Men At Work

Men at Work were an Australian rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1979. The best-known lineup consisted of Colin Hay on lead vocals and guitar, Ron Strykert on lead guitar, John Rees on bass, Greg Ham on saxophone, flute, and keyboards, and Jerry Speiser on drums. Hay, an immigrant from Scotland, formed an acoustic duo with Strykert in 1978, which evolved into the full band the following year.

Rise to International Fame

The band became a popular fixture in the Australian pub rock scene, eventually signing with Columbia Records in 1981. Their debut album, "Business as Usual," was released in Australia in November 1981 and in the US and UK in 1982. The album was a massive international success, reaching number one in several countries. It spent 15 weeks at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart and five weeks at number one in the UK. The album's success was propelled by its hit singles, "Who Can It Be Now?" and the iconic "Down Under."

In January 1983, Men at Work became the first Australian artists to simultaneously have a number one album and a number one single on the US Billboard charts with "Business as Usual" and "Down Under," respectively. This achievement was mirrored in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The band won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1983. Their success was fueled by their catchy, new wave sound infused with reggae and pop-rock elements, and humorous music videos that became staples on MTV.

Signature Hits

"Who Can It Be Now?"

Released in 1981, this song about paranoia and the desire for solitude became their first major international hit, reaching number one in the United States in October 1982.

"Down Under"

This song, which has become an unofficial Australian anthem, is lyrically about the global travels of an Australian and ironically touches on the "selling" of Australia. It hit number one in numerous countries, including Australia, the UK, and the US. In 2010, a court ruled that the song's flute riff plagiarized the 1930s children's song "Kookaburra," a decision that deeply affected flute player Greg Ham.

Follow-up Success and Breakup

The band's second album, "Cargo," was released in 1983 and also achieved multi-platinum status, featuring the top 10 hits "Overkill" and "It's a Mistake". However, internal tensions began to mount. In 1984, drummer Jerry Speiser and bassist John Rees were asked to leave the band. The remaining trio of Hay, Ham, and Strykert recorded the third album, "Two Hearts" (1985), with session musicians. Strykert left during the recording, and Ham departed after the album's release, leading to the band's dissolution in early 1986.

Post-Breakup and Reunions

After the breakup, frontman Colin Hay embarked on a solo career. In 1996, Hay and Ham reformed Men at Work with new members for a tour of South America, where they had retained a strong following. They continued to tour periodically until the early 2000s. Greg Ham was found dead in his home in April 2012. Since 2019, Colin Hay has toured under the Men at Work name with a new lineup of Los Angeles-based musicians, with Hay being the only original member. Men at Work has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.