Men at Work: Australia's New Wave Export

Men at Work were an Australian rock band that achieved global fame in the early 1980s, becoming the first Australian artists to have a simultaneous number-one album and single in the United States. Hailing from Melbourne, the band's blend of new wave, pop, and reggae-infused rock, marked by witty lyrics and catchy saxophone lines, defined a specific moment in international music.

Early Career

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Men at Work coalesced around the songwriting of Scottish-born vocalist and guitarist Colin Hay and guitarist Ron Strykert. The initial lineup was filled out by saxophonist Greg Ham, drummer Jerry Speiser, and bassist John Rees. The band honed their sound and built a local following through the vibrant pub rock circuit, leading to a recording contract with the CBS label in Australia.

Breakthrough

The band's 1981 debut album, Business as Usual, propelled them to instant international stardom. Driven by the quirky, globally successful single "Down Under," the album spent 15 weeks at number one on the Australian charts before replicating that success in the United States and the United Kingdom. "Business as Usual" topped the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks and eventually sold over six million copies in the US alone, achieving multi-platinum status.

Key Tracks

Down Under - This chart-topping anthem, with its iconic flute riff and playful lyrics about Australian identity, became the band's signature song and a cultural touchstone.

Who Can It Be Now? - The lead single from their debut, characterized by its paranoid lyrics and distinctive saxophone hook, introduced Men at Work to international audiences.

Overkill - A standout track from their second album, Cargo, this song showcased a more introspective and atmospheric side of Colin Hay's songwriting.

It's a Mistake - This politically-charged single from Cargo demonstrated the band's ability to craft catchy pop-rock with a serious undercurrent.

The massive success of their first album was followed by 1983's Cargo, which also performed strongly, reaching number three in the US and spawning several hit singles. However, internal tensions led to lineup changes, with Speiser and Rees departing after the Cargo tour. The band's third album, 1985's Two Hearts, featuring a revised lineup, saw diminished commercial returns, and Men at Work disbanded shortly after its release. The band's music experienced a resurgence in the 1990s and beyond, particularly through film and television placements, cementing their legacy as definitive figures of 1980s new wave rock.

Artists with a similar upbeat, quirky new wave or pub rock style from Australia include Split Enz, Midnight Oil, and INXS.