Silverchair Personnel's Story Struggles With Mental Health And Drug Addiction

Silverchair (Instagram @silverchairband)

JAKARTA - Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou of Silverchair discussed the struggle against drug addiction and mental health in their band.

In 2011, the Australian rock band, which was formed in 1992, disbanded and entered what they described as 'infinite hibernation'.

Speaking in a recent interview with Australia's ABC, Joannou recalled that around the fourth album, Diorama, former vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Daniel Johns have rarely been in touch with them since the band broke up began taking creative control.

"Ben may be the one who has the most difficulty dealing with it," said Joannou. He may feel his friend no longer trusts his music assessment. And the creative relationship they have is almost gone.

Gillies admits that it was 'cheat in my ability' but Daniel was amazing in what he did.

However, the use of marijuana increases several times a day, and says: 'I've never experienced that before. I started to feel a little out of hand. Not the reality, but I couldn't control it.'

He was then offered his first ecstasy tablet which 'it makes me overwhelmed'. He added: 'I know what I know now is an acute annoyance. It's really scary. I thought I was going crazy.'

Gillies continued that he 'didn't tell anyone' because he was 'taking the fear of admitting it means admitting that something was wrong and that I was crazy'.

He reportedly stopped smoking marijuana, but found the episode sparked underlying anxiety, causing him to withdraw.

He also admitted that it took me a long time to talk about it openly, and was still able to overcome his anxiety.

"The reason I'm doing this here and in this book is because what I find is that being open about this is indeed free, but also helping others."

Gillies and Chris Joannou released a memoir entitled Love & Pain this month about the ups and downs of Silverchair.