B105 "Hour Of Power" Interview transcript
Brisbane, Australia
September 6, 2002

Robin Bailey: Darren….welcome home!…..

Darren: It's good to be home!

Robin: ….except you were just telling me you've actually been home a number of times but you've kind of snuck in and out and we haven't been aware of it.

Darren: Well….Yeah…This has been my 4th trip this year back to Australia so it doesn't really feel to me that I've ever gone away. But yeah, a lot of the times when I'm home I'll hang out with my family. I'm pretty lucky.

Robin: So….lets talk about all your solo stuff. Cos…last time I spoke to you, you were just sort of embarking on that and the album had just come out….

Darren: That's right…I have to tell you…it's actually been the hardest I've ever worked…but it's been the most rewarding. I'm pretty happy right now.

Robin: You've got the album out and you're just about to do your first solo tour.

Darren: Yeah, I'm lucky enough to have begun the tour in Australia…which, this is the 3rd time now, I mean both SG tours, we did the same things where we managed to wrangle our way into Brisbane for 3 weeks to do production rehearsals…so I've done the same thing with my solo tour….cos basically, when I leave Australia with this tour, I'll be touring until the end of the year all over the world….UK, Europe, Asia, Japan, Latin America…so um, I think the last show I do is in Mexico City in December.

Robin: Now that sounds oh so glamorous!

Darren: Well…it's not….(laughs) it's a lot of hard work, but it's great! I mean, I think for me….I've spent the last year just talking about myself and I think I'm excited about the tour because I can just get on stage and just do what I've been employed to do which is just sing and write songs….so, I think, the touring part of it…you know, you probably can't hear it on the radio, but I have so much more chilled. Because at the moment, it's my world, just me, my band, my music and that's the thing I really love to do.

Robin: How different will the concert experience be with you as a solo artist compared to with SG?

Darren: It'll be different. I think, musically…obviously I'm gonna sing some SG songs…I'd be hung and quartered if I didn't do that. I love those songs too….it's me..it's part of my history, but its…..this tour itself is theatres all over the world. I'm playing 3,500-4000 seaters all over the world and ..it's intentional because I wanted to get the focus back on music….you know…off my hair colour…back onto some music and what it is that I do. And there isn't a lot of pyrotechnics or, you know…or many distractions on stage. I'm still working with the same show designers that I've always worked with, the U2 crew…so it's gonna look beautiful, but the focus is just me and the seven piece band and it's pretty raw. There is not a lot of gimmickry up there. I think I needed to do that… I needed to really connect with an audience…that is why its called TCFC because I wanted to be in people faces and I really want them to feel confronted and visa versa….it's a tightrope….

Robin: So we are not gonna see the 15 costume changes like Kylie just had on her tour?

Darren: Oh God no…no….I've seen her show a couple of times and I love it and god bless her, but I think I am moving so far away from that kind of presentation in my life right now. I mean…I've been there. I really feel like I've been there. I think the Affirmation world tour...that was as big and poppy and bright and bubbly as I could have imagined ever being, but right now I'm in a different point in my life. I might get back there in a few years time, but right now that doesn't really interest me.

Plays Strange Relationship live and Break Me Shake Me

Robin: So, lets talk about your solo stuff…cos it is a different sound…it's not that same sort of "poppy" stuff, it seems to be far more intensely personal…

Darren: Well…it's um…you know, it is personal because it is a solo record, but its funny because it's still kind of fun….it's weird….it's sexy, which people hadn't really expected from me, I guess. It's funky…um, it's weird because for me it is just one record, I look at my career and think I've made 3 records and this one is as different as the last one as the first one…it's just called something else..but, who knows?? The next time I do a record it could just be guitars, it could be acoustic… I think the one familiar element is fact that it's my voice and I'm romantic. They are the two qualities that continue throughout whatever it is that I do.

Robin: Now, you've managed to successfully stay out of the press in terms of your love life…

Darren: (laughs and says) yeah.

Robin: We've never seen you photographed with anyone?

Darren: Ah ha.

Robin: We know that you were married and we know that your ex-wife is here (Brisbane), but we've never seen anything else….

Darren: Mmmm..hmmm.

Robin: Now….How come???

Darren: Because I don't ever want to talk about it….(laughs..)

Robin: (laughs…very loudly!)

Darren: I think it's pretty simple. I think I knew..and thank god I knew, from the very, very beginning. Look, I'm a kid from Brisbane and all of a sudden…I had one day when I was at the Loganholme shopping centre…what do you call that again.??..The Hyperdome….yeah, and it was just before we got a record deal, and I remember thinking "if this works, I'm never gonna be able to do this again". And it's true to certain degree, your life becomes everybody else's property. And I think I made a decision before we ever became famous that I wasn't going to share my private life too much. I mean, I do in my music, I do on stage….I give you 150% on stage and in my lyrics and in my music, there is more than you can imagine…but, yeah..I mean, I never ever talked about being married…

Robin: Yeah…

Darren: I mean, it was written about, but I never spoke about her…..I never… for me, my family, my relatives…they are never photographed because that stuff to me is precious. You know…I give so much of me on stage and in the music...that that stuff is mine.

Robin: But do you understand that we listen to some of your songs…the curiosity just about kills us…..!!

Darren: Well, that's good….and look, hey…it kills me too. Just know that a lot of the time I'm….you know, a lot of my songs…they are overly romantic because I'm a dreamer. Songs like 'I knew I loved you' or even 'Insatiable'….I wasn't in relationships when I wrote those songs, but I wanted to be. And I'm like anyone else. I go to the movies because I want to be swept away in a couple of hours of drama. I write songs because...ultimately they are my imaginings.. they're my dreams. Sometimes they come true. Sometimes I write a song then I do find myself falling in love and it feels just like that experience, but in general…it's all good and it's all mine.

Robin: Well answered for not giving us any information…..thank you. (they both laugh)

Darren: Thank you!

Plays "Crush - Holiday mix" and Affirmation

Robin: Let's talk about some of the rumours….

Darren: Yeah… oh…let's get to the list…c'mon….

Robin: Yeah… there is a really big list! The first one is that somehow, through the record company that you'd been downgraded?

Darren: OK…now first of all. They are all not true.

Robin: OK.

Darren: They are all SOO untrue that I'm at the point….actually, I said to my manager the other day that I want to start suing. Literally, I want to actually go to court…I want to have litigation. I want be whatever you know….

Robin: Well. It works for Brad Pitt….

Darren: There you go! Because it is so untrue!

Robin: We don't even know what that means….you know, we don't know what down grading a megastar is?

Darren: Does anybody!!! Because it's made up! I mean, what does that mean.?? Basically, the way it was written…it was written that I'd been dropped from my record label in America…which was obviously completely untrue…but you know….go down the list…

Robin: OK, that was the first one. Second one is …your hair colour….I swear there has never been male rock star who has had such controversy about what his god damn hair is….

Darren: Right….Exactly! Anyone whoever went to school with me… this is my hair colour. Touch it..please touch it.

Robin: It's real…and its blonde…

Darren: It's real and it's blonde-ish….and that's what grew out of my head, and you know what, I probably looked better with black hair….who cares! It came out of a bottle….it's not changing (Robin is giggling). Contrary to popular belief, the record company actually loved it blonde. In America they thought I was going to be like Heath Ledger or Brad Pitt… and whatever. So many times have I wanted to cut it off or change the colour and everyone said "hey…this is what you look like on your album cover..this is what you look like in your videos. You look great. Blah..blah..blah". Never has anyone ever asked me to change my hair. Never has it been an opinion about my record sales…and I can't believe I'm still talking about it….(out of breath)

Robin: OK..OK…fair enough. Enough.. enough. Next one is that you are not doing well in the States?

Darren: Well…the only thing that may be remotely true. You know what, unfortunately, Insatiable only went to about number 21…you know…

Robin: Most people would LOVE that….

Darren: Right….so my point is that….. name one other Australian artist that is succeeding outside Australia apart from me and Kylie (Minogue). Cos I think my crime is that I am number 2 right now internationally….instead of number 1 unfortunately..and I do apologise for that, but its like you know …give me a break… Who else had a single that went to 21 in the US?

Robin: Well…no one!

Darren: My record…my album debuted in the top 20. And yeah, it is a struggle at the moment for anybody making pop music cos it's either Ja rule(not sure how to spell this, sorry) or it's Lincoln Park, so um…convict me…shackle me…throw me in prison….(both laughing) but yes, that is true. Everywhere else….

Robin: And we like the fact that you don't care…

Darren: I don't care! Look…I mean…I live there, I've had 2 number 1 singles in America. I've made enough money. It's not about, you know being the biggest and the best in the world. Do I want to have another no. 1 hit in America? Of course!! But I mean, I'm going to be continuing this career until I'm 100, so for me it's "whatever".

Robin: Does it hurt?

Darren: Um..it did. It did….for a couple of weeks there I was really pissed off about it. I remember just thinking…you know… "why me" but you get over that… then it's like…you think if Madonna gave up every time someone gave her a bad review, she wouldn't still be here. Um and the reality is, you that I haven't even had bad reviews on the record or anything and people genuinely like the record. I genuinely think it is one of the best records I've ever done in my career. However, I've become a solo artist and the attention is much more personal… the attention is much more critical and I obviously have something to prove right now…so I just have to bite my tongue and soldier on and get through it.

Plays "Insatiable" live and "I want you"

Robin: Donatella Versace….we saw a great photo of you with her…yes… the next rumour is that you've moved up in the world and you new best friends are Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna…ha! ha!

Darren: Oh…ppplllease!! I mean….even if I was, wouldn't that be a good thing?? I mean..my God…how fun is it?!?! It's hilarious! I got flown over to Italy, and dressed head to toe a couple of times and sat in the front row…

Robin: Did you get to keep the clothes??

Darren: Oh yeah… you get to keep the clothes.

Robin: How cool is that?

Darren: Yeah…can you believe that???… and you get sat in the front row and gorgeous young things walk down a parade with nothing on and you just talk about how fabulous fashion is and you don't really mean it…

Robin: (laughing hysterically)

Darren: And then..you leave…and your picture gets printed in the paper and you get to look like your friends with Gwyneth….its great!

Robin: (still laughing) and that's about the extent of it?

Darren: That's about the extent of it.

Robin: And the final one…you know it's coming…..Daniel…are you going to get in contact with him while you are here?

Darren: I've been in contact with Daniel. His band Aneiki is supporting me on the tour. That's why…I did a TV interview this week on a music TV station (Jabba's Morning Glory) and I wore 5 different t-shirts and each one of them basically addressed these urban myths about me and one of them was "yeah..I do speak to Daniel occasionally"

Robin: Seeing him..doing the whole thing….no animosity? Life is good??

Darren: Have been….do talk to him….Is coming on tour…It's all fine! You know…I think, in retrospect, we should have had a press conference together. We should have had a press conference and said "we are breaking up because he (Daniel) doesn't want to do it anymore and I really do." Umm… that's not the way it was handled. It was a huge mess and whatever and I have spent the last year of my life defending accusations about that….

Robin: What do you mean last year...ha! ha!

Darren: Well 2 years then…it's just been….whatever!

Plays "All around me" and "I knew I loved you"

Robin: So your future…what are we going to see from you. Obviously more solo stuff…

Darren: More gossip….ummm….

Robin: No…I'm finished with the gossip, but you can give me some more if you like?

Darren: My future???…..Just onwards. Not necessarily upwards, but onwards. I cannot tell you how much I'm loving singing right now. I think that I'm singing better than I ever have…I really do. I feel like…ummm, I've just fallen in love with the guitar. I've been playing guitar a lot and ummm You know…I'm not good enough at it right now other than to be Elvis or Bono on stage, but I tell you, it's really gonna shape the way I write songs…the way that I hear music…..I'm going to tour until the end of this year and then probably go back into the studio next year and make another record and just keep doing it…

Robin: So the people in Brisbane can see you around the place doing your thing and just being who you are?

Darren: Yeah, I guess so. I think for me, some of my idols were always people like Michael Hutchence from INXS and Bono, even someone like Kylie…who basically just endure… people who just continue on and do their thing and that is my goal. I have a lot of really amazing fans, really loyal fans…you know…if I had a dollar for every time I got stopped in the street when I'm home by somebody that just says "hey..I love what you do and continue on and who cares about this or that. Or I got married to your song or blah..blah..blah.." I would be even richer….I mean people….

Robin: (Laughs)

Darren: People are beautiful to me and I don't forget that. It's um….that's who I perform for!

Robin: You know, we've occasionally done the things (on the radio) like Darren's home…do some Darren spotting, have you seen him around the place. We'll get calls from people who have served you buying jeans…or you know, ringing to tell us exactly what like..or here we go, I'm not sure if this is true…

Darren: Right?…

Robin: But…apparently, you have to have a Starbucks coffee every day and that coffee consists of…wait for it….a Soy Latte with Vanilla….

Darren: Laughs…yeah, well sadly, someone found out what my favourite coffee beverage is I mean…, once again, lock me up for that…I don't know what I was thinking….

Robin: No…no..no…You know, but I mean it's more that they're…it's the excitement of the fact that "hey..he comes into Starbucks everyday and this is the coffee he orders…and I spoke to him and it's really cool" type thing.

Darren: Yeah….I understand star spotting. I mean, look I've been to parties before and been like "Oh my God, look who that is"…I've never lost that and I love that people are like that and I'm always really cool with people that are genuinely enthusiastic to see you and…

Robin: Have you ever had any nasty celebrity experiences??

Darren: Ahhh..you know, I really haven't. It's funny , sometimes …you know…I won't name names here, because it's only happened a few times, but sometimes you meet somebody that..I guess they presume that you'll have a chip on your shoulder, so they'll dismiss you and that always surprises me. I met somebody recently…and…

Robin: Oh…c'mon, Ronan Keating told us that Mariah Carey is the worst person ever!

Darren: Really?? No…I've never really met anyone like that…but I've heard stories, but for me…like I was backstage at the Kylie show in Sydney and you know, some of the people…like Olivia Newton-John for example….she is ADORABLE! She is…there is a reason that someone like her has stuck around…it's because she is a decent human being! And they're the people who never have an attitude. It's people that are kind of up and coming, that will come up to you and they'll have a tood (attitude) because they'll think that…umm…I don't know….I don't know what their problem is…but, I just laugh about it.

Robin: Well, you are looking fantastic…you're very relaxed. You seem as you were… whenever I've interviewed you in the past

Darren: Yeah…I feel good. Thanks.

Robin: No thank you!

Darren: No…It's a pleasure.

Robin: There you go…..he's such a nice bloke, make sure you go see him in concert this Saturday.

Played Chained to You

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