SAVAGE GARDEN

In 1993, multi-instrumentalist and producer Daniel Jones placed an advertisement in Brisbane newspaper Time Off seeking a vocalist for his five-piece covers band Red Edge which he had formed with his brothers. Darren Hayes, who was studying at university, was the only respondent and joined after his first audition. Red Edge played venues along the Gold Coast pub and club circuit, while Hayes and Jones started to write original material. In June 1994, Hayes and Jones left Red Edge to pursue a career together originally as Crush. The new duo was renamed Savage Garden after a phrase from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, "Beauty was a Savage Garden".

By year's end, the pair had enough songs for a demo tape, they sent 150 copies to various record companies around the world. John Woodruff (The Angels, Baby Animals, Diesel) was the only positive response, he became their manager and negotiated a contract with Roadshow Music/Warner Music. In 1995, they entered the studio to work on their debut album with producer, Charles Fisher (Air Supply, Moving Pictures, 1927).

In July 1996, Savage Garden released their debut single "I Want You" under Roadshow Music. It peaked at #4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart and on the 1996 End of Year Singles Chart was highest placed by an Australian artist. On 30 September, they received their first ARIA Award nomination, in the category 'Breakthrough Artist – Single', for "I Want You". Their success garnered interest from international labels and they signed to Columbia Records. In November, "To the Moon and Back", was released which reached #1 in January 1997.

"I Want You" was released in North America in February, where it peaked at #4 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and by April had achieved gold status according to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It peaked at #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Truly Madly Deeply", the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached #1 and soon became their signature song. In March, the duo's debut album, 'Savage Garden', entered the Australian charts at #1 and peaked there for a total of 19 weeks. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "It revealed the influence of 1980s UK pop on Hayes and Jones' songwriting. Tears for Fears melodies blended seamlessly with Eurythmics-like arrangements, while Cure-styled guitar provided the icing on the cake." The album was released internationally two weeks later. "I Want You" was released across Europe in April and reached #11 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart. At the end of May, "To the Moon and Back" was the most played song on US radio.

In June, a fourth single, "Break Me Shake Me" was released in Australia as the album reached #3 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by RIAA. In September, Savage Garden won a record ten ARIA Awards from 13 nominations for the album and associated singles. They followed with their fifth Australian single, "Universe" in November. "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third US release and replaced Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997", after its 14-week run at #1.

In January 1998, "All Around Me", was released as a radio only single in Australia, although about 3000 physical copies were given away at their second concert in Brisbane. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on US radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. In November, "Santa Monica", the final single from the album, was released exclusively in Japan, accompanied by a video of a live performance at the Hard Rock Café.

In February 1999, "The Animal Song", which was featured in the Touchstone film The Other Sister, became a #3 hit in Australia and Top 20 in the UK and US. In September they released "I Knew I Loved You" – a love ballad – which peaked at #4 in Australia and #10 in the UK. It was followed in November by the duo's second album, 'Affirmation', produced by Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion). It was described by Ian McFarlane as "pure unadulterated pop, boasting enticing melodies and a classy and sleek production sound." The album peaked at #1 in Australia and eventually achieved 8× platinum. Within a month, it went platinum in the US, partly due to the success of the single "I Knew I Loved You", which hit #1 on the Hot 100, going platinum, and becoming the most-played single on US radio for the year.

'Affirmation' was a new turn for Savage Garden – it was mainstream pop and some songs had an adult contemporary sound. The group finished the year by winning two Billboard Music Awards: Adult Contemporary Single of the Year and Hot 100 Singles Airplay of the Year. In February 2000, as "Crash and Burn" became the third single from their second album, 1997's "Truly Madly Deeply" was still on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart, breaking the record for length of time on that chart. It would finally drop off after 123 weeks, while "Crash and Burn" peaked at #10.

In June, Hayes performed "'O Sole Mio" at Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti's annual charitable benefit concert Pavarotti and Friends. Savage Garden's success was reflected at the Billboard Music Awards, where they won Best Adult Contemporary Video and #1 Adult Contemporary Song of the Year, for "I Knew I Loved You", and #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year. "I Knew I Loved You" stayed on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart for 124 weeks. In late 2000, there was media speculation that the band would break up due to Hayes starting his solo album project. He announced that Jones was taking time off to work on a record label that he had founded. The band took a hiatus but was expected to reform by early 2002. However, in October 2001, Hayes announced that Savage Garden had broken up. Hayes and Jones had agreed that they would break up after finishing their tour for their second album.

It was reported that Jones did not learn about the actual date of the break-up until he read the report of Hayes announcing the split. After the announcement, the band's website posted a statement: “We are extremely grateful to our fans all around the world for their incredible support over the years. The success of Savage Garden and our time together has been an amazing experience... one that we will never forget. We just hope that you all understand our individual needs to continue growing. ” As of 2005, Savage Garden had been certified 12× platinum in Australia,] 7× platinum in the US, 3× platinum in Canada, 2× platinum in New Zealand, Singapore, and in the UK.

SINGLES

I Want You

21 JUL '96

#4

To the Moon and Back

24 NOV '96

#1

Truly Madly Deeply

16 MAR '97

#1

Break Me Shake Me

29 JUN '97

#7

Universe

2 NOV '97

#26

The Animal Song

1 MAR '99

#3

I Knew I Loved You

27 SEP '99

#4

Affirmation

17 JAN '00

#16

Crash and Burn

24 APR '00

#16

Chained to You

2 OCT '00

#21

Hold Me

22 JAN '01

#54

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Garden

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/