Darren Hayes |
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[On the picture - Darren Hayes: I can refuse sex.] It's not often that members of once-famous bands can go solo and have an equally successful career. Particularly if you're not American. Darren Hayes is one of those who lucked out. The charismatic guy – with a tender voice, a sexy appearance, and a workaholic to boot – left 'Savage Garden' at the peak of its popularity. His solo debut, 'Spin,' with brilliant songs such as 'Insatiable' and 'Strange Relationship' immediately went to the top of the charts. The world started talking about a rising popstar. They met in 1992. Daniel Jones, who was in a band 'Red Edge' with his brothers, needed a singer, and he placed an ad in the papers. This ad was replied by Darren. Out of 20 singers who came to audition, only Darren got the invitation to join the band. Soon they started working together. "We were both very ambitious," admits Darren, "and we became close because we were both full of energy and a belief that everything happens for a reason. Besides, we liked the same music." The band played covers in bars and pubs for two years, but when Oliver left, Darren and Daniel struck out on their own. They wrote songs based on the works of their idols from the '80's. Then they made about 150 demo tapes containing 5 tracks and sent them out to record companies and managers. They received only 2 replies, both from John Woodruff, who immediately flew out to Brisbane to invite them into his company JMW and his publishing firm "Rough Cut." When in 1995 Woodruff tried making major record companies sign the guys, he was rejected, so he mortgaged his own house to finance the registration and making of the debut album. The guys worked together in Sydney with producer Charles Fisher for almost 8 months, recording their first album, called "Savage Garden." The first single, 'I Want You,' was released 1 July 1996, and very quickly became platinum. In Australia, it gained an ARIA award only 2 weeks after entering the charts. Hits such as 'To The Moon And Back' (that hit #1 spot and sold over 135,000 copies) and 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' (which stayed at #1 for over 8 weeks) followed. At the annual Australian ARIA awards, the band was nominated for 13 categories and received 10 awards. This was followed by a world-wide tour and work on the 2nd album. Darren and Daniel mostly conversed over the phone and the internet. Homebody Daniel did not want to leave Australia. They only met in the studio of Walter Afanasieff, a megaproducer working with mega-superstars. After the 2nd album was recorded, the relationship within the duo turned for the worse. Daniel did not enjoy touring or giving interviews, while Darren basked in the limelight. Nevertheless, they went on another world-tour, sang with Pavarotti, and performed at the closing ceremony of the Olympics. At the end of the tour, they decided to part ways and devote time to solo projects. And a few months later, an official statement from Darren was published, declaring the break-up of the band. "I came to the conclusion that there never would have been a third album, our musical tastes and views changed too much." After the breakup, Darren moved to San Francisco ("I love this city, it reminds me a bit of Sydney") and began work on his solo album. The album is done in record time and tops the English charts. For Darren, music is love, passion, and meaning of life. He confessed once that if he were offered to refuse music or sex, he would have refused sex. "I want my music to bring a few minutes of peace and quiet into this crazy world. Yet I do admit that my music and I are sexy. I want my music to make people dance." Darren is calm about his popularity. "I do not consider myself that famous. I'm far from real fame." Darren is being coy. He is that famous. Though it seems that he is having problems with his private life. Darren doesn't let it upset him, "I've earned too much money, I have a fantastic life. I would like to have a puppy… or a baby… or a goldfish, to start with. I need someone at home to take care of." Caption over the Darren and Leo pic: Darren with his faithful manager, Leonie Messer, who stayed with Hayes when SG broke up. 2nd page, on the left: Info- Born: May 8, 1972 in Brisbane, Australia Residence: San Francisco Likes: anything with chocolate (for breakfast, for example, oatmeal with fresh berries and chocolate yoghurt), pale-blue color, his house, Hawaii (it is the most fun place in the world), U2, Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna. Favourite song: own – "Good Enough," non-own: 'With or Without You' by U2. Recently, has been listening to a variety of musicians from the Basement Jaxx, The Spiritualized, Aimee Mann, Natalie Imbruglia. Hobbies: yoga, cooking, traveling Marital status: married to Colby Taylor but they do not live together. 2nd page, on the right. Darren ON: Literature: "I started reading 'Lord of the Rings,' because I liked the movie so much but after 10 pages I realized that it would take a long time. It's different with magazines. I buy them by the dozen at airports and read them during the flight. Sometimes, it's very entertaining." Movies: "I love all movies that I saw when I was a kid. I adore Hitchcock, 'Star Wars,' the Indiana Jones movies. My favourite movie is 'Rear Window' by Hitchcock. I also like movies connected with San Francisco. Once when I was in New York, I saw Natalie Portman crossing the street out of my window. I almost yelled out, "Natalie, I love you," but contained myself just in time to realize what a fool I would have made out of myself." Computers: "I use email a lot but I totally can't deal with technology. I keep buying new laptops. I buy one and it explodes. I buy a new one and it doesn't work because the battery's dead." ON Darren: "Darren Hayes is a very friendly, sincere, sentimental man. Maybe that is the reason why he is so loved in Russia. He has a beautiful voice and an intelligent way of performing. Well-dressed respectable women attend his concerts, and sing along in good English. That says a lot." – Alexander Anatolievich, producer and VJ of News-Block, MTV-Russia. |
