILLIANT - it feels far more creative in its songwriting, production and musicality than anything I can think of that you’ve collaborated on! Wall to wall bangers… to the point I take umbridge when you poo-poo it. It’s fucking ace. How can you dismiss lyrics like Bald, Dinner Lady Arms and One Way Ticket itself? You menatalist. :D

I have looked for your Eurovision show on RU-vid, i am not a fan of this contest but i had got curiosity after listen how you felt about your participation on it. And you maybe felt like a failure because it is a contest, but the song is very cool and you are a brave artist who is able to move from your confort zone. I liked it the song!

You have to fail sometimes to succeed ❤

I'm 48 & I am a Recovering Feminist. However, I support equality in equal opportunities. I found my comfort & wanted to be at HOME. I travelled & went to uni in London & I think most women feel this way too. Hence why they raise children & look after the home. Women in their teens & 20's have been brainwashed by the Rockfella Industrial Military Complex. The birth rate is dropping & the family as a unit is suffering.

Being a One-Hit Wonder is a double-edged sword... on the one hand it gives you something to be recognized, claim to fame, but it also inhibits your ability to move on creatively and can be both pays the bills but you feel personally unfulfilled. And that is used as an insult because although you got your money, you are sorta miserable to not be able to enjoy the accolades and notoriety

If you are a failure, I'm effin' hopeless. Thanks... Paul

Nope. Justin you are an amazing talent and always will be. Thankyou for being si damn hot and cool. Respect from this kiwi chick. Love ya❤keep entertaing us, I will always be proud . Rock on!😎

I think failure is a mindset.. A failure is relitive to what you're comparing it to Failure is when you quit

Both of you ... your hair looks amazing!

Forgot to mention that Speed of nite time is my favourite song of the last album!

You have to admire someone like Rush, who following a commercially less successful third album and on the verge of failure, threw caution to the wind and, contrary to record company desires and expectations, came up with brilliant 2112. The ultimate sh*t or bust scenario!

Jenny!! I would be the periphery of your life ❤

My idea of success, in the 90s, was booking a gig in the upstairs El Mocambo in Toronto. And then I did. And that wasn't it. It's never enough. You make one rung in the pro ladder, and then you look up to the next. It never ends.

I would gladly make a grilled cheese sandwich for Jenny May. I’d even cut it into the shape of a heart

Watched your content since you did the Rick Astley Glastonbury reaction. To be fair I'm very impressed with your knowledge and observations and have been watching you since. And to be absolutely honest my blinkered opinion I had of you in the past has been totally changed. Keep up the good work fella...❤

I could be the poster person for the failure side of this debate. Depending on perspective, None of my records have been commercial successes, but I've created every one of them from start to finish by myself and I am incredibly proud of each one of them, I'll be honest I don't like everything I put out there, but it's like being possessed, it's like I get given a certain number of ideas from some all consuming muse and I must bring those ideas to fruition and then when it's finished and released all seems right with the world for a few years, then the cycle starts again, I'm lucky enough to be able to make money to pay the bills with session work, So success to me at 43 years old is to have made enough money to put 2 kids through college, have a nice house, a nice car, nice guitars and amps, and be debt free in the corrupt kip that is ireland, while also being able to write, record and release my own albums every few years, Add in a starting point of abject poverty and trying to make ends meet at 15 years old with an orphans pension (there was such a thing in 90s ireland, I shit you not, i think it was £30 every week), It was most definitely excruciatingly difficult at times, and for long periods at times, But all the long drives, ridiculous hours and lack of sleep making sure the kids wanted for nothing were worth every second of it. Having a partner who believes in your work ethic to do what needs doing in an unpredictable industry is also a huge part of it. But I consider all of the above to be a success. No awards, no hits, but 8 non nepokid albums that fucking rock like absolute bastards. Also speed of the night time is not just one of the darkness' greatest songs it is one of rocks greatest ever songs. That high pitched "love" just sitting back in the mix at the end of the harmonised vocal part is out of this world,