It has been over a decade since Silverchair announced their indefinite hiatus, and now, the Australian rock band finds itself in the headlines once again. This time, it’s not because of their music but due to the resurfacing feud between the band’s former members: frontman Daniel Johns, drummer Ben Gillies, and bassist Chris Joannou. The catalyst for this renewed controversy is the ABC documentary “A Silver Lining,” a two-part series that sheds light on the band’s history and their tumultuous journey.
The documentary also draws attention to the book “Love & Pain,” co-authored by Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou, adding to the intrigue surrounding the band. Given Silverchair’s immense popularity, especially since their debut single “Tomorrow” when they were just 15 years old, both the documentary and the book were destined to garner significant attention.
However, what truly captured public interest was the ABC’s decision to remove the first episode from iview, citing a “music rights issue“. According to the broadcaster, they had negotiated with Sony Music for the rights to use Silverchair’s music video clips in the program, requiring approval from all band members. While Gillies and Joannou granted approval, Daniel Johns insisted on receiving an advance copy of the book before giving his consent, a condition that ABC and “Australian Story” producers found unreasonable.
To navigate this impasse, the producers created two versions of the program: one for television with music and video clips and another for streaming with music only. However, when Sony questioned the iview version, the ABC decided to remove it, and they are currently reviewing their position. As of now, the first episode is unavailable on iview, while the second remains accessible.
Daniel Johns addressed the situation in a lengthy Instagram post, explaining that he had been approached by the producers to be interviewed for the documentary but declined, as he hadn’t been involved in the book’s creation and hadn’t received a copy. He expressed his discomfort with promoting a project he hadn’t seen. Johns had also requested to clear seven songs for iview but insisted on receiving a copy of the book for context, a request that went unfulfilled.
Of particular concern to Johns was the use of the song “Ana’s Song,” which he had written about his battle with anorexia. In the documentary, Gillies briefly discussed the song, noting that he didn’t fully understand the subject matter at the time but commended Johns for addressing such a personal topic.
While the feud continues to grab headlines, it also provides insight into the band’s breakup in 2011. Gillies and Joannou express lingering dissatisfaction with how the band concluded, feeling it deserved a more profound ending. For Johns, the decision to disband was driven by personal struggles and an existential crisis. He has openly discussed his post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis and his desire to move away from the Silverchair identity.
Despite occasional rumours of a Silverchair reunion, the likelihood appears low. Each band member has pursued different paths, and their recent interactions indicate a lack of interest in reuniting. While fans may hope for a return, it seems that this chapter of Silverchair’s history has come to a definitive close.
