Calgary Sun
By Lisa Wilton
Like most 17-year-olds, Chris Joannou just wants to graduate from high school and get on with his life.
And like many of these teens, he has the extra pressure of a part-time job outside of classes.
The difference is, Joannou's "job" as bassist for youthful Aussie supergroup silverchair is slightly more glamorous than say, flipping burgers.
"We have a month to go and then we're through for good," says Joannou of his dwindling days in the education system.
"I think we've balanced (being in the band) and being in school well."
As for any plans for university or college, Joannou says he and his teenaged bandmates are happy just to attend the school of life, thank you very much.
"I don't think we really need to (go to college.) This is what we want to do."
In fact, Joannou knew playing rock music was one of his only goals in life since he and singer-guitarist Daniel Johns, 18, and drummer Ben Gillies, 17, formed silverchair when he was 12.
After just three years together, the Newcastle natives -- who play the one-day rock festival Edgefest Wednesday at Race City Speedway -- recorded their million-selling debut album, frogstomp, which catapulted them high into the upper reaches of the rock 'n' roll food chain, next to idols Led Zeppelin and Nirvana.
"We couldn't have asked for much more," says the laid-back Joannou from his hotel room in Hamburg, Germany. "We're really happy with everything."
Of course, he says this in the same tone of voice as someone who couldn't be more bored if they had just witnessed a Kenny G. concert.
But this is exactly the we-don't-care-we-just-wanna-rock attitude that has endeared them to legions of pubescent, grunge-lovin' fans and made them notorious with journalists who only ask for one sentence that doesn't begin with "well, yeah."
Not that they give a flying you-know-what about what journalists think about them. The band's latest release, Freak Show, is already on its way to multi-platinum sales in Canada and they've just wrapped up a European tour with British rock giants Bush.
They have been compared to Black Sabbath, and although the trio weren't even born when Sabbath was in its heyday, Joannou admits the '70s heavy-metal group is a major influence.
When asked whether silverchair will stray from the blazing guitar solos and chugging riffs, Joannou answers: "(Our career) is going to take its course. Who knows what's going to happen, really."
