‘I DIDN’T SPEAK TO NATALIE FOR 10 YEARS’
HEARTACHE LEFT THE SILVERCHAIR ROCKER SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
Daniel Johns became a household name as the teenage long-haired lead singer of Silverchair. When the band hit their peak in the ’90s. Daniel began living the high life – even marrying fellow pop star, Natalie Imbruglia.
After Silverchair went on indefinite hiatus in 2011, Daniel, 42, stepped away from the spotlight. But now, he’s back with a new podcast. Titled Who is Daniel Johns?, the podcast sees the singer delving into the areas of his life and career that he’s never previously discussed publicly – everything from his fiveyear marriage to Natalie, as well as the dark side of fame. In one of the early episodes, Daniel was surprisingly joined by his ex-wife, who he now considers a friend. Daniel recently admitted that he and Natalie, 46, “didn’t talk for about 10 years” after their 2008 marriage breakdown. Upon reflection, Daniel conceded that his behaviour during their five-year marriage contributed greatly to its eventual demise.
“When we were married, I was in my 20s. I was incapable of learning how to be responsible. I didn’t know how to use a phone.
I was touring all the time,” he confessed.
The physical health of the ‘Tomorrow’ singer has also been a constant topic of discussion over the years – and Daniel’s new podcast finally addresses some unspoken truths. Following the release of Silverchair’s second album, Freak Show, in 1997, Daniel now admits he became reclusive and developed an eating disorder. He described it as a way of feeling in “control” – particularly when he was subjected to bullying taunts upon returning to his Newcastle home town. “That’s eating disorder 101 … I couldn’t control anything, but I could control what I ate,” Daniel revealed. He added that he would often take three-hour long walks in the dead of night in an effort to lose weight.
At that point, Daniel recalls he’d had a falling out with his bandmates, Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou. Thankfully, they did later patch things up and release further albums.
“Everyone was going to parties and having a really f--king great time. I was so depressed and anorexic,”
‘I GAVE UP MILLIONS … AND POSSIBILITIES JUST TO BE HAPPY’
Daniel remembers.
Daniel’s mental health is another area that he’s finally willing to discuss, with the musician confirming recently that for a long time he was “a pretty fragile person” and that “therapy” undoubtedly saved his life.
“It took me years and years and years of really heavy, heavy therapy. And if I didn’t do that work, I don’t think that I would be here,” he confessed.
Daniel’s decision to quit Silverchair in 2011 at the height of the band’s fame is also addressed, with the singer even admitting that
it was a “pretty brave move”.
“I gave up millions and millions and possibilities endlessly just to be internally happy,” he said.
But when asked during another recent interview whether he’d ever consider a Silverchair reunion, Daniel’s response was pretty blunt.
“I wouldn’t even get Silverchair back together for a million dollars with a gun to my head.”