Darren Hayes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darren Hayes
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Hayes in 2012
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Darren Stanley Hayes
8 May 1972 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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| Years active | 1993–present |
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| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
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Darren Stanley Hayes (born 8 May 1972) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is best known as the lead singer of the pop duo Savage Garden, which was popular from 1993 to 2001.
With Savage Garden, Hayes released famous songs like "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back", and the number-one hit "Truly Madly Deeply". Their first album, Savage Garden (1997), was a huge success worldwide. Their second album, Affirmation (1999), included more hits like "I Knew I Loved You" and "The Animal Song".
After Savage Garden ended, Hayes began a solo career. His first solo album, Spin (2002), sold two million copies and featured the hit single "Insatiable". He has released several other albums, including The Tension and the Spark (2004), This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007), Secret Codes and Battleships (2011), and ... (2022). Hayes also published his life story, Unlovable, in November 2024.
Contents
Early Life
Darren Hayes was born on May 8, 1972, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He has an older sister, Tracey, and an older brother, Peter. During his school years, Hayes faced bullying. He has described himself as an emotional and excitable teenager who loved Star Wars and E.T.
In 1987, he saw his hero Michael Jackson perform live. This experience inspired him to become a musician. He was also influenced by artists like Stevie Nicks, Madonna, Kate Bush, and Prince.
Music Career
1993–2001: The Savage Garden Years
In 1993, Hayes answered an ad in a Brisbane newspaper looking for a singer. The ad was placed by Daniel Jones, and together they formed a band. Soon, Hayes and Jones left the band to work as a duo. They called themselves Savage Garden, a name inspired by a phrase from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.
Their first single, "I Want You", was released in 1996 and became a hit in Australia. This success led to a record deal with Columbia Records for international releases. Their next single, "To the Moon and Back", reached number one in Australia.
In 1997, their third single, "Truly Madly Deeply", also hit number one and became their most famous song. Their first album, Savage Garden, was released in March 1997. It was number one in Australia and a top-three album in the US. The album earned the duo a record ten ARIA Awards in 1997.
Their second album, Affirmation, came out in 1999. It featured hit songs like "The Animal Song" and "I Knew I Loved You". "I Knew I Loved You" became a number-one hit in the US and Canada. The duo performed at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics.
In October 2001, Hayes announced that Savage Garden had broken up. By then, the duo had sold over 23 million albums worldwide.
2002–2004: Going Solo with Spin
Hayes released his first solo album, Spin, in 2002. It continued the pop sound of Savage Garden but with more R&B influences. The first single, "Insatiable", was a ballad that reached number three in Australia. The album was a top-five hit in Australia and the UK.
Two years later, Hayes released his second album, The Tension and the Spark. This album had a very different electronic sound. While some critics praised his new direction, it was different from what many fans expected. The first single, "Pop!ular", was a hit on the US dance charts.
2005–2010: New Music and Tours
In 2005, Hayes released a greatest hits album for Savage Garden called Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden. It included two new solo songs by Hayes, "So Beautiful" and "California". In 2006, after ten years with Columbia Records, Hayes decided to leave the label.
He then started his own record label, Powdered Sugar, and released his third solo album, This Delicate Thing We've Made, in 2007. It was a double album with 25 songs. He went on a world tour called The Time Machine Tour to promote it. The tour included big venues like the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Sydney Opera House. A performance from his hometown of Brisbane was recorded for a DVD.
In 2009, Hayes and musician Robert Conley released a free album online called We Are Smug. It was an experimental electronic album.
2011–2021: Secret Codes and Battleships and a Break
Hayes released his fourth solo album, Secret Codes and Battleships, in 2011. The first single was "Talk Talk Talk". He toured the UK and Australia to support the album.
After 2013, Hayes took a break from his music career. He explored stand-up comedy and created short singing videos for his fans on social media. In 2019, he was featured on the song "I Never Cried So Much in My Whole Life" by the band Cub Sport.
2022–Present: Return to Music
In January 2022, Hayes made a big return with the single "Let's Try Being in Love". He said the song was about celebrating who he truly is. He performed at the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
In October 2022, he released his fifth studio album, .... He said the album was about looking back at his teenage years with the confidence of a 50-year-old man. He also went on the "Do You Remember?" tour in Australia and the UK, performing songs from his entire career.
In November 2023, Hayes appeared on The Masked Singer Australia as the "Grim Reaper" and finished in second place. His life story, titled Unlovable, was released in November 2024.
Other Projects
Besides music, Hayes has worked on other creative projects. In 2015, he hosted a comedy podcast. He also co-hosted a movie review podcast called "We Paid to See This". He has written and performed comedy sketches, which can be found on his YouTube channel.
Hayes is a big fan of Star Wars and collects memorabilia from the movies. He is also a fan of the Japanese manga and anime series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Discography
Studio albums
- Spin (2002)
- The Tension and the Spark (2004)
- This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007)
- Secret Codes and Battleships (2011)
- ... (2022)
Awards and Nominations
Darren Hayes has won many awards, both as a solo artist and with Savage Garden.
APRA Awards
The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) awards honor songwriters and music composers.
- 1998: Won Songwriter of the Year (with Daniel Jones) and Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "I Want You".
- 1999: Won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "Truly Madly Deeply".
- 2000: Won Songwriter of the Year (with Daniel Jones), Most Performed Australian Work for "The Animal Song", and Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "Truly Madly Deeply".
- 2001: Won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "I Knew I Loved You".
- 2002: Won Most Performed Australian Work for "Hold Me" and Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "Crash and Burn".
- 2003: Won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for "I Knew I Loved You".
See also
In Spanish: Darren Hayes para niños
