Daniel Johns

Birthday: 22 April 1979, Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Birth Name: Daniel Paul Johns

Height: 179 cm

Daniel Johns is one of the most influential performing artists Australia has ever known, capturing the voice of the youth of Australia, and often, the youth of the world. First performing under the name 'Innocent Criminals', Johns and his band mates shot to fame after winning several competitions, which guaranteed them a record contract. He chose to call his band Silverchair as a form of a living tribute to two of his biggest musical influences, Nirvana (Silver is a spin on their world wide hit 'Sliver') and You am I ('Berlin Chair'). Their debut e.p., 'Tomorrow', was a huge hit in Australia when released in 1995, going double platinum and being the ninth best selling song of the year. When their debut album 'Frogstomp' was released, no one was surprised when it was a huge seller, going platinum in America, 4 x platinum in Australia and selling close to a million copies. Their next album 'Freakshow' was a commercial let-down as Johns sunk into teenage angst and lament, perfectly harmonising about the struggles he faced. Troubles which are many - depression, anorexia and arthritis are all things he has suffered from in the past, and in 1999 he was stalked by a fan. Johns escaped in his music, capturing his struggles through such ballads as 'Cemetery', 'Miss you love', 'Ana's song' and 'Abuse me'. Currently, it appears the worst is behind Johns who is back on top with his new album, Diorama. Unfortunately, due to his arthritis, he has been unable to tour the album, but an incredible performance at the 2002 Aria's boosted sales, and the album has sold close to 500, 000 copies - Diorama is the album critics call "Silverchair's best work yet." Throughout his troubles, he has been lovingly nursed by his girlfriend, singer Natalie Imbruglia. Johns claims he has put his teen angst and woes behind him, and with a great album like 'Diorama' one has to take his word for it. Selling 6 million albums world wide, Johns is the voice of the youth in Australia, and a hero to millions throughout the world. Hide

There are no big groupie fans or anything. There are no big groupie fans or anything.

I get very anxious and am scared in crowds and things like that. I get very anxious and am scared in crowds and things like that.

I have a theory because I was being beaten up a lot by people outside of school, it was almost like Show more I have a theory because I was being beaten up a lot by people outside of school, it was almost like if I could make myself sick enough they'd take sympathy on me. Hide

We were really motivated to do something with this record overseas, even though I hate touring. We were really motivated to do something with this record overseas, even though I hate touring.

With our first two records we backed ourselves into a hole musically. With our first two records we backed ourselves into a hole musically.

I love life, it's the best thing in the whole world. I love life, it's the best thing in the whole world.

It just makes everything more pleasurable when you've got someone that emotionally is there to rely Show more It just makes everything more pleasurable when you've got someone that emotionally is there to rely on. Hide

None of us are really dumb and none of us are really smart. We're in the middle. None of us are really dumb and none of us are really smart. We're in the middle.

I think I definitely got scared by the second or third time a doctor told me I was dying. I think I definitely got scared by the second or third time a doctor told me I was dying.

I am very scared of being outside my home for long periods of time. I am very scared of being outside my home for long periods of time.

We met The Cult and were talking to them for a while. We went a few places with Offspring. We met The Cult and were talking to them for a while. We went a few places with Offspring.

I start sweating and shaking and having panic attacks if I am not at home. I start sweating and shaking and having panic attacks if I am not at home.

Reactive arthritis is something I've been dealing with for nearly a year. Reactive arthritis is something I've been dealing with for nearly a year.

Basically, the reason I'm vegan is because when I was about 16 or 17 years old, I began to understan Show more Basically, the reason I'm vegan is because when I was about 16 or 17 years old, I began to understand that we don't need to contribute to the killing and exploitation of animals to feed our bodies correctly. Hide

I'm lucky the arthritis happened at the time that it did because of the record. I'm lucky the arthritis happened at the time that it did because of the record.

We never considered ourselves to be a good band or anything, we just thought we were playing for fun Show more We never considered ourselves to be a good band or anything, we just thought we were playing for fun and we wanted to play music that sounded like Black Sabbath or Soundgarden or the music we were into at that time. Hide

There was three or four years of my life where I hated myself and you know, would have quite happily Show more There was three or four years of my life where I hated myself and you know, would have quite happily ended it. Hide

We were perceived as a post-grunge band. We were perceived as a post-grunge band.

Kinda when I stopped eating was on our second album, just as it felt like everything was so out of c Show more Kinda when I stopped eating was on our second album, just as it felt like everything was so out of control. Hide

So I went and visited a doctor and he diagnosed me with reactive arthritis. So I went and visited a doctor and he diagnosed me with reactive arthritis.

The touring for this album was definitely going to be the most intense touring we've done. The touring for this album was definitely going to be the most intense touring we've done.

(On Silverchair's stunning new album, Diorama) "No matter what people have got going on in their liv Show more (On Silverchair's stunning new album, Diorama) "No matter what people have got going on in their lives, hopefully when they play this album it will make them forget about everyday stuff. When music does that it's magical and, for me, that's what "Diorama" is about." Hide

I have never had a social life, don't ever want one because it's boring. I'm just not very good with Show more I have never had a social life, don't ever want one because it's boring. I'm just not very good with people, and you meet people every night who expect you to be this rock star with these developed social skills, which I don't have. Hide

I had to try and find a way to express happiness without sounding corny. I had to try and find a way to express happiness without sounding corny.

I'm always active in trying to educate people when it comes to eating animal products, testing on an Show more I'm always active in trying to educate people when it comes to eating animal products, testing on animals, and the health benefits of being vegan, although I'm probably not the best person to be talking about the latter at the moment. Hide

When we first began and I was 14, my influences were the stuff that was in my parent's record collec Show more When we first began and I was 14, my influences were the stuff that was in my parent's record collection like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. Hide

There's an inherent thing in me where, if things are going too smooth, I'll sabotage the hell out of Show more There's an inherent thing in me where, if things are going too smooth, I'll sabotage the hell out of them, just to make the music more of a sanctuary. Hide

I know if I don't tour people will forget the record and you run a high risk of the record failing. I know if I don't tour people will forget the record and you run a high risk of the record failing.

Though, since the first record, I've dramatically changed my expectations for our records. Though, since the first record, I've dramatically changed my expectations for our records.

I wrote... Neon Ballroom in that time where I hated music, really everything about it, I hated it. I wrote... Neon Ballroom in that time where I hated music, really everything about it, I hated it.

Touring doesn't kill me and I can handle it. Touring doesn't kill me and I can handle it.

I am doing everything humanly possible to try and get well, but lately things have just kept getting Show more I am doing everything humanly possible to try and get well, but lately things have just kept getting worse. Hide

I have not really experienced any significant conflict with anyone in regard to my choice to be vega Show more I have not really experienced any significant conflict with anyone in regard to my choice to be vegan, although going out to eat is hard sometimes. Hide

It makes it hard to get over a certain period of your life when you are constantly revisiting it eve Show more It makes it hard to get over a certain period of your life when you are constantly revisiting it every night. Hide

I try to stay positive by focusing on how much I'll appreciate my health if I get better. I try to stay positive by focusing on how much I'll appreciate my health if I get better.

I never really paid attention to sales until the second record. I never really paid attention to sales until the second record.

Daniel Johns's FILMOGRAPHY

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