Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies reveals the band ‘lost it’ and fell apart due to quest for fame

 Iconic Australian rock band Silverchair split indefinitely in 2011. 

And the band’s drummer, Ben Gillies, 39, has revealed the band fell apart due to their quest for fame. 

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the musician says: ‘The music became about how many albums we sell and that can influence your music.’ 

‘The music became about how many albums we sell’: Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies (pictured) revealed the band ‘lost it’ due to a quest for fame in an interview published Sunday 

He added: ‘You forget about why you’re doing it. Silverchair lost it being about the music a bit.’

At the time of their split, the grunge trio had five number one albums on the ARIA charts, and had won 12 ARIA awards. 

The band, known for their hits Tomorrow, Straight Lines and Anthem for the Year 2000, have sold over 10 million albums worldwide.

Sales: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the musician said: 'The music became about how many albums we sell and that can influence your music.' Pictured in a recent social media snap

Sales: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the musician said: ‘The music became about how many albums we sell and that can influence your music.’ Pictured in a recent social media snap 

Not about the music: 'You forget about why you're doing it. Silverchair lost it being about the music a bit,' he added. Silverchair pictured in the 1990s. From left: Daniel Johns, Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies

Not about the music: ‘You forget about why you’re doing it. Silverchair lost it being about the music a bit,’ he added. Silverchair pictured in the 1990s. From left: Daniel Johns, Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies

Big deal: The band, known for their hits Tomorrow, Straight Lines and Anthem for the Year 2000, have sold over 10 million albums worldwide. Silverchair are pictured in the 1990s. From left: Chris Joannou, Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns

Big deal: The band, known for their hits Tomorrow, Straight Lines and Anthem for the Year 2000, have sold over 10 million albums worldwide. Silverchair are pictured in the 1990s. From left: Chris Joannou, Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns

However despite their success, the group have split indefinitely and Ben says: ‘If I never make music with Silverchair ever again, that’s fine.’ 

Silverchair were formed in Newcastle, NSW in 1992 and were at first called Innocent Criminals. 

The lineup included Ben on drums, Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars, and Chris Joannou on bass guitar – and all three were teenaged school boys at the time. 

Difficult: Daniel Johns (pictured in 1999) struggled with health issues at the height of the band's fame, and the biography, The Book of Daniel, by Jeff Apter, made shocking claims about the Silverchair singer's two-year battle with an eating disorder when he was a teenager

Difficult: Daniel Johns (pictured in 1999) struggled with health issues at the height of the band’s fame, and the biography, The Book of Daniel, by Jeff Apter, made shocking claims about the Silverchair singer’s two-year battle with an eating disorder when he was a teenager

Hard years: Daniel, 39, is quoted in the book as saying that he didn't realise, 'how bad his illness had gotten. I was just eating so I wouldn't collapse'. Pictured in 1999

Hard years: Daniel, 39, is quoted in the book as saying that he didn’t realise, ‘how bad his illness had gotten. I was just eating so I wouldn’t collapse’. Pictured in 1999

Daniel struggled with health issues at the height of the band’s fame, and the biography, The Book of Daniel, by Jeff Apter, made shocking claims about the Silverchair singer’s two-year battle with an eating disorder when he was a teenager. 

‘He started to test himself, seeing how little he could eat and still get by and his weight slipped to 50kgs,’ the tome alleged.    

Daniel, 39, is quoted in the book as saying that he didn’t realise ‘how bad his illness had gotten’. 

More difficulty: Eventually overcoming the disorder, Johns faced another health crisis when he began suffering from arthritis in 2002. Pictured in 2018

More difficulty: Eventually overcoming the disorder, Johns faced another health crisis when he began suffering from arthritis in 2002. Pictured in 2018 

Soon to wed? In February this year, reports emerged that the former Silverchair frontman and his partner, model Michelle Leslie, (left) are engaged. Pictured in 2018

 Soon to wed? In February this year, reports emerged that the former Silverchair frontman and his partner, model Michelle Leslie, (left) are engaged. Pictured in 2018 

‘I was just eating so I wouldn’t collapse,’ he reportedly said.

Eventually overcoming the disorder, Daniel faced another health crisis when he began suffering from arthritis in 2002.

In February this year, reports emerged that the former Silverchair frontman and his partner Michelle Leslie are engaged.

Ben Gilles is married to Real Housewives of Melbourne and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Jackie Gillies, 38.

Happy pair: Ben Gilles is married to Real Housewives of Melbourne and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Jackie Gillies, 38 (right)

Happy pair: Ben Gilles is married to Real Housewives of Melbourne and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Jackie Gillies, 38 (right) 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk