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SAVAGE GARDEN’S DARREN HAYES chats to star in San Francisco about loving London and hanging with Kylie

It’s obvious to anyone that Savage Garden are not sad old rockers like Rolling Stones or Aerosmith. Despite that, the bands lead singer, Darren Hayes, reckons he’s already experienced the highlight of his career, even though he’s only 28. The multi-platinum selling band, famous for their heart-wrenching ballads, played at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and Darren says the experience surpassed even the feeling of scoring a number one record or touring the world.
“I don’t think it gets much better than that,” he admits, as we chat over coffee in his favourite diner, just down the road from his San Francisco home.
“It was such an emotional experience, especially because we’re Australian ourselves and got to perform in front of that huge global audience.”

Rehearsing twice a daily for a week before the performance, Darren rubbed shoulders with fellow Antipodeans Kylie Minogue and supermodel Elle MacPherson and got to know them better. “I already knew Kylie but it was the first time I’d ever really sat down and chatted to her about life. We talked about everything from my love life to my career. And I was talking to Elle MacPherson all week about her kids. Ultimately everybody took their celebrity and put it on the back burner for the Olympics. I know it sounds corny, but it was all about the human spirit and the athletes. It was more about them and less about designer shoes!”

Kylie and Elle aren’t the only celebs Darren gets to hang out with. Savage Garden take their name from a novel by the author of Interview With The Vampire, Anne Rice. Darren’s a huge fan, and the connection with Rice’s bloodsucking books doesn’t end there. Bring It On actress Kirsten Dunst first shot to fame after appearing in Interview…opposite Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and last year Darren persuaded Kirsten to star in the video for Savage Garden’s single I Knew I Loved You. “It was a long shot. To be honest, I didn’t think she’d do the video but she jumped at the chance. She’s just a great actress that I thought she was in love with me…but she was just acting! She was filming Bring It On at the time and she used to turn up looking like this little cheerleader – I thought that was just her style!”

When Darren’s not busy singing, he likes kicking back in the San Francisco home he shares with his personal assistant and best friend Leonie. “I’ve got really into yoga lately and I got to a point on tour where I could do it myself without an instructor. When I get time off, I like to sleep in a lot, cook for friends and forget that I’m in a business that revolves around me. I try and revolve around other people for a while.”

Darren decided to leave Australia and move to the US after visiting for the first time six years ago. “I’m Australian and I’ll always be Australian and I will eventually go home, I’m sure, but I felt a pull to America. It’s not necessarily because of my job, but it’s about soaking up the influences and the pop culture.”

Darren reveals he’s also considering buying a place in England. “I’ve been spending a bit of time in the UK and meeting people there and I really feel like that’s another source for me to draw from. I’d like to maybe get a flat in London. I’ll probably always be like that – I always need new things to inspire me.” If so, he’ll be able to join his mate Kylie, who also lives in the capital. Now we’ll just wait for our invite to their summer barbie!