Daniel Johns
Encyclopedia
Daniel Paul Johns is an Australian musician, vocalist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

, and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

, best known as the frontman of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...

. He is also part of The Dissociatives
The Dissociatives
The Dissociatives are an Australian band consisting of Daniel Johns of Silverchair, Australian dance producer DJ Paul Mac, and touring members Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes from Sydney electronic duo "The Presets"...

. In 2007, he was ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

s list of The 25 Most Underrated Guitarists.

Career

Daniel Johns grew up in Merewether, New South Wales
Merewether, New South Wales
Merewether is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district with a population of around 10,000. The suburb stretches from Merewether Beach in the east to Adamstown in the west.- Establishment :...

, Australia with two younger siblings. At the age of 12 Johns and school friends Ben Gillies
Ben Gillies
Benjamin David Gillies is an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of Australian rock band Silverchair.Born in Merewether, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, he started as a quad drummer in the band The Marching Koalas, before forming the band Innocent Criminals at the age...

 and Chris Joannou
Chris Joannou
Christopher John Joannou is a Macedonian Australian musician, best known as the bass player for the successful alternative rock band Silverchair. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he has a twin sister and an older sister. He has a nephew and two nieces. He was the first of the three band...

 formed a band, originally named The Innocent Criminals, practicing for over four hours a day after school.

The band's career began when they were just 14 years old, after a demo recording of their song "Tomorrow
Tomorrow (Silverchair song)
"Tomorrow" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Silverchair and was their breakthrough single from their debut album Frogstomp, which was released in 1994 in their home country and 1995 in the US...

" won a competition by the SBS TV program Nomad. Following a bidding war between rival labels, the group signed to Sony Music subsidiary Murmur Records
Murmur (record label)
Murmur was a record label that started as an imprint of Sony Music Australia in mid 1994. Named after REM's first album, Murmur signed a number of Australia's most successful rock bands, including Silverchair, Ammonia, Something for Kate and Jebediah...

 in 1994. The single was then picked up by radio network Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...

 and their first album release was Frogstomp
Frogstomp
Frogstomp is the debut album of Australian rock band Silverchair. It was released in Australia in early 1995, when the members were only 15 years of age, by a subsidiary of Sony Records and reached number one on the album charts. On 20 June 1995, Frogstomp was released by Epic Records in the U.S...

, in 1995.

In 1997, the band released Freak Show
Freak Show (album)
Freak Show is the second studio album from Australian rock band Silverchair. Freak Show was released on 3 February 1997. The album also gives listeners a glimpse into the band's experimental side, as can be heard in "Petrol & Chlorine" and "Cemetery"...

, followed by Neon Ballroom
Neon Ballroom
Neon Ballroom is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Silverchair and was released on 8 March 1999. The album debuted at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified 4× platinum by ARIA. It was also certified Gold in the United States...

in 1999.

In 2003, he went on hiatus from Silverchair.

Johns then worked on several side projects, the most notable of which was The Dissociatives
The Dissociatives
The Dissociatives are an Australian band consisting of Daniel Johns of Silverchair, Australian dance producer DJ Paul Mac, and touring members Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes from Sydney electronic duo "The Presets"...

 with dance musician Paul Mac
Paul Mac
Paul Mac is a musician, producer and music remixer from Sydney, Australia. He was classically trained at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music. Paul Mac formed the bands Smash Mac Mac, Itch-e And Scratch-e, The Lab, and The Dissociatives, as well as releasing two records under his own name...

. Daniel and Paul have worked together since Paul's 1997 remix of "Freak" and contribution of key in Neon Ballroom. In 2000 they recorded a 5 track EP, I Can't Believe It's Not Rock
I Can't Believe It's Not Rock
I Can't Believe It's Not Rock is the self-titled debut EP, an experimental project consisting of Daniel Johns and Paul Mac. "I Can't Believe It's Not Rock" is an EP that happened by accident....

. The Dissociatives album was recorded in London by Johns, who contributed lyrics and melodies, and Paul Mac
Paul Mac
Paul Mac is a musician, producer and music remixer from Sydney, Australia. He was classically trained at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music. Paul Mac formed the bands Smash Mac Mac, Itch-e And Scratch-e, The Lab, and The Dissociatives, as well as releasing two records under his own name...

 who contributed various other instruments and effects. A few months later, they regrouped in Sydney and Newcastle to finish off the project. The Dissociatives toured with musicians Kim Moyes
Kim Moyes
Kimberley "Kim" Isaac Moyes or K.I.M. is half of a Sydney-based electronica duo, The Presets with Julian Hamilton. Moyes provides keyboard and drums, as well as production . His involvement with The Presets has resulted in a total of six ARIA Music Awards...

 on drums, Julian Hamilton
Julian Hamilton
Julian Thomas Hamilton is a singer, song-writer and keyboardist, who, with bandmate Kim Moyes, makes up successful Sydney electronica duo, The Presets.-Biography:...

 on keys, and James Haselwood on bass.

In late 2005, Johns and Silverchair joined up again and put rumors of a split to rest by announcing the production of a new album entitled Young Modern. The new album was released on 31 March 2007, and was followed by the huge 'Across the Great Divide
Across the Great Divide
Across the Great Divide may refer to:* Across the Great Divide , starring Robert Logan and Heather Rattray* Across the Great Divide , a 1994 album box set by The Band...

' tour with Powderfinger
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....

. On 13 June 2008 on the band's website it was reported that Daniel is working on a new side project with The Sleepy Jackson
The Sleepy Jackson
The Sleepy Jackson are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia. The band's name was inspired by a former drummer who was narcoleptic. The band revolves around the distinctive vocal style of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Luke Steele...

's Luke Steele, there is currently no release date for this "acoustic pop record".http://silverchair.com.au/news/

In December 2008 Daniel was named as producer of the forthcoming The Scare
The Scare
The Scare is an Australian rock band formed in 2004 by Kiss Reid, Samuel Pearton and Liam O'Brien in Brisbane, Queensland. They released their debut EP, Masochist Mimes, in November 2004. Brock Alexander Fitzgerald joined in 2005 and the band released a second EP, Vacuum Irony in October...

 album.

Personal life

In late 1997, during the Freak Show
Freak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...

tour, Johns experienced depression.

After rumours that he was suffering from a drug addiction/eating disorder, Johns explained in a Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

Australia interview that he had developed anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...

. Johns claimed that he weighed less than 50 kilos, or 110 pounds at his thinnest. With Neon Ballroom came the single "Ana's Song (Open Fire)
Ana's Song (Open Fire)
"Ana's Song " is a song by Silverchair which was released as the second single from their third album, Neon Ballroom.The song is about lead singer Daniel Johns' struggle with anorexia nervosa. The song earned Silverchair a Comet Award in Germany...

" about Johns' battle with anorexia. In 2004, Johns spoke at length to ABC interviewer Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...

 and revealed that at one point he had considered death.

After recording Diorama, Daniel was diagnosed with a rare but serious case of reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis , is classified as an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body. Coming into contact with bacteria and developing an infection can trigger the disease. Reiter's syndrome has symptoms similar to various other conditions collectively...

. After treatment in L.A., he was able to tour with the band in the 'Across the Night' Tour. He has had no remission of the arthritic symptoms.

In July 2007, Johns created a scandal after he claimed, on national youth radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...

, that he had shared a joint with his then-wife Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...

, Australian Federal MP and ex-Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett
Peter Robert Garrett, AM, MP , is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and politician.Garrett was lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil from 1973 until its disbanding in 2002...

, and Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...

 of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...

 in November 2006, while they listened to a demo tape of Silverchair's new album Young Modern. Ecstasy victim 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 twenties, and Johns countering the claim by claiming it was a joke. Johns also said that he thought it would be obvious that it was a joke, seeing as both Peter Garrett and Bono were publicly against drugs.

Johns announced his engagement to long-time girlfriend, actress, singer and model Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...

 in late 2002, and they married on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...

 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."

In July 2008, The Daily Telegraph announced Johns was dating Australian model, Louise Van der Vorst. In 2009 the couple had moved from Australia to New York City so she could expand her modeling career. By July 2011, the couple were living together in Newcastle.

Johns is also known for his Animal Rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...

 support. His passion for animal rights issues are apparent in the track "Spawn Again" on Neon Ballroom. He has also done various television campaigns including "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" for Peta and an IFAW commercial.

Equipment

Guitars

Daniel Johns' current tour guitars include:
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom
    Gibson Les Paul Custom
    The Gibson Les Paul Custom is a higher end variation of the Gibson Les Paul guitar. It was developed in 1954 after Gibson had introduced the Les Paul model in 1952.-Notable Les Paul Custom players:...

     - Used in Open C#m tuning for " Emotion Sickness".
  • Fender 1972 Telecaster Deluxe
    Fender Telecaster Deluxe
    The Fender Telecaster Deluxe is a solid-body electric guitar originally produced from 1972 to 1981, and since re-issued by Fender in 2004 as the '72 Telecaster Deluxe.-History:...

     - Black Finish. Used for all songs in standard tuning, such as "Young Modern Station" and "Ana's Song (Open Fire)
    Ana's Song (Open Fire)
    "Ana's Song " is a song by Silverchair which was released as the second single from their third album, Neon Ballroom.The song is about lead singer Daniel Johns' struggle with anorexia nervosa. The song earned Silverchair a Comet Award in Germany...

    ".
  • Fender 1972 Telecaster Deluxe
    Fender Telecaster Deluxe
    The Fender Telecaster Deluxe is a solid-body electric guitar originally produced from 1972 to 1981, and since re-issued by Fender in 2004 as the '72 Telecaster Deluxe.-History:...

     - Natural Wood Finish. Used for all songs in standard which require a capo, most notably "Those Thieving Birds/Strange Behaviour/Those Thieving Birds Part 2".
  • Rickenbacker 330/12 semi-hollow 12-string
    Rickenbacker
    Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...

     - Used in standard tuning for "The Greatest View
    The Greatest View
    "The Greatest View" is the first single by rock band Silverchair released from their fourth album, Diorama, which was released in 2002, as was "The Greatest View". The song was released as a single and a video was made in which the band plays in hotel room representing Daniel John's inner space...

    " and "World Upon Your Shoulders".
  • Paul Reed Smith Custom 24
    Paul Reed Smith
    Paul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...

     - Emerald Green finish. One of Daniel's original guitars. Now used in dropped-D tuning for "The Door
    The Door (song)
    "The Door" is the fourth and last single off the band Silverchair's second album, Freak Show. It is also one of only a few songs from Frogstomp and Freak Show that the band still plays live.-Track listing:...

    ". The guitar was once owned by Page Hamilton
    Page Hamilton
    Page Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...

     of the band Helmet
    Helmet (band)
    Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....

    .
  • Paul Reed Smith McCarty Standard
    Paul Reed Smith
    Paul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...

     - Black finish. Used since the Freak Show era, and now for songs in E-B-G-D-A-B tuning such as "The Lever" and "One Way Mule".
  • Gibson SG Heritage
    Gibson SG
    At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...

     - Tuned half a step down for "Straight Lines
    Straight Lines (song)
    "Straight Lines" is a song by Silverchair. It was released in Australia on 20 March 2007, and debuted at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. The single was shortly followed by the release of the band's fifth studio album Young Modern on 31 March 2007...

    ".
  • Maton EM325C semi-acoustic
    Maton
    Maton is an Australian manufacturer of guitars and other fretted musical instruments.Maton was founded in 1946 as the Maton Musical Instruments Company by Bill May and his brother Reg...

     - Sparkle finish. Used in an unusual tuning of F-C-G-D-G-D, used for the songs "Tuna In The Brine", "Across The Night" and "Luv Your Life
    Luv Your Life
    "Luv Your Life" is the third single by Australian rock band Silverchair from their fourth album Diorama, which was released in 2002. The song was released as a single and a video was made in which the band was portrayed as animated characters...

    ".


Effects

  • DigiTech Whammy
    Digitech Whammy
    -Overview:The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993, remains the most sought-after.-Controls:...

  • Boss
    Boss Corporation
    Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...

     DD-20 Delay
  • Boss
    Boss Corporation
    Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...

     TU-2 Tuner
  • Boss
    Boss Corporation
    Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...

     OC-2 Octave
  • Boss
    Boss Corporation
    Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...

     GE-7 Graphic EQ

  • Electro-Harmonix
    Electro-Harmonix
    Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....

     Micro Synthesizer
  • Soldano
    Soldano
    Soldano is a guitar amplifier manufacturing company, founded in 1986 by Michael Soldano in Los Angeles, California and later relocated to Seattle, Washington. It is mostly known for its modern high gain amps, particularly their flagship model — Soldano SLO-100, but product lineup also...

     footswitches
  • Radial Loopbone 2
  • Radial Big Shot Mix
  • Little Lehle Switcher

Amplifiers
Johns first used Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...

 JCM 900 amplifiers for Frogstomp, but by the time of Freak Show, switched to Soldano
Soldano
Soldano is a guitar amplifier manufacturing company, founded in 1986 by Michael Soldano in Los Angeles, California and later relocated to Seattle, Washington. It is mostly known for its modern high gain amps, particularly their flagship model — Soldano SLO-100, but product lineup also...

 Hot Rod heads. Until 2005, Johns was using Marshall cabinets, however, he has changed this setup. He now uses Hiwatt
Hiwatt
Hiwatt was a British company that manufactured amplifiers for electric guitars and electric basses. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall and Vox, the company contributed to the sonic image popularly termed "British sound"....

 Hi-Gain cabinets with his Soldano amps. He also uses Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...

 amplifiers in the studio.

Awards and nominations

  • 2008
    APRA Awards of 2008
    The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2008 are a series of awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Classical Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards ceremony occurred on 16 June at the Sydney Hilton, they were presented by APRA and the Australasian...

     Song of the Year and Most Played Australian Work APRA Awards
    APRA Awards
    The APRA Music Awards are several award ceremonies run in Australia and New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually....

     for "Straight Lines
    Straight Lines (song)
    "Straight Lines" is a song by Silverchair. It was released in Australia on 20 March 2007, and debuted at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. The single was shortly followed by the release of the band's fifth studio album Young Modern on 31 March 2007...

    ", written by Daniel Johns and Julian Hamilton
    Julian Hamilton
    Julian Thomas Hamilton is a singer, song-writer and keyboardist, who, with bandmate Kim Moyes, makes up successful Sydney electronica duo, The Presets.-Biography:...

    , was presented by Australasian Performing Right Association
    Australasian Performing Right Association
    The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...

     (APRA). Johns, on his own, also won Songwriter of the Year.
  • Silverchair has won 21 ARIA awards to date.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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