Darren Hayes on the bruising truth behind his Savage Garden stardom

During the height of his fame as one half of Savage Garden, Darren Hayes struggled to reconcile what he'd lived through as a child growing up in Logan (CW: descriptions of domestic violence).

Darren Hayes rose to fame in the 1990s as part of the musical duo Savage Garden.

The band ended up selling 35 million albums and won numerous awards with hits like 'Truly Madly Deeply'.

On the surface, Darren had achieved wealth, adoration and stardom —everything he dreamt of as a kid growing up in Logan, on the outskirts of Brisbane.

But the scars of his violent childhood nearly ended everything.

Content Warning: this episode of Conversations contains descriptions of domestic violence.

Help and support is always available:

Call 1800 737 732  (1800 Respect) to speak to a counsellor if you are experiencing domestic violence. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

This conversation talks about family, Savage Garden, Daniel Jones, celebrity, singing, singers, fame, ancestry, music, modern history, Michael Jackson, grief, origin stories, family dynamics, music industry, reflection, life story, memoir, 90s music, fatherhood, mothers, motherhood, epic personal stories, life before, during and after musical fame, parenting, divorce, books.