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34 reviews for:
Love & Pain: The Epic Times and Crooked Lines of Life Inside and Outside Silverchair
Chris Joannou, Ben Gillies
4.11 AVERAGE
34 reviews for:
Love & Pain: The Epic Times and Crooked Lines of Life Inside and Outside Silverchair
Chris Joannou, Ben Gillies
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Silverchair are of my generation, and I loved their debut single “Tomorrow” which they released in the mid-90’s when they were 15 years old. They released five albums, and I enjoyed the evolution of their music with each album.
However, by 2011 the band was over, and their friendships fractured. Love & Pain is only the perspectives of Ben (drummer) and Chris (bass), as Daniel (the lead singer still dosen’t have a relationship with them). With alternative chapters in non-chronological order, I enjoyed the sections more about their friendship, how the band formed and the impact of fame at only 15, especially from the POV of the band members and not the “frontman”.
Ben and Chris clearly articulated these were their own reflections and memories, and other people’s realities may be different. I thought they were very respectful when discussing Daniel and how they didn’t know how to support him as young men. There were some interesting insights into the music industry and how Daniel’s need for creative control impacted the band and their friendships.
Sometimes we have friends for a reason, a season or a lifetime and I feel Chris and Ben have been able to reconnect because their friendship was more than music, whereas Daniel’s friendship was because of Silverchair. Daniel has no interest in Silverchair anymore and as their only connection for their friendship was the band, without it there is no friendship.
I enjoyed this book and now they are in their mid-40’s with young families I think Chris is looking forward. He has moved on and created a new life with other interests and passions, whereas Ben still seems to live in the past. He can’t quite give up the dream of Silverchair reforming and reliving his youth.
However, by 2011 the band was over, and their friendships fractured. Love & Pain is only the perspectives of Ben (drummer) and Chris (bass), as Daniel (the lead singer still dosen’t have a relationship with them). With alternative chapters in non-chronological order, I enjoyed the sections more about their friendship, how the band formed and the impact of fame at only 15, especially from the POV of the band members and not the “frontman”.
Ben and Chris clearly articulated these were their own reflections and memories, and other people’s realities may be different. I thought they were very respectful when discussing Daniel and how they didn’t know how to support him as young men. There were some interesting insights into the music industry and how Daniel’s need for creative control impacted the band and their friendships.
Sometimes we have friends for a reason, a season or a lifetime and I feel Chris and Ben have been able to reconnect because their friendship was more than music, whereas Daniel’s friendship was because of Silverchair. Daniel has no interest in Silverchair anymore and as their only connection for their friendship was the band, without it there is no friendship.
I enjoyed this book and now they are in their mid-40’s with young families I think Chris is looking forward. He has moved on and created a new life with other interests and passions, whereas Ben still seems to live in the past. He can’t quite give up the dream of Silverchair reforming and reliving his youth.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
At first, I won’t lie, I was a bit apprehensive about reading this. But as it went along, I started to realise how necessary it was that Ben & Chris got to tell their side of the story. There were so many wholesome stories interwoven with their pain and struggles and I’m very glad I read it!
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was the first ever audio book I’ve “read”, and it was a pretty good one.
Positives: I loved listening to Ben and Chris tell THEIR stories. Due to their previously silent stance, the Silverchair story has been solely Daniel Johns’ story, which has never been fair. I loved hearing some of the rock & roll stories, and it always shocks me that these lads were only 15 when they started the whole thing. It was so interesting to hear how the band members’ dynamics shifted throughout the years, from Ben and Chris’ perspectives.
Negatives: The book would have been much better as a chronology rather than jumping around so much. It felt disjointed and, especially listening rather than reading, it was hard to keep up at times. There were also some repetitive messages that came through, which again could have been mitigated in a chronology.
Overall it was an enjoyable and interesting read. I hope that one day, the three men can reconnect as mates, as I’m sure it hurts a lot that there is such a disconnect between them.
Positives: I loved listening to Ben and Chris tell THEIR stories. Due to their previously silent stance, the Silverchair story has been solely Daniel Johns’ story, which has never been fair. I loved hearing some of the rock & roll stories, and it always shocks me that these lads were only 15 when they started the whole thing. It was so interesting to hear how the band members’ dynamics shifted throughout the years, from Ben and Chris’ perspectives.
Negatives: The book would have been much better as a chronology rather than jumping around so much. It felt disjointed and, especially listening rather than reading, it was hard to keep up at times. There were also some repetitive messages that came through, which again could have been mitigated in a chronology.
Overall it was an enjoyable and interesting read. I hope that one day, the three men can reconnect as mates, as I’m sure it hurts a lot that there is such a disconnect between them.
Format:audiobook
I loved this! As a Silverchair fan in my teen years this was so nostalgic. It was funny and heartwarming and just interesting
I loved this! As a Silverchair fan in my teen years this was so nostalgic. It was funny and heartwarming and just interesting
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A powerful, amazing memoir written by two members of the iconic Australian rock band Silverchair. I think this is a very honest and open account of not just the band's growth from local to international stardom, and from teenager to adulthood, but also of the friendships that grew and at times fractured. At the heart, I think it is a story about forgiveness, growing up and the friendship ties that connect them together. I would have loved to have heard Daniel Johns perspective in this story, but even though his voice is not there he is still part of the story and portrayed in an honest and kind way.
Highly recommend for fans of Silverchair and those that don't even know who they are.
Highly recommend for fans of Silverchair and those that don't even know who they are.