Statements from Darren, Daniel and Leonie
HOMEHey everybody...
I hope you're doing ok considering the mass
confusion and news that has been dropped today
regarding the break up of Savage Garden.
I just wanted to say that obviously this
interview was released a lot earlier than I or
anyone had anticipated and of course we were
planning to release a press release and break it
to you, the fans..before anyone else.
I've been in the u.s shooting the video for
What's Goin' On and doing advance press for my
solo album.
As part of that I did an interview yesterday with
an Australian Journalist Cameron Adams and
answered truthfully to the question "has savage
garden broken up"
Contrary to what you may have heard, although
Daniel or myself didn't expect this news story to
break TODAY... we did know for a very long time
that the future of the band was in question.
After speaking to Daniel today I have learned
that while we were sleeping in the u.s, the
journalist I spoke to was emailing Australia with
my comments...and consequently confronting Daniel
about it practically the minute he jumped out of
bed. He was thankfully very protective of me and
had no idea the actual story had been printed
yet. As I stated, Daniel did in fact leave the
band prior to the Affirmation release and it was
a shock and a difficult time for me and I imagine
him. But I love him and stood by him and took on
the public role, defending questions about the
bands' future which was at that stage vague at
best.
The world tour was a time for me to be strong and
stand on my feet and imagine life after Savage
Garden... it was tough and no, I did not want it
to end. This time confirmed our seperate
journeys and we both talked fondly of our
experiences together and the what the future may
bring with our respective careers.
I love and respect Daniel Jones very much and
when your buddy tells you they're just not
happy.. you have to stand by them.
The news today has been a shock for us because of
how quickly it came. I would liked to have given
you, my friends and family advance notice before
it became the scandal that it seems.
I'm often naive to my honesty and innocence when
it comes to giving interviews.. I was under the
impression that this particular interview would
go to print in a few weeks..giving us all time to
talk about it (Daniel included). I guess I
didn't realize how huge a story it would become
and that even the best behaved journo could'nt
keep a story like this under wraps for long.
I spoke to Daniel on my plane trip back from L.A
to San Fran today and we kind of marvelled over
how much of a frenzy one trigger happy journalist
has sparked.
Please understand that I have the utmost respect
for Daniel, his abilities and his future
prospects and although I would never have
imagined it years ago... our lives are going on
and are the happiest they have ever been.
There is no animosity and more than anything we
thank you for your years of love and support.
There will be an official press release soon.
Take care
with love
D
LEONIE'S STATEMENT:
Hi Guys,
I know it's been awhile since you've heard from me, I also know the Savage
Garden split may be difficult for a lot of people to comprehend. I'd really
like to take this opportunity to comment on the situation.
I have worked with Darren and Daniel since the start of Savage Garden, and I
love them both, but I've got to say, the way some people may interpret
Darren's hand in the break up of the band is misguided. I know that it will
all blow over and ultimately the most important element of all of this....
the music..... will endure. Until then, I wanted to shed some light on the
situation from my perspective.
Daniel Jones left Savage Garden. He quit. I was there when it happened in
Japan prior to the release of AFFIRMATION in 1999. I was also there when
Darren did endless photoshoots, magazine interviews, press junkets, meet and
greets, tv and radio interviews.. totally alone, to try and promote this
album for the benefit of them both. I was there when he was constantly asked
the difficult question of why Daniel wasn't ever participating in any of the
interviews. I was also there when he protected Daniel and his feelings for
the 2 year promotion of this record. The reason he did all of this? Again..
it's very simple...... Daniel quit the band. Guys... think about it... rare
was the occasion that Daniel was in an interview to promote AFFIRMATION. Was
it because Darren just loved the limelight and couldn't get enough of it?? Of
course not. In fact, Darren is a very private person who never seeks out the
limelight and doesn't 'hang' at celebrity parties unless he needs to be there
for a business reason. Quite frankly, he doesn't love it, he just knows what
you have to do to pay your fans back for their loyalty, and he is aware of
how the promotional machine works and what his role is in it.. and
ultimately, he is not afraid of hard work. How many of you, on the eight
month world tour met Daniel at a meet and greet before the show? I guarantee
you it is next to none of you.
The 'news' was obviously not news to Daniel. It was a fact. With Daniel not
wanting to do any promotional tours, they both realised that the break up was
inevitable. How could a 'band' stay together when only one person is
participating in the public promotion of it? Bearing this in mind, they both
knew long ago that Savage Garden was an entity that would not continue after
the end of the AFFIRMATION tour. This was discussed endlessly between the two
of them and their close circle of staff members. The only surprise that came
to Daniel was that he found out Darren had released the information to a
journalist the night before, and this surprise was short lived because I
spoke with Daniel before he talked to any media. He knew it was a matter of
time before we could release this information to the world, and that time is
now. Yes, it's sad. But, imagine how liberating it is for both of them?
Darren can finally talk honestly about his solo career, and Daniel never has
to endure the travel and promotion that he disliked so much with Savage
Garden ever again.
Darren has been so good to you guys over the years and I'm sure you all
agree. There are very few celebrities who give of their personal time and
positive energy so freely as he does. If there were ever a time that you
wanted to transfer some of this positive energy back to him in any small
way.. that is now.
I have great faith in you all and can't wait to see you again on the road.
Love Leonie
INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL ON B105
Interviewer:…Savage Garden has split up…Was news to Daniel and we have him on the phone right now, but you have spoken to Darren and why don’t you tell us, what’s the news??
Daniel: Hey, how’re you goin’ mate? Yeah I was saying to the morning crew this morning I’ll fill you in a little bit more about what’s actually happened. Uhm…look it’s pretty simple Darren just felt that he had to close one chapter to enter another, he’s, y’know, got his solo career happening, he’s about to go with that, as you guys know, I’m doing a production company. It’s no huge surprise, I guess the difference was, y’know, I..I think we were….I had looked at bands like the Eurythmics who’ve had a ten – fifteen year career and in between having a career together, they’d done some side projects…Uhm…that’s how I thought uhm Savage Garden would…would sorta pan out cuz we both had interests in other areas of the industry. Uhm…
obviously, Darren wanted to make that a little bit more official…uhm…he’d spoken to a journalist in America late last night, their time, and had evidently spoken to that journo about *deep breath* uhm not releasing the story for a couple of weeks, that, I don’t know why…but the journalist has sorta leaked it out over the wire by late last night so I’ve woken up this morning and it’s been news to me.
I: Wow…
D: So that’s pretty much as simple as it is. It’s no big deal, y’know, the world still revolves here…uhm…it’s just unfortunate uhm…that it...it had to be so official, I would’ve loved to have done another Savage Garden album, y’know, when the time was right, and we were ready, but its…its just not gonna be the case, I guess…
I: Well, you say that life goes on and stuff like that, but I think that there’s a lot of people, in Brisbane and really around the world that will be affected by this. I mean, you guys are such a huge name especially here in Brisbane, but definitely around the world and…I’m sure everyone would love a new album from Savage Garden.
D: Yeah…I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there that wouldn’t want one! (Laughs). It goes both ways, but I know what you’re saying, I mean we have a great song writing relationship which is something that I will dearly miss, y’know, I loved writing songs with Darren, it was great uhm…but I suppose (stumbling for words) yeah I suppose he couldn’t really handle just leaving that… uhm… he had to burn those roots which was probably a little bit unnecessary, but hey, y’know… there’s…we’re still good friends, I just spoke to him about half an hour ago. Uhm…he just explained to me that he (deep breath) had to close one door to open another, which is… that, I understand, uhm…and that he was sorry that he couldn’t tell me first and he told the world before me…which is…y’know…whatever…
I: Well Daniel, from our point of view, I suppose definitely, and for the fans of your music, we’re sorry to see you guys split up, but your music will go on for sure, you will go on, Darren will go on, and er…I’m sure we’ll hear plenty from you in the future.
D: And Aneiki will go on!
I: Yes! Of course! Go Aneiki! We love Aneiki!
D: (Laughs) Yeah, thanks for all your support with that.
I: No problem, and I thank you for talking with us…
D: No problem. Cheers mate… (hangs up)