When Savage Garden played their sentimental ballads, singer Darren Hayes was suicidal, fighting an inner turmoil.
He came out as gay to his ex-wife Colby Taylor in the late 90s, after the group had reached worldwide fame with hits including Truly, Madly, Deeply.
He says: “I didn’t realise how much of me was being filtered, and apologising for the fact that I was gay. When I was on a major label, I felt like I was neutered.
“So I became this harmless, lovely, friendly, lovely uncle Darren. I called a helpline and I remember telling the person: ‘I think I might be gay.’ And they said: ‘You need to tell your wife you’re gay.’ So I did. And she was incredibly understanding.”
He came out publicly in 2006 and divulges his feelings in new single Poison Blood. He says: “I sunk to a period of depression, my assistant used to come in and check that I was still alive.”
Now Darren, married to Richard Cullen since 2013, is returning to the UK in March 2023.
But despite playing the group’s hits to mark their 25th anniversary, he will not be reuniting with former bandmate Daniel Jones, who he has not had a relationship with for over a decade.
He says: “Relationships end for a reason. It hasn’t been on the cards for some time.”
Speaking on Nova's Fitzy & Wippa podcast earlier in the month, the singer admitted he'd previously dated Madonna's younger brother Christopher Ciccone.
He revealed: "I guess I can say this now because I've been married for 17 years, but I went on a few dates with her brother."
He went on to explain how he'd always been a fan of the Vogue singer, who had a close relationship with her brother during the height of her career.
Tickets for the Do You Remember? tour are on pre-sale today from darrenhayes.com.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
