Daniel Johns Daniel Paul Johns (born 22 April 1979) is an Australian vocalist, composer, guitarist, and pianist, best known as frontman of the rock band Silverchair. He is also part of The Dissociatives. In 2007, he was ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone's list of The Twenty-Five Most Underrated Guitarists.
Johns moved out of his family home when he was 18. He has two younger siblings, brother Heath and sister Chelsea. In mid to late 1997, during the Freak Show tour, Johns began to show the physical signs of his internal struggle with fame and clinical depression. He appeared thinner and thinner, and on advice from his therapist, moved out of the family home into a unit to try to take a break and recover from the stress of touring. However, for the first half of 1998, he spent little time outside the house, and became more and more withdrawn with his imposed seclusion having the opposite effect as was intended. When the band's next album, Neon Ballroom, was released in early 1999, it was obvious to the public and the press that Johns was dangerously thin. After rumors that he was suffering from a drug addiction, Johns decided to clear the air and gave an interview with Rolling Stone Australia to finally explain that he had developed anorexia nervosa.[6] At his thinnest, Johns claims that he weighed less than 50 kilos, or 110 pounds. With Neon Ballroom came the single "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" about Johns' battle and inner feelings struggling with the condition. Further confirmation came in 2004, when Johns spoke at length to ABC interviewer Andrew Denton and revealed that at one point he had considered suicide. By 2002, Johns appeared to have recovered from his internal trauma, However, just as his album was due for release Johns was struck down by a severe and rare case of reactive arthritis. His joints became inflamed and locked up, with any movement being painful, so that he could no longer play guitar or do everyday things. He spent most of 2002 unable to perform. It was feared that he may not be able to perform for years, if at all, as the disease takes many months to recover from, and sometimes returns after many years. Still unable to play for extended periods, he performed again in October 2002 at the ARIA awards ceremony. His recovery proceeded apace, allowing Silverchair to perform an extended Australian, European and North American concert tour. In July 2007, Johns unwittingly created a scandal after he claimed, on national youth station Triple J, that he had shared a joint with his then-wife Natalie Imbruglia, Australian Federal MP and ex Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and Bono of U2 in November 2006, while listening to a demo tape of Silverchair's new album Young Modern. Anna Wood's father Tony Wood suggested that Garrett submit to a drug test, despite Garrett's assertions that he had not touched marijuana since his 20s and Johns countering the claim by claiming it was a joke. He also said that he thought it would be obvious that it was, seeing as both Peter Garret and Bono were publicly against drugs. Johns once dated singer Fiona Apple. He announced his engagement to long-time girlfriend, actress, singer and model Natalie Imbruglia in late 2002, and they married on New Year's Eve 2003. However, on 4 January 2008 it was announced they were divorcing, stating, "We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together." His profound love for animals motivated his becoming a vegan when he was younger. He is currently a vegetarian.
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