Men at Work

The Profile

Australian new wave/pop rock band formed in Melbourne in 1979. Led by Colin Hay with Greg Ham, Ron Strykert, John Rees and Jerry Speiser, they broke through with Business as Usual and global hits like Down Under and Who Can It Be Now?, followed by Cargo and Two Hearts before disbanding in the mid-1980s.

Formed in Melbourne in 1979; classic lineup: Colin Hay, Greg Ham, Ron Strykert, John Rees, Jerry Speiser. Breakthrough with Business as Usual and the hit Down Under; follow-ups Cargo (1983) and Two Hearts (1985). "Down Under" was prominently sung at the Sydney 2000 Olympics closing ceremony.

Three DeBaser reviews revisit Men at Work’s 80s run with warm praise for Colin Hay’s distinctive voice and the band’s pop-rock/new wave-reggae blend. Business as Usual and Cargo draw acclaim for hooks and standouts like Down Under, Overkill and It’s a Mistake. Two Hearts is viewed as the least successful, yet still yields highlights such as Children on Parade. The reviews note links to The Police’s early sound and recall Down Under as a second Australian anthem (Sydney 2000).