How Much Were Silverchair Paid For Their First Big Day Out?

Silverchair were one of Australia’s most successful rock exports of the 1990s.

Their debut single ‘Tomorrow’ was released in 1994, shooting the Newcastle teens to Australian and later international success.

At the start of 1995, three months before their debut album ‘Frogstomp’ was released and while Tomorrow was still entrenched in the ARIA Top 5 and the follow up Pure Massacre had just been released, Silverchair played the Big Day Out.

They were on a bill that included Hole, The Cult, The Offspring and Ministry.

Silverchair’s then manager John Watson said the band deliberately wanted to play a smaller stage – and were paid in peanuts.

“In keeping with the band’s desire to keep their feet on the ground they were booked to play for a miniscule four figure fee on the second or third biggest stage at about 3pm in the afternoon, that made it even more of an event.”

John Watson told These Days

To hear more about Silverchair’s first Big Day Out listen to These Days.

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