Home · Artists · Men at Work

Melbourne, Australia · 1979–1986 *1996–2002 *2019–present, (occasional reunions until 2012)

Men at Work

Men at Work is an Australian rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1979, and is recognized for its distinctive sound that blends elements of rock, pop, and new wave. Its most iconic lineup included Colin Hay on vocals and guitar, Ron Strykert on guitar, John Rees on bass, Greg Ham on flute, saxophone, and keyboards, and Jerry Speiser on drums. From the start, they captured the public's attention with songs that became classics, such as "Down Under", "Who Can It Be Now?", and "Overkill", which resonated both in Australia and internationally.

A key moment in their career occurred in January 1983, when they became the first Australian artists to reach number one on the Billboard albums and singles charts in the United States, thanks to their album Business as Usual and the single "Down Under". This album, released in 1981, was not only a major success in their home country but also sold millions of copies abroad, cementing their place in the music scene. Their second work, Cargo, released in 1983, also had a significant impact, reaching number one in Australia and number three in the United States, though it did not match the success of its predecessor.

new wave Rock Pop Pop rock 1970s
1 Albums
9 Songs
Start playing

Most played on DoReSol

Essential songs

01

Who Can It Be Now?

Business As Usual · 1981

3:26 02

I Can See It in Your Eyes

Business As Usual · 1981

3:33 03

Down Under

Business As Usual · 1981

3:46 04

Underground

Business As Usual · 1981

3:08 05

People Just Love to Play With Words

Business As Usual · 1981

3:33 06

Be Good Johnny

Business As Usual · 1981

3:39 07

Touching the Untouchables

Business As Usual · 1981

3:42 08

Catch a Star

Business As Usual · 1981

3:32 09

Down by the Sea

Business As Usual · 1981

6:54

1 album|s · 1981

Full discography

Business As Usual 1981 ★ Essential

Business As Usual

9 song|s · new wave

Share stage, decade and obsessions

Related artists

The Police

The Police
Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet
Icehouse

Icehouse
Duran Duran

Duran Duran
Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears

Details, awards, members and more

More about Men at Work

Biography

Throughout their career, Men at Work received several accolades, including a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1983 and an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1994. However, in the mid-1980s, the band faced significant lineup changes, leading Colin Hay to continue as a solo artist after the group disbanded in 1985. Despite this, the essence of Men at Work resurfaced in 1996 when Hay and Ham reunited for tours, and in 2019, Hay revived the band's name with a new lineup. Their legacy endures, particularly through songs like "Down Under", which has become an unofficial anthem of Australia and remains a benchmark in Australian music.

Details

Born
1 Jan 1979
Country
🇦🇺 Australia
Genre
new wave

Awards and honors

  • Grammy

Members

· actual
Colin Bayley
founder · actual
Colin Hay
· actual
Greg Ham
founder · actual
Ron Strykert
· actual
Stuart Speed
· 1980–1984
John Rees
drums · 1998–1999
Peter Maslen
drums, founder
Jerry Speiser

Record labels

Columbia Records Columbia Epic Records Epic

Links

Spotify Wikipedia