Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou tell their side of Silverchair story in Love & Pain memoir

Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies will address “the truth of things” with their side of the Silverchair story in an upcoming memoir.

Silverchair co-founders Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou will finally tell their side of the band’s story in a joint memoir titled Love & Pain.

Former bandmate Daniel Johns is not mentioned once in the announcement of the book which will be published in September.

Johns had his say – and was occasionally disparaging of his bandmates – in various forums last year, most notably in the Who Is Daniel Johns? podcast and a YouTube series Inside The Mind Of Daniel Johns.

Back when they were young – Chris Joannou, Daniel Johns and Ben Gillies. Picture: Supplied

Drummer Gillies and bassist Joannou maintained their silence during Johns’s extensive multimedia campaign to set up the launch of his second solo album FutureNever. With the exception of a deleted social media comment by Gillies seemingly addressing the “genius” tag fans often bestow on Johns.

The musicians are now expected to deliver some truth bombs in Love & Pain, writing with “vulnerability and raw and blistering honesty”.

In recent years Gillies has devoted himself to his solo music projects and helping to raise twin sons Bonham and Rocco, who were born in 2021.

He will star with his Real Housewives of Melbourne wife Jackie in the upcoming celebrity edition of reality series The Amazing Race.

Gillies and wife Jackie will compete in The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition. Picture: Supplied

‘Fundamentally, our story is a great one. An extraordinary one. Some of it may seem beyond belief, but we lived it. We were there. It all happened. I want to document it for my sons to read when they’re old enough – and we owe it to our incredibly loyal fans,” Gillies said.

Joannou was a restaurant and bar owner in Newcastle but, after suffering ill health, he and wife Karissa relocated their family to Coffs Harbour last year.

“When Ben and I first discussed the idea of writing a book, I realised it would be an opportunity to celebrate some of the awesome times the two of us shared and lived together, as well as reflect on some of the hard times – in the band and in our lives,” Joannou said in the announcement.

“This book is a keepsake for both of us, and a reminder that there is some beauty in addressing the truth of things, as well as paying respects to all aspects – good, bad and indifferent – of our story.”

Joannou and Gillies clowning around together at the 2002 MTV VMAs. Picture: NCA

The book promises to share not only the “funny, unforgettable rock ’n’ roll stories” of Silverchair’s wild ride around the world but also “all the love and pain that came

with being in the band”.

Gillies and Joannou will reveal the cost of fame when they were just teenagers, navigating their friendship with Johns and each other, and “their relationships with their friends and family members”.

Love & Pain can be pre-ordered via Booktopia.

Originally published as Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou tell their side of Silverchair story in Love & Pain memoir