Ben Gillies
The powerhouse drummer whose explosive, teenage talent helped propel Silverchair from a garage band to global grunge fame.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian musician·Birthday: October 24·Generation X
Biography
Ben Gillies was just 12 years old when he started jamming with schoolmates Daniel Johns and Chris Joannou, forming the band that would become Silverchair. His aggressive, precise drumming provided the thunderous backbone for their 1995 debut 'Frogstomp', recorded while they were still 15. Gillies anchored the band's sound through its evolution from raw grunge to ambitious art-rock, his playing growing more sophisticated with each album. After Silverchair's hiatus, he explored new musical avenues, fronting the band Bento and working on solo material, stepping out from behind the kit. His career is a testament to the raw, youthful energy that can ignite a worldwide phenomenon.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ben was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded and was the drummer for Silverchair, whose debut album 'Frogstomp' sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.
- Co-wrote several of Silverchair's hit songs, including the riff for their first major single 'Tomorrow'.
- Won multiple ARIA Awards with Silverchair, including a record-tying six awards for their 2007 album 'Young Modern'.
Did You Know?
He and Daniel Johns wrote the riff for 'Tomorrow' during a year 8 high school music class.
He is left-handed but plays a right-handed drum kit.
After Silverchair, he formed the band Bento, where he served as lead vocalist and guitarist, not drummer.
“We were just kids making a noise that shook the world.”
