But I didn't inhale!

[Proud Pies]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22043328-661,00.html

Silverchair spliff slip



Karen Collier

July 09, 2007 05:20pm

FEDERAL MP Peter Garrett is staying tight-lipped over comments that he burned the midnight oil smoking marijuana with Silverchair's Daniel Johns and U2's Bono.

The rock star turned politician lay on a bed smoking joints with the frontmen and Johns' wife, singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia, Johns told radio today.

But he later dismissed the drug comments as a dumb joke, saying in an official statement he felt sick that he may have caused embarrassment.

Johns told Triple J the group got together in Sydney to listen to demos for Silverchair's latest album, Young Modern.

Johns, whose band is on a national tour with fellow Aussie band Powderfinger later this year, recounted smoking marijuana in Sydney in the radio interview.

"He (Bono) buzzed me over to the house that he was staying at in Sydney and asked if I'd play the demos and it was really one of the most surreal moments in my life," Johns said.

"It was me and Natalie and Peter Garrett and Bono laying on Bono's bed smoking joints listening to Young Modern demos."

Young Modern, the latest Silverchair album, was released in March this year.

U2 played concerts in Sydney late last year.

Mr Garrett, the Opposition's environment spokesman, entered Parliament after the 2004 election.

The former Midnight Oil lead singer refused to comment on the marijuana comments.

All inquiries were referred to a statement issued by Johns that read: "In an interview I did this morning on Triple J I made a stupid joke.

"It's just been brought to my attention that some people in the media have taken my dumb joke seriously so I want to set the record straight," the statement read.

"At no time have I ever smoked a joint with Bono or Peter Garrett.

"They are both well known to be very anti-drugs so that's why I assumed everybody would know I was joking when I made that comment.

"Clearly that wasn't the case and I feel sick that I might have caused embarrassment to two people who I admire so much.

"I was fortunate enough to once get to play them some of my demos but I swear that no joints were involved.

"I guess I felt a bit like a name dropper mentioning them on the radio so that's why I added a silly throwaway joke.

"I accept that drug use is no laughing matter and I apologise sincerely for any confusion or harm I've caused."

[David]

just a dumb joke. Naturally. I believe him.

Not that I care. Why shouldn't a politician try marijuana during his youth? Let's get real here.

[sherrife]

Dude, they´re saying it happened last summer!

But sounds like a joke to me, simply because Bono has too much to lose by smoking marijuana with people he doesn´t know well enough to be assured of their silence.

[David]

oh right.
Still, I find it hard to believe it's a joke. I mean, seriously.

[member34258]

90/5 of Australians have done it.

[magpiesgirl]

Who cares if they had a session together?Half his luck to be even in the same room as Bono let alone having a smoke up with him!

[David]

I wonder if Bono gets even more pretentious when he's high?

member I agree, probably the majority of Australians have done it, so it's not such a big deal, although I didn't realise that Garrett was supposed to have done it when he was already an MP...

That one's a bit more up in the air... should the people we vote in be smoking illegal substances? Hmm... actually I still don't think it's a big deal. Just find it funny the way they're trying to get out of it now.

[Alec. J. Hidell]

Hash is far better

[EBB]

Silver chair looked wasted when receiving an award at this yr's ARiA's. Daniel was even sucking a chup-a-chup. Hmmm....maybe he missed the lolly boat while being a rock-star.

Hash and "the gods must be crazy"...now that's freaky.

[Proud Pies]

[Shane Whelan]

Dope smokers as leaders?

No thanks.

We have enough petty criminals there withour encouraging this type.

This dills who do drugs are very poor role models.

[Shane Whelan]

[Brewer's Droop]

And yet you posted this Magpie Greg (a.k.a. Shane Whelan)

[The Prototype]

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

I thought he was off the greens