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MEN AT WORK
Reggae / New Wave / Pop





St. Kilda, Victoria
Australia

Profile Views:  362323




Last Login:  12/14/2009
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   MEN AT WORK: General Info
Member Since9/11/2007
Band MembersCOLIN HAY - VOCALS / ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC GUITARS


RON STRYKERT - VOCALS / ELECTRIC &
ACOUSTIC GUITARS / BASS



GREG HAM - VOCALS / SAX / SYNTHS / HARMONICA



JERRY SPEISER - DRUMS / BACKING VOCALS



JOHN REES - BASS / BACKING VOCALS



1984/85 LINEUP:

COLIN HAY - VOCALS / ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC GUITARS
RON STRYKERT - VOCALS / ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC GUITARS / BASS
GREG HAM - VOCALS / SAX / SYNTHS / HARMONICA

CURRENT LINE-UP
REUNION 2008?
InfluencesCOLIN HAY: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Booker T & The MGs, Sam & Dave, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, The Animals, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones, John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Peter Cook & Dudley Moore, Joe Cocker, Free, The Faces, Van Morrison, James Taylor, Otis Redding, Jeff Beck, Traffic, The Pretenders, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Whitley, Jimmy Webb, Tommy Cooper, Billy Connolly, Francie & Josie, Johnny Cash, Mitch Hedberg, Jose Feliciano, Burt Bacharach, Frank Sinatra, Monty Python, Spectrum, Chain, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, The Shuttleworths, Denis Law, George Best, Jim Baxter, Cold Chisel, ACDC, Barry Humphries, Gough Whitlam, Cecilia Noël, Bob Franklin, Kim Gyngell, Gate, Greg Ham, Chad Fischer

GREG HAM: Beatles, JC JAZZ, Fortyfives, Johnny Sunburst, Peppermint Jam, Shanks pony, The Dealers, South paw, The soulway express, Wally and the gators, Greg Sneddon, Peter McIan, Dixie jazz, Frogs on toast, Greg Poppleton, Mooncoin, Glen Miller band, Australian Ratpack, Simply bushed, Swing city, The Velvet set, Rob Williams

JERRY SPEISER: John Flynn, Eva Burrows, Helen Caldicott, Fred Hollows, Douglas Mawson

JOHN REES: -
Sounds LikeColin Hay "Down Under"


Record LabelSony
Type of LabelMajor


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   About MEN AT WORK




^FORMED: 1979, Melbourne, Australia
DISBANDED: After The Cargo World Tour late '83
Strykert went on to start a new album 'Two Hearts'
With Hay & Ham but left halfway through the recording.

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.



^The Grace Darling Hotel Collingwood Vic, the men did some of their early gigs here.


^First release was a self pressed "7 with Down under on the b-side

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.


^Business as usual number 1 worldwide '83


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 manager of the band Russell Deppler sacked Jerry Speiser & John Rees.


^'83's Cargo produced 4 chart singles a Top ten album

Colin, Greg and Ron were back in the studio around Xmas for the recording of their third album, released in 1985 named Two Hearts, now no more produced by McIan, but by Colin, Greg & Ron. 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 other musicians. After the tour Men at Work was over.


^'85's Two Hearts marked the end but went gold with two chart singles

In 1987 Colin Hay released his first solo album, named Looking for Jack, still on 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, guested at Colin Hay's concerts. 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 The 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 on MCA Records, which had a 1 hit in Brazil, with 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 & was acoustic, named Peaks & Valleys, with the featuring of his sister Carol in some backing vocals. In 1994 Colin created his own record label, 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.


^Colin Hay's 1994 album Topanga featured Greg Ham of 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, Brazil '96 a live recording & saw a new version of the band but with only two original members. The other members absents showed, filled by session musicians and slowly the new lineup disbanded again. At this same year, Colin recorded a new version for "Overkill" with the band Lazlo Bane. Colin already has acted in movies like "Cosi" and "Heaven's Burning". Back in studio was Colin & Greg for the recording of "The Longest Night", a song composed by Greg Ham. Followed a re-release of the Brazil album & this track was added as a bonus.


^Promo shoot for Men At Work Brazil

Colin went on further solo, in 1998 he released his fifth album, Transcendental Highway.

Colin composed and sung the song "Misty Bay" with his wife, 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 on Peaks & Valleys. Colin Hay & Greg Ham went as Men At Work for the closing act for the Ending Cerimonies of Sydneys Olympics, playing "Down Under". Paul Hogan released the movie "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" and used "Down Under" as the main soundtrack, in a new version with the featuring of Cecilia Noel & The Wild Clams. Colin is now in the end production phase of his seventh solo. Visit his official website for more info. Men at Work has no preview of any release. But all original members of the band are still working in the music industry today.



Ron Strykert visited Greece then settled down after the band split in '85 and setup home in Montana and went on to do his own style of music which included the use of bhajans & sanskrit.

Jerry Spesier has been in a few bands since his departure from Men At Work namly 'Wheres Claire' / 'The City' and latest project has been working with Australian band 'Frost'. Jerry is also an organisational trainer and business coach for Ethyka in Melbourne. John Rees is still active in music.


   MEN AT WORK's Friend Space (Top 7)
MEN AT WORK has 3648 friends.
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MEN AT WORK's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 275 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
*Irish Mystery of Dreams*

*Irish Mystery of Dreams*



Dec 13 2009 2:37 PM

Thank you for the add!
your music is way
awesome! Have a great
week!
eLi

eLi



Dec 13 2009 2:37 PM

Hey guys!!! Just saw you were online and wanted to say hello....Hope to see the band or Colin around Chicago again one of these days. As always, I'm one of your biggest fans! Hope all is well. -Eli
Joan M. Vincent

Joan M. Vincent



Dec 13 2009 2:37 PM

Thank you for accepting my invitation.
A My Space friend in Australia said
something I wrote reminded her of
MEN AT WORK, I just had to look you
up. When I've a bit more time I'll
listen to your Play List!
THE AMERICAN RELICS

THE AMERICAN RELICS



Dec 13 2009 2:37 PM

OFTEN WE GO BACK---TO HEAR THE FUTURE
Greg cosmic Norris

Greg cosmic Norris



Dec 13 2009 2:36 PM

Thanks For The Friendship My Friends
Grant Beedie

Grant Beedie



Nov 17 2009 12:36 AM

thanks for the add. keep the tunes coming, your music sounds great!! All the best for now, Grant in New Zealand
CASE...Jean Déchamps

CASE...Jean Déchamps
Online Now!


Nov 17 2009 12:36 AM

Hi Man at work. thanx to be on my blog. Beautiful portraits, beautiful musical orientations, beautiful feelings...
Beautiful day.

jean
Alan Liberale

Alan Liberale



Nov 5 2009 2:58 PM

GREAT!!!! FANTASTIC!!!!
I've just called all my friends for tell them: "man at work are friend of mine, man at work are friends of mine, ha-ahaaa, ha ahaaa!"
thank you very much, greetings from Venice: the land downunder!
Alan
groovy star

groovy star



Nov 5 2009 2:58 PM

(^_^)

GROOVY STAR
Kristi

Kristi



Nov 5 2009 2:58 PM

Thanks for being my friend!
Kajun Mami..Kisses

Kajun Mami..Kisses



Nov 5 2009 2:57 PM

kisses...ure great
Mutant Bass

Mutant Bass



Nov 5 2009 2:57 PM

whut up!!! how's everything in here? hope all is well with life and music!

it's been a while!
hope your finding time to yourself! take it easy!

---posido
www.mutantbass.com
♰ Gaby ♰

Gaby Santos



Oct 23 2009 10:11 AM

thanks for the add!!!


kisses
Kevin

Kevin



Oct 23 2009 10:11 AM

up mam
SEALIAH

Sealiah Patton



Oct 23 2009 10:11 AM

BESITOS!!!!!!!!!!!
Given Four

Given Four



Oct 23 2009 10:11 AM

Thanks a lot for adding.

Really a great honor.

Probably listen to our songs, too?
Lucy

Lucy



Oct 23 2009 10:11 AM

Thanks for add me...I love their songs..
Best wishes...a hug from Brazil...
Firmino

Firmino



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

Hi! Thanks for the add. Success forever!! Greetings from Brasil!!!
radio99.de Australia

radio99.de Australia



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

... keep in touch ... rock on !!!
RosePetal

RosePetal



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

xx
Johnny Bruce

John Bruce



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

Please come to Conneticut,USA
Love Johnny
RosePetal

RosePetal



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

xx
Brian

Brian Rose



Oct 23 2009 10:10 AM

I just took a trip down memory lane listening to and watching your old videos. I am amazed at how good they sound even today. Quality is timeless. Thanks for the vegemite sandwich.
RosePetal

RosePetal



Oct 23 2009 10:09 AM

have a great week!
rock & roll - FOREVER

MARCIE STAHL



Sep 9 2009 5:20 PM

GO TO SMOKENCHERRY.COM
SMOKENCHERRY.COM

  GLAD TO BE ADDED AND IM SENDING BIG HUGS FOR YOUR MONDAY


LOVE

MARCIE  
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