Since they're completely obsessed with matters of the heart (sigh) on their new album Neon Ballroom, we couldn't help but ask the guys in the Australian band silverchair to spill their gut about their love life.

How do you guys define love?
Chris: I suppose it's commitment.

Between two people?
Daniel: No, just one. [laughs.] I don't know, I'm not the person to ask about girlfriends. I'm not in love, so I don't know.

How do you know when you're in love?
Chris: It just happens. My girlfriend and I started as friends, and it went from there. I've been with her for three years now.

Ben: I've been with my girlfriend for about 18 months. I thought she was a hot babe. There was physical attraction at first, then after I got to know her, I found out that she was a really good person and that she loves me.

Is it possible to have normal relationships when you're on the road so much?
Chris: Ben and I do.

Daniel: I don't know about normal. I think it's possible, but it would be very hard. I don't really trust people inless I've known them for a long time, and right now I don't know any girls I would want to go out with. That's probably why I've never had a real girlfriend. But I have my dog, Sweep.

Do you worry about leaving your girlfriends behind in Australia when you go on the road?
Chris: We've come this far, so I don't think my being on tour is going to change things.

Ben: Yeah. I don't really worry about it either.

Do you email or call them everyday?
Chris: No, not everyday. That gets abit expensive.

Ben: We manage to talk every few days. We don't have laptops on the road yet. I can't wait until we do so I can email my girlfriend love letters.

Would you ever date one of the screaming girls at your concerts?
Chris: No.

Daniel: That would be a bit uncomfortable. It's flattering, though, and really sweet, but that's about it.

Ben: I wouldn't, because they'd want to go out with me for all teh wrong reasons. I mean, tehy love the band, not me.

So, there's a difference between the girls who follow you around and teh ones your dating?
Daniel: The girls who follow us around are obsessed with silverchair. I think you have to be with someone who's not obsessed with the band. It's great that they like our music, but that's not all we're about.

Chris: Well put.

How can you tell if she's for real?
Chris: Ah, you can tell in the first 30 seconds. It's just a feeling you get that is just right.

Ben: Chris and I grew up with the girls we're with, so we know that they like us for who we are.

Has a girl backstage ever caught your eye?
Daniel: Yeah, I've seen a few good-looking girls backstage. But I didn't talk to them. We have this rule to never let anyone on our tour bus.

Ben: There are quite a few attractive females at some of teh shows we play. Sometimes I'll be playing, and I'll look down in the front row and see this good looking girl and go, Whoa! It's funny, sometimes we'll come offstage after a show and be like, "Did you see that girl down in front?"

Ben: [Laughs.] Sometimes girls flash their breasts.

Daniel: On their boyfriend's sholders, of all things!

Chris: And then there are the couples who make out in the front row.

Daniel: Right in the front row. Is that love?

Everybody: [Laughs.]

Daniel: So, yeah, we might see pretty girls at our shows, eitehr backstage or in the audience, but they're not really who e want for ourselves, ya know?

So, if the girls at your shows don't appeal to you, which girls do?
Daniel: I don't think I'm too picky or anything. I just want to meet a nice girl. It's not that I'm against dating a fan; it's just that I don't think I could get intimately involved. I mean, I'm sure they're good people. I would just prefer someone different, someone who might actually like me, not just my music.

What if you fell in love with someone who didn't like your music?
Ben: I wouldn't care.

Chris: I wouldn't worry as long as she liked me.

Daniel: It would worry me. I couldn't go out with someone who didn't like my music, because writing songs is such a big part of my life. If she didn't appreciate what I do, I would have to hate ehr for it. My girlfriend would hav eto like similar music. There'd be too many fights if she didn't.

Has your career ever caused you to lose someone you loved?
Daniel: One of the new songs is based on a relationship that didn't work out. But, most of the songs are about not having a relationship at all.

Ben: I broke up with my ex-girlfriend claiming it was because of the band, but really I didn't like her anymore, and I used that as an excuse. If you really like the person, you can make it work- whether you are in a band or not.

Chris: I agree. If you're really in love, there are always ways to spend time together.

Describe you're ideal relationship.
Daniel: Just being with someone you're happy with when you're together. I don't think it gets anymore ideal than that.

Have you ever been heartbroken?
Daniel: No. I've never really been in love, so I can't say I would know what it feels like. I hear it doesn't feel too good.

Ben: I had my heart broken when I was about 14. It was really dumb.

Chris: He had an elementary school crush.

Ben: She broke up with me because I was too afraid to kiss her. She was this haughty chick...

Chris: ... with the in crowd. One time I wrote a girl one of those letters asking her to check the box "yes" or "no" if she wanted to go out with me. She checked "no." I was crushed!

Everybody: [Laughs.]

So,Daniel, if you've never fallen in love, how will you know when you do?