Last month, BRITISH LION, the side project of IRON MAIDEN bassist and founder Steve Harris, withdrew from the previously announced U.K. tour with THE DARKNESS, citing “completely unacceptable” tour “protocols.”

THE DARKNESS‘s U.K. trek kicked off on November 17 in Brighton and will conclude on December 17 in London.

Asked in a new interview with TotalRock about BRITISH LION‘s decision to pull out of the tour, THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s very important that we remain COVID-free. We don’t wanna end up having to cancel shows. So we’re testing every day and bubbling very strictly. Nobody’s allowed their wives, girlfriends, partners, lovers. So it’s very much an insular experience. It’s unusual for us; we’re normally the party band.”

“The thing about BRITISH LION is I think that they were… Steve very successful with his other band. We can’t afford to walk away from a tour because of disagreement about COVID measures, but he obviously can, and that’s their prerogative. I think they’re doing their own stuff now. I’m just really pleased that we’ve got fellow British rock band MASSIVE WAGONS on the tour as BRITISH LION‘s replacement, who don’t mind testing themselves every day. That’s all we’re asking, really.”