Savage Garden is an International music giant. They've sold over SIX million albums worldwide and their current CD 'Affirmation' is still selling well. Having just arrived back at his San Francisco home after a grueling tour of the US, lead singer Darren Hayes found time to chat to STAR* about love, life and relationships.

Star*: SO WHO IS DARREN HAYES?

Darren: He's a cheeky little kid who used to sing in the shower and gets paid to do it as a man. But I am really just a little boy.

Star*: DO YOU LIKE PEOPLE SEEING THE REAL YOU?

Darren: To a certain degree. I am a terrible liar; so with music and lyrics I'd rather be honest. When I get out there and sing I really feel and mean it.

Star*: HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR HEART BROKEN?

Darren: Oh yeah. Of course. I think that most of my songs are about that. I love the heart. I am very committed. I am full of passion and I definitely would give up a lot for love and relationships. Right now though. I am definitely at a stage where I realize that you don't need somebody else to be complete. You can have somebody else to complement you. I've realized that you need to stand on your own two feet.

Star*: IS THERE A SECRET RECIPE FOR THE BROKEN HEART?

Darren: If the love isn't mutual, someone's heart will always be broken. If I'm in love with someone and we break up I don t think I could ever stop loving that person. I've been in love three times and I don't think I will ever stop loving those people. When you see them, you fall in love all over again well, at least I do. You realize that you have to make a decision and that's the hardest part. Because you know that if you're a good person and you're a caring person and you love and care for the other person. Then the situation is bad for you.

Star*: IS IT EASIER HAVING YOUR HEART BROKEN IF YOU'RE A STAR?

Darren: I haven't had a relationship in a while. Maybe it's because I'm afraid. I don't know. I don't really know what it's like because I wasn't dating while we were recording Affirmation. It's hard for me to know why people are interested in me. Is it because of my job? I'm constantly travelling around and it's not easy. Even if I did have a long-term relationship, it would end up being a strange one. We'd be on the phone the whole time and that can be pretty difficult.

Star*: If a friend dated my ex?

Darren: Don't even go there. You can't date someone in the circle. especially if you're a jealous person"

Star*: HOW IMPORTANT IS FRIENDSHIP TO YOU?

Darren: Extremely important. I can really be defined by my friends. There's one girl who's my best friend in the whole world, she's like a sister to me. We've known each other for about five years and we work together. There are another two or three people who I really treat like family too. I'd rather have a few really intense relationships, instead of a lot of friends or acquaintances. There are just a few people that I really trust.

Star*: DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A GOOD FRIEND?

Darren: I think I'm a great friend .I'm very loyal and very loving. I think I can be frustrating at times. If I'm happy I'm really happy. And if I'm angry, I'm really, really angry. But I think I am a good friend to have.

Star*: DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DANIEL (THE OTHER HALF OF SAVAGE GARDEN)

Darren: It's almost like the relationship I have with my brother - in that I love my brother but we don't have a lot in common. He's a bit of a mystery, Daniel. He doesn't go out a lot and isn't really into being a product or selling himself. I think he's more interested in the business and how it works, the statistical, financial kind of game.

I guess I'm an artist who really takes it all on board. I hurt when I'm insulted and I brim when I'm complimented. I know that when we're in the studio or on stage together, I love being with him.

It's a very, very special connection, and maybe it's special because it doesn't exist on any of those other levels. It's kind of like we have to fuss each other out. We're always really happy for the first three or four shows of the tour. Actually he's been happy all year this year... because essentially he doesn't do anything! (Laughs)

No, it's really been fun to see him happy because in the past he's had to do press and things like that, which just aren't his thing. It kind of whittled him away a bit and he became really quite and sad about it, but now he's quite a happy little bean!

Star*: DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT BEING THE FRONTMAN?

Darren: In a word, 'YES'. It's a bit tough, to be honest, but it's a compromise and it's one of those things and, you know, I love Daniel. My relationship with him is a bit like a marriage. I was married, and then I changed my mind, and then I got married to a band and involved in a career with someone.

Daniel didn't really realize what he was doing until he got into it and he's kind of changed his mind about certain aspects of the job a little bit. I just try and support him in that and obviously some days, it's difficult. I am a perfectionist, I'm very obsessed about my voice and my physical health, so when I'm speaking or singing, I tend to feel the drain. But we support each other; he does the things that I don't do. He sits in the accountants' meetings when I stare out of the window and dream costumes. He's the other side Savage Garden, we get on well and I love him.