Men At Work
Heavily influenced by reggae, Men at Work formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1979. With their Police-esque rhythms, catchy guitar hooks, saxophones, and unparalleled sense of humor, the band's debut album, Business as Usual, became an international hit, breaking North American records.
Its founding member was Colin Hay on vocals and guitar. After playing as an acoustic duo with Ron Strykert between 1978 and 1979, he formed the group with Ron Strykert on bass and Jerry Speiser on drums. They were soon joined by Greg Ham on flute, saxophone and keyboards and John Rees on bass, with Ron switching to acoustic guitar. The group was managed by Russell Depeller, a friend of Colin Hay, whom he met at Latrobe University. This lineup achieved national and international success in the early 1980s.
In January 1983, they were the first Australian artists to have a number 1 and a number 1 simultaneously on the Billboard charts in the United States: "Business as Usual" (released on November 9, 1981) and "Down Under" (1981), respectively. With the same works, they achieved the distinction of having a number 1 album and a number 1 simultaneously on the charts in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
They won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1983, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1994, and have sold over 30 million albums worldwide. In May 2001, "Down Under" was listed at number 4 among the APRA's Top 30 Australian Songs, and Business as Usual appeared in the book Top 100 Australian Albums (October 2010).
Their funny and irreverent videos became MTV favorites, helping to propel "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under" to number one on the charts. Men at Work's momentum carried over to their second album, 1983's Cargo, before the band's popularity waned. The album achieved less success than their first, reaching only the third position and selling three million copies in the United States.
In 1985, Men at Work disbanded, becoming one of the most memorable phenomena of new wave. In 1996, original members Colin Hay and Greg Ham reunited and toured the world, also with hired musicians. In 1998, they produced a live album, Brazil, recorded live during their Brazilian tour.
In 2000, the band played at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games in that city, singing the song "Down Under" in chorus with the audience. On April 19, 2012, Greg Ham was found dead in a house in a Melbourne suburb by a group of friends. The causes of death are still being investigated.
Interestingly, "Down Under" is a term of endearment for Australia. The cheerful and humorous song is about Australians traveling the world confident in their country's virtues and the imposition of North American and European culture on their country's natural beauty. The track was a sales success in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where it reached number one on the charts, being their only song to enter the "Top 20" in that country. It became an unofficial anthem for Australia for various underground or musical movements in the country.
MEN AT WORK - FUTPEDIAMUSIC SELECTION
Men At Work
Futpediamusic Selection
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