May 2003

Chat With Darren
Posted By lssilver on Saturday, May 31 2003 at 4:46 PM

Members of the D-Zine will have the chance to chat with Darren when he chats in the next 24 hours. For more details on this chat go to http://www.darrenhayesmusic.com

Split Personalities
Posted By lssilver on Monday, May 26 2003 at 5:05 PM

Daniel Jones says Savage Garden's break-up was temporary, Christine Sams reports.

If Daniel Jones is to be believed, Savage Garden were never meant to split up. The band, formed by Jones and singer Darren Hayes, was dismantled at the height of its fame two years ago, despite millions of sales in the US and adulation from fans across the world.

For the most part, it seemed like a case of split personalities: Jones, the quiet songwriter, wasn't interested in the three-ring circus of celebrity. Hayes, the outgoing frontman, was keen to remain in the spotlight.

Both men decided to go their separate ways, with Hayes staying in the US and Jones returning to Brisbane to concentrate on writing songs and producing albums for younger Australian artists.

But perhaps the split wasn't as clean-cut as we first thought. Jones has revealed that the break-up felt like "a train wreck" - messy, painful and unexpected.

"One particular journalist jumped on a small, passing comment from Darren [Hayes]," Jones said. "The press jumped all over it, and [the band] was put to rest without either of us actually agreeing what we were doing.

"It was definitely obvious Darren and I were going to part ways temporarily, that we were pursuing projects individually. We were saying . . . 'Yeah, you have your attempt at a solo career, and I'll try some producing and writing, and we'll see how it goes.'

"But that was literally how we left it, until it was all taken out of context, and suddenly we were broken up. It was a bit of a mess really."

There's no doubt Jones is very content living in Brisbane, away from the spotlight in the US and well removed from the media attention that surrounds multimillion-dollar-making artists.

Even in Brisbane Jones is regularly approached by fans, but he claims the biggest bonus of his world fame is the "odd discount at the bakery".

Of course he's joking, but his passion for his local neighbourhood underpins his decision to turn his back on the Savage Garden phenomenon, after achieving an extraordinary level of fame in Australia and overseas.

The band's achievements in the US cannot be underestimated. The song I Knew I Loved You has been in the Billboard charts for 144 weeks. They have sold more than 19 million copies of their albums - Savage Garden and Affirmation - worldwide.

Last week, Jones accepted the APRA award for most performed work overseas, for the sixth year in a row.

But even though he only speaks to Hayes on the phone now and again (they also email each other), Jones was keen to defend his band mate from the presumption that Hayes was hungry for fame and Jones wasn't.

"To a certain degree, it is untrue," Jones said. "It tended to be a bit of a mood thing for Darren.

"Some days he would jump in headfirst without looking, the next day he was shying away from it all.

"So I think Darren had it there when it suited him, like I did. We just used slightly different ways to deal with it all.

"Ninety-five per cent of successful people will tell you it's determination that gets them there, and that was something that both Darren and I had in common, to the nth degree."

Jones hasn't ruled out the possibility of the band reuniting, but it would most likely be in about two years.

"It's totally possible, it's hard to say," Jones said.

"I'd never say never. Perhaps I wouldn't have actually confirmed a definite split or break-up. I believe that when two people have some form of connection, they should nurture it the best way they can, in the circumstances that are given to them."

But no matter what happens between the two men, Jones remains intensely proud of the band's achievements.

"I think Savage Garden will be a huge chapter of both of our lives forever," he said. "Funnily enough, I think the songs are more famous than Darren and I are, or Savage Garden is.

"The songs have had longevity and they just keep hanging around. It's a great thing to be famous for what it is you do, rather than who you are."

Source: www.smh.com.au

Savage Garden Reunion Rejected
Posted By lssilver on Sunday, May 25 2003 at 5:11 PM

This article came from this morning's (Sunday 25.05.03) "The Sunday Mail" by Ritchie Yorke.

Hopes of a comeback by Queensland's phenomenally successful pop duo Savage Garden have been dashed...for the time being.

Rumours swept southern states this week that lead singer Darren Hayes and guitarist Daniel Jones were getting back together.

But yesterday Jones broke fans' hearts, saying no reunion was planned.

"I'd like to think that Darren and I were able to write some fairly good tunes together," he said from his studio in Brisbane.

"One day I would hope that we will get back and write some more.

"But there are no plans to do that for now.

"I'm really concerned with building this new creative sanctuary where I can do my future music projects and work with other artists. I said at the APRA awards that one day we may well get back together. We had an amazing song writing connection.

"Both of us may wish to renew that some day down the track. It's not out of the question. But definitely not now.

John Woodruff, the recording artists manager who discovered and signed Savage Garden in Brisbane, told the Sunday Mail the rumours started at the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) awards in Sydney on Monday night.

"Daniel was there to pick up Savage Garden's sixxth APRA award for the most performed work overseas, I knew I loved you," Mr Woodruff said.

"He was asked by reporters if he'd patched up his disagreement with Darren, and if they might ever work together again. You never say never, so Daniel said they had been talking and that they probably would work together again - some day.

Savage Garden were together for five years, recorded two hugely successful albums and sold more than 20 million CD's worldwide.

Although Hayes's solo debut, Spin, did not set US charts on fire the way Savage Garden's albums had done, it was a baig success in Britain (where it sold more than 500000 copies), Europe and South East Asia.

"Darren Hayes is one of only three Australian artists - the others being Kylie Minogue and AC/DC - who were able to sell a million albums internationally last year," Mr Woodruff said.

"All the hype about the Vines, the Datsuns and other new Oz bands...it's interesting that none of them is selling a million records.

"There's no doubt that Darren is most keen to continue travelling along that solo career path. Daniel, meanwhile, is busy producing his acts and building a house on the Gold Coast.

A source close to their record company told The Sunday Mail that both musicians would still be receiving twice yearly royalty cheques of seven figure amounts.

It is some indication of Savage Garden's success that a song released more than three years ago (I knew I loved you) is still receiving more global airplay that any Oz record that came out in the past 12 months - including Kylie's efforts.

Source: Sony BBS (Posted by Pnut)

Darren On New Take 40 DVD
Posted By Lowy on Saturday, May 24 2003 at 3:56 PM

Darren's "Strange Relationship" video features on a new Take 40 Cd/DVD set.

Savage Garden to Reunite?
Posted By lssilver on Thursday, May 22 2003 at 2:36 PM

If you thought Savage Garden had retired to the pop-music past, it may be time to think again.

Daniel Jones and Darren Hayes could reunite. The band's founder, guitarist Daniel Jones, reckons it's only a matter of time before he and frontman Darren Hayes reunite.

While there's nothing concrete about the revelation, Jones says the bond between he and Hayes will one day be reconnected.

It's been almost two years since the band split after five years together and two successful albums that sold 20 million copies worldwide.

Jones said he and Hayes "communicate a little bit" and said the pair's bond, which began nearly 10 years ago, would never be erased.

"He and I have an amazing, wonderful relationship in the sense that it's a connection that neither of us can quite put our finger on it," he said.

"We both know it's there and I'm sure we'll both experiment with it again down the track, it's just a matter of time and what to do next."

Source: News.com.au

Until we hear something Official from Darren and Daniel or their record companies (Sony and Roadshow) just take this article with a grain of salt.

Thanks to Adam for sending this in :)

Collector's Guide Updates :)
Posted By lssilver on Wednesday, May 21 2003 at 12:02 PM

May 21, 2003
- Added new content to the SG Rarities.
- Added some new remixes to the SG Remixes section
- Updated B-Sides, Bonus Tracks and Cover Songs.

Visit the Collector's Guide

APRA Award for Savage Garden
Posted By lssilver on Tuesday, May 20 2003 at 6:02 PM

Savage Garden won the APRA award for Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for I Knew I Loved You. The song left the Billboard Adult Contemporary Recurrents Chart this week after a run of 182 weeks on various Billboard charts (since 1999).

Unfortunately Darren did not win the award for Most Performed Australian Work. This award was won by Kasey Chambers for her song Not Pretty Enough.

European Crush Singles
Posted By lssilver on Friday, May 16 2003 at 9:40 AM

Europe : 673662 1 : CD Single
1. Crush (1980 Me)
2. Crush (1980 Me) (mayday Mix)

Europe : 673662 2 : CD Extra Maxi SINGLE
1. Crush (1980 Me)
2. Crush (1980 Me) (crush On Holiday Mix)
3. I Miss You (dallas Austin Remix)
4. Crush (1980 Me) (mayday Mix)
5. Crush (1980 Me) (video Version)

Crush is currently #55 on the Swedish charts.

Happy Birthday Darren :)
Posted By lssilver on Thursday, May 8 2003 at 8:17 AM

On behalf of all Darren's fans I would like to wish him a Happy 31st Birthday

Darren On New TOTP CD
Posted By Lowy on Saturday, May 3 2003 at 4:01 PM

Darren's "Crush(1980Me)" features on disc 1 of the new TOTP compilation CD.