BOOK REVIEW: LOVE & PAIN by BEN GILLIES & CHRIS JOANNOU with Alley Pascoe

Shane | 10 February 2025 | Reply

BOOK REVIEW: LOVE & PAIN by BEN GILLIES & CHRIS JOANNOU with Alley Pascoe
Hachette Australia, September 2023
Hard cover, rrp $44.99
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
75%

As far as titles go, “Love & Pain” couldn’t be more appropriate for this memoir from the other two guys in Silverchair, whose love for their former bandmate and pain at the demise of the band is obvious from the outset.

Daniel Johns is the tortured genius in this story, struggling to cope as the band skyrocketed to global fame whilst the three schoolmates were young teens. As Johns dealt with his issues – anxiety, an eating disorder, and other mental health issues – Gillies and Joannou had their own demons to tackle, not least of which was alcohol and an ability to understand what was happening with their friend, or their band.

This was exacerbated by Silverchair’s management, protecting the songwriter/frontman/meal ticket to the exclusion of the others, treating them almost like session musicians and nothing more – despite them trying to contribute music and ideas to the band.

Love & Pain has been criticized by some as a cash in – but I think Gillies and Joannou were more than entitled to tell their side of a very difficult story. In fact, they are more than generous with Johns, going to great lengths to show as much understanding and compassion as they can for their friend, and accept blame for selfish or foolish behavior of their own.

It’s not just about the relationships between the trio – there’s more than enough rock n’ roll road and studio stories to satisfy our voyeuristic lust for tales of excess, not to mention the bewildering eye of the hurricane the three found themselves in when their album was selling millions and they were trying to get through school, experience teenage life and not have their parents weirding out on them.