Men At Work – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Men At Work Biography
Men at Work is an Australian rock band that was founded in Melbourne in 1978 and is best known for classics like “Down Under,” “Who Can It Be Now?” “Be Good Johnny,” “Overkill,” and “It’s a Mistake,” among others. Colin Hay, the band‘s founder and frontman, sings lead vocals and plays guitar. Hay created the band with Ron Strykert on bass guitar and Jerry Speiser on drums after performing as an acoustic duo in 1978–79. Greg Ham on flute, saxophone, and keyboards joined them soon after, as did John Rees on bass guitar, with Strykert returning to lead guitar. Russell Depeller, a friend of Hay’s whom he met at La Trobe University, was in charge of the group. This line-up achieved national and international success during the early to mid 1980s.
They became the first Australian artists to have a No. 1 album and No. 1 single on the US Billboard charts in January 1983, with Business as Usual (published on November 9, 1981) and “Down Under” (1981). They scored simultaneous No. 1 albums and No. 1 singles in the Australian, New Zealand, and United Kingdom charts with the same works. Cargo, their second album, debuted at No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in New Zealand, No. 3 in the United States, and No. 8 in the United Kingdom on May 2, 1983. Their third album, Two Hearts, debuted in the top 20 in Australia and the top 50 in the United States on April 3, 1985.
They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1994 and have sold over 30 million albums worldwide, including the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1983. “Down Under” was ranked No. 4 on the APRA Top 30 Australian Songs list in May 2001, and ‘Business as Usual’ was included in the book 100 Best Australian Albums (October 2010).
Speiser and Rees were asked to quit the group in 1984, leaving Hay, Ham, and Strykert as the only remaining members. Strykert chose to quit during the recording of the Two Hearts album. Ham also quit soon after the release of Two Hearts, leaving Hay as the only remaining member.
Hay and Ham reassembled Men at Work in mid-1996, after a ten-year hiatus, to tour South America. They had significant fan support there during their earlier career, and fans had been clamoring for a reunion. Stephen Hadley (ex-The Black Sorrows, Paul Kelly Band) on bass guitar and backing vocals; Simon Hosford on guitar and backup vocals (Colin Hay backing band); and John Watson on drums made out the 1996 lineup (The Black Sorrows). One of their European tours was canceled in the mid-2000s, and the band split in 2002.
Ham died after an apparent heart attack on April 19, 2012, at his residence. Hay resurrected the Men at Work identity in 2019 and began traveling with a backup band that included none of the other original members.
The band has received numerous honors and nominations, including induction into the ARIA Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Countdown Australian Music Awards. Their US label presented them with a Crystal Globe Award for $100 million in record sales in August 1983. They won a Juno Award for “International LP of the Year” in Canada the same year. Over 30 million albums have been sold globally by Men at Work.
Men At Work Discography
| Two Hearts | |
| Cargo | |
| Business as Usual |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Men At Work’S Greatest Hit Song?
It is difficult to determine what Men at Work’s greatest hit song is, as the band was only active for a few years and released a limited number of singles. However, some of their most popular songs include “Down Under,” “Who Can It Be Now?,” and “Overkill.” While each of these songs was successful in its own right, some music critics and fans might deem them inferior to other singles that the band put out during its short career. For example, “Blue for You” and “Helpless Automaton” are commonly considered to be among Men at Work’s best work, though they were never released as singles. Ultimately, choosing a single greatest song for Men at Work is a matter of opinion.
How Many Number Of Men At Work’S Song?
There are a lot of different interpretations to this question, so it really depends on who you ask. However, some popular songs that are often thought of when considering this question include “The Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson and “Man in the Workplace” by Macklemore. Both songs are very catchy and popular, which is probably why they’re often associated with the question you asked. Additionally, they both contain a lot of meaningful lyrics that can speak to many different people’s experiences. Other popular songs that may be considered when answering this question include “Man on Fire” by Edie Brickell and “The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan. Ultimately, there are a lot of great songs out there that could be considered in response to your question. It really just depends on what someone’s personal preferences are.
What Is Men At Work’S Most Famous Song?
The most famous song by Men at Work is “Down Under”. The song was released in 1981 and quickly rose to the top of the charts in several countries. It has since become an Australian classic and is often played at sporting events and other public gatherings.
Most Searched For Men At Work Songs
| Down Under | |
| Who Can It Be Now? | |
| Be Good Johnny | |
| Overkill | |
| It’s A Mistake | |
| Down By the Sea | |
| I Can See It in Your Eyes | |
| Everything I Need | |
| Underground | |
| Catch a Star |