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B i o g r a p h y |
FORMED: 1979, Melbourne, Australia
DISBANDED: 1985
Formed in 1979 by Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
as an acoustic duo, with the later joinning of Jerry Speiser playing
drums, John Rees playing bass and Greg Ham playing sax, flute and
keyboard. They signed with CBS Records and recorded their first single
"Who Can It Be" produced by the american Peter McIan, that was sent to
the american radio and reached #1. In 1981 they released their first
album, Business as Usual, bringing back their hit now named "Who Can It
Be Now?", and a new one, "Down Under", which also was a #1 hit, putting
Business as Usual as the #1 album in 1982, taking out Michael Jackson's
Thriller from the top. At this year the Men toured USA opening the act
for Fleetwood Mac.
They received the Grammy© as best new artist in 1983, and
release in USA their second album, Cargo, bringing such strong new hits
like "Overkill" and "It's a Mistake". They started an world tour,
passing through the US' Musical Festival that was transmitted live for
all the world. One of their shows was released in the video Live in San
Francisco, or Was It Berkeley? in 1984. At this year, the argues
started and Jerry Speiser left the band, taking John Rees with him.
Colin, Greg and Ron were back in the studio at the Xmas for the
recording of their third album, released in 1985 named Two Hearts, now
no more produced by McIan, but for Colin and Greg. It had some singles
released but didn't get so much attention, still it went gold. After
the release of Two Hearts, Greg and Ron also left the band, and Colin
toured with another musicians. After the tour Men at Work was over.
In 1987 Colin Hay released his first solo album, named Looking for
Jack, still by CBS Records, which had the single "Hold Me" as Top 40
song in USA. Greg Ham was producing soundtracks and acting in gold
australian productions, sometimes he were into some Colin concerts to
remember Men at Work. Colin Hay also stared some movies, like "Wills
& Burke" and "Georgia" with Judy Davis, he also was a guest VJ for
MTV.
Colin formed a band named Colin Hay Band in 1988 for touring, it was
formed with Gerry Hale, Paul Gadsby and Robert Dillon. In 1990 they
released the album Wayfaring Sons, now by MCA Records, which had a #1
hit in Brazil, the song "Into My Life", and this success brought Colin
to the world-known Rock in Rio festival at Rio de Janeiro.
Colin went independent and released in 1992 through Trafalgar
Records his third solo album, acoustic, named Peaks & Valleys, with
the featuring of his sister Carol in some backing vocals. In 1994 Colin
created his own musical label, the Lazy Eye Records America Inc., and
through it released his forth album, Topanga, with the featuring of
musicians from all his career, like Paul Gadsby and Robert Dillon from
Colin Hay Band, Chad Fischer from Lazlo Bane, Carol Hay and even Greg
Ham from Men at Work.
After so many requests Colin formed Men at Work again with Greg Ham,
for a tour in South America. The concerts in Brazil resulted in Men at
Work's fourth album, the live Brazil '96, released in 1997 only for
South America. At this same year, Colin recorded a new version for
"Overkill" with the band Lazlo Bane, which he's a kind of godfather.
Colin already has acted in another movies like "Cosi" and "Heaven's
Burning". Men at Work was back in studio for the recording of "The
Longest Night", a song composed by Greg Ham.
Men at Work was back but Colin didn't stop recording solo, in 1998
he released his fifth album, Transcendental Highway. Sony/Legacy
released Men at Work's live album in world wide with the adiction of
"The Longest Night" in the new studio version, now the album was just
named Brazil.
Colin composed and sung the song "Misty Bay" with his girlfriend,
the latin-singer/composer/dancer Cecilia Noel. He also acted
in the movie "The Craíc" with Jimeoin, a new acoustic version of
"Down Under" is on the soundtrack of this movie.
Colin released a new acoustic album in 2000, named Going Somewhere,
bringing the main songs played at his acoustic concerts that were not
in Peaks & Valleys.
Men at Work was the closing act for the Ending Cerimonies of Sydneys
Olympics, playing "Down Under", after 17 years live for all the world
again. Paul Hogan released the movie "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles"
and there's "Down Under" at the soundtrack, in a new version with the
featuring of Cecilia Noël & The Wild Clams. Colin is now
in the end production phase of his seventh solo, Men at Work has no
preview of any release.
A l b u m s |