Evolution of Daniel Johns

He shot to fame as the frontman of Australian rock band Silverchair, but nowadays Daniel Johns presents a figure drastically different to his earlier days as a chart-topping musician.

The 37-year-old was spotted out and about at Sydney’s Double Bay last week, shirtless and dishevelled, while accompanied by pal Joshua Mullane.

The sighting of the heavily tattooed musician comes over two decades after Silverchair formed, a period during which Daniel has battled anorexia and arthritis, faced a public split from singer Natalie Imbruglia, and witnessed the demise of his band in 2011.

Daniel Johns pictured in Sydney last week (L) and back in the early 1990s. Source: Diimex and Getty
Daniel Johns pictured in Sydney last week (L) and back in the early 1990s. Source: Diimex and Getty

Revealing a rather slim figure during his outing, Daniel was seen wearing nothing but a black jacket and matching trousers.

The array of bold tattoos splashed across his chest was clearly visible to onlookers, and he sported lipstick and smudged eyeliner, as well as platinum blond hair to contrast his dark, rugged beard.

With an arm around fellow musician Joshua, who was clad in a black singlet and trousers, Daniel was seen making his way down a sidewalk after the pair shared some glasses of wine at hotspot Pink Salt.

The 37-year-old was spotted out and about at Sydney’s Double Bay last week, shirtless and dishevelled, while accompanied by pal Joshua Mullane. Source: Diimex
The 37-year-old was spotted out and about at Sydney’s Double Bay last week, shirtless and dishevelled, while accompanied by pal Joshua Mullane. Source: Diimex
Revealing a rather slim figure during his outing, Daniel was seen wearing nothing but a black jacket and matching trousers. Photo: Dimex
Revealing a rather slim figure during his outing, Daniel was seen wearing nothing but a black jacket and matching trousers. Photo: Dimex
The sighting of the heavily tattooed musician comes over two decades after Silverchair formed. Photo: Dimex
The sighting of the heavily tattooed musician comes over two decades after Silverchair formed. Photo: Dimex

It is said the duo enjoyed partying at popular venue Mrs Sippy earlier on.

This is certainly not the first time the star has presented a rugged look while out on the streets of Sydney.

In June last year he was spotted sleeping outside his Surry Hills apartment, following a performance at the Sydney Opera House the night before.

They shared a bottle of rosé at Pink Salt. Photo: Dimex
They shared a bottle of rosé at Pink Salt. Photo: Dimex
The singer fell after washing back a bottle of wine. Photo: Dimex
The singer fell after washing back a bottle of wine. Photo: Dimex

He was spotted arriving at his Riley Street residence in the morning, laying down on the ground and falling asleep after struggling to get in.

Meanwhile a month earlier he had fallen and hit his head outside bar Low 302, with ambulance services called at the time to treat his reported bleeding from the head.

Speaking in an interview with Channel Nine’s Today Show a few weeks later, the musician brushed off the incident which saw him taken away on a stretcher in a neck brace, saying: “It was one of those dumb kind of falls, not a real event”.

He sported lipstick and smudged eyeliner. Source: Diimex
He sported lipstick and smudged eyeliner. Source: Diimex

The star, who pleaded guilty to a count of-range drink driving in Newcastle in November 2014, famously opened about his battle with an eating disorder back in 2004.

In a candid interview with ABC, the singer revealed he had contemplated suicide after struggling with anorexia as a teenager.

“'I could somehow convince myself that apples contained razorblades and wouldn't go to restaurants because I thought every chef in the world wanted to poison me,” he said in the interview.

The musician sported platinum blond hair to contrast his dark, rugged beard. Source: Diimex
The musician sported platinum blond hair to contrast his dark, rugged beard. Source: Diimex
The singers are certainly good friends. Source: Diimex
The singers are certainly good friends. Source: Diimex

“It [food] was just the enemy. I just hated the look of it, the smell of it. If anyone talked about it, I'd leave the room.”

Meanwhile in 2003 he spoke about suffering arthritis, revealing he first noticed severe physical pain in 2001.

"I think that one of the worst things about the arthritis was that I was unable to do my music,” he told The Telegraph.

He shot to fame as the frontman of Australian rock band Silverchair. Source: Getty
He shot to fame as the frontman of Australian rock band Silverchair. Source: Getty
In a candid interview with ABC, the singer revealed he had contemplated suicide after struggling with anorexia as a teenager. Source: Getty
In a candid interview with ABC, the singer revealed he had contemplated suicide after struggling with anorexia as a teenager. Source: Getty

He also admitted to the publication that he and his brother had “set a date” to “kill ourselves” if the pain didn’t cease.

Daniel gave this candid interview while still engaged to Australian singer and former Neighbours actress Natalie Imbruglia.

Daniel and Natalie Imbruglia tied the knot on New Year's Eve in 2003 but split in January 2008. Source: Getty
Daniel and Natalie Imbruglia tied the knot on New Year's Eve in 2003 but split in January 2008. Source: Getty
He began dating Estelita in early 2013, though the pair have not appeared on each other’s Instagram accounts in months. Instagram
He began dating Estelita in early 2013, though the pair have not appeared on each other’s Instagram accounts in months. Instagram

The pair announced their engagement in late 2002, and during the 2003 interview he said: "I knew I wanted to marry her when I was ill with the arthritis because she was strong about it all”.

However the couple’s romance was short-lived, with the pair announcing their split in January 2008 after tying the knot in December 2003.

Since then, Daniel has dated Australian model Louise Van der Vorst, as well as fashion designer Estelita Huijer.

Formed in 1992, Silverchair also featured Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou. Source: Getty
Formed in 1992, Silverchair also featured Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou. Source: Getty
He famously opened about his battle with an eating disorder back in 2004. Photo: Getty Images
He famously opened about his battle with an eating disorder back in 2004. Photo: Getty Images

His relationship with Louise was made public in July 2008, but after relocating to New York and then coming back to settle in Australia, the pair split in early 2012.

He began dating Estelita in early 2013, though the pair have not appeared on each other’s Instagram accounts in months.

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Since Silverchair split in 2011, the star has tried to steer clear of the spotlight.

In 2003 he spoke about suffering arthritis, revealing he first noticed severe physical pain in 2001. Photo: Getty Images
In 2003 he spoke about suffering arthritis, revealing he first noticed severe physical pain in 2001. Photo: Getty Images

But last year he made a comeback to the music scene, with his debut solo album titled Talk.

In an interview with The Project at the time, he brushed off the perception that he is a “tortured artist”.

“No I mean I'm definitely not... um... I don't know maybe I'm tortured, but I don't feel like I'm a tortured artist,” he said.

Formed in 1992, Silverchair also featured Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou, and managed to win 21 ARIAs during its time in the music scene with hits such as Straight Lines and Diorama.

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