Darren Hayes talks about his fight against sexuality in the midst of Savage Garden’s success

Darren Hayes shares the story of the fight against mental health as one of the largest music groups of the 90’s.

Former members of the Savage Garden have opened up about the band’s success and how their popularity unintentionally put pressure on the singers.

Hayes now proudly opens up his sexuality as a member of the gay community, but at the time his denials drove him into deep depression.

“For casual observers, the vague blowwaves of the ’70s and the work of blue-black dyes that could rival Elvis’ prime seemed strenuous and confident,” he deeply personalized. I recalled it with a typical editorial. HuffPost.. “But my bravery is a carefully crafted persona designed to protect me from years of bullying at school, denial and shame on my sexuality, and will soon be overwhelmed. It was a mask to hide the increasing depression. “

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He said that while the crisis over his sexuality was part of the reason for his struggle, the unstable family environment from his abusive and alcoholic father also contributed to his poor mental health. It was revealed that he insisted.

“No one would have known this when I saw me in Rosie. [O’Donnell’s] sofa. Savage Garden is at the height of its worldwide fame, selling 26 million albums, having two Billboard No. 1 singles, and touring the world, “he shared. “Nevertheless, no one knew that I was deeply unhappy, quickly emotionally devastated, and contained few secrets that threatened suicide with my fame.”

Hayes carefully raised a persona who did not protect him from the general public discovering his secrets, especially at a time when he was not kind to the growing LGBTQ + community.

“The 80’s was a horrifying time to be a weird kid. There was a flood of warnings about the so-called” gay pesto “, and popular culture was littered with negative stereotypes about what gay people were. “He explained. “There was no public role model I identified. I only saw death in the news, and I didn’t even tell the soul about my love for boys, but I’m a pure idea I was convinced myself that I had AIDS. “

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A young teen found salvation at a Michael Jackson concert. The fluid androgynous nature of the star’s performance encouraged Haze to incorporate music as well.

“I will make an impossible magical deal with the universe, I will be an entertainer, one day I will kneel the audience and make the entire auditorium forget about their problems,” he continued. “I will fill this terrible and horrific wound with the love of the audience. And do you know whydya? It worked for a while!”

Savage Garden was successful with their debut single i want you And with hits like “Truly Madly Deeply”, you’ll be even more successful and the stadiums will sell out one after another.

But success did not help the singer in his internal struggle.

The band continued to dissolve in 2001, but Hayes only sought expert help until 2002.

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“I started seeing a psychiatrist around 2002, which is the first step in finally dealing with the remaining pain and fast-growing sexuality of my childhood,” he said. rice field. “I remember the therapist asking me,’Have you ever cried when you were a kid?'” I thought it was a silly question. of course not. I was a survivor. I was strong. Then he reminded me that every child has the right to feel safe. Have you ever felt safe when you were a kid? He asked. It looked ridiculous. “

It encouraged the singer to be more open about his sexuality, which came out in his solo career music. He married his boyfriend Richard Karen in 2005.

His desire to be more honest about himself was part of his desire to return to music.

“I honestly think my new album saved my life,” said an Australian musician. people.. “I was in the dark and emotionally, like my sexuality, did not understand that my creative exit was a large part of myself. By denying it. I was denying my essential part. “

Hayes recently released a music video for “Poison Blood” on June 26th.

The singer said his new direction in music was an attempt to regain the years he spent hiding.

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“I realized I’ve never been at the pinnacle of my fame and commercial success,” he added. “It would have been a big regret for me to retire from the public eye when I didn’t return to the world as my true self.”

Not only is he planning new music, but he’s also touring the UK in 2023. He wants to share a new message of acceptance and understanding.

“I’m completely integrated into my art, so I no longer feel the shame or stigma of my sexuality and mental health,” he said. “I believe they are connected, so I speak openly about both, and I hope that bringing light to sorrow drives away the darkness by talking about what is most embarrassing to us. In the latest single, “Poison Blood,” mental health is called “blessing, gift, curse.” “

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