Band Had 4 HUGE Hits & Was #1 for 15 WEEKS in 1983...By 1986 They'd DISAPPEARED! | Professor of Rock 

Poll: What is your pick for the greatest saxophone part from a hit song in the rock era?

I was at a wedding down here in Panama in 2000 and suddenly they showed up in the middle of the dance, played their 5 or 6 hits, took pictures with all of us and left for their concert. They were humble and fun. Awesome wedding of course! thank you Professor.

Overkill is definitely my favorite Men at Work song. Definitely loved their use of the sax.

True Blue dinky di Aussie here. "Down Under" was our unofficial national anthem for years and years and still gets air play. So good to see you cover world wide bands and not just stuff from the USA. They're worth remembering and celebrating.

Colin Hey's acoustic version of "Overkill" has been on my favorites list for nearly two decades. What a great sing along.

Colin Hay was amazing!! He had people all over the world trying to figure out what Vegemite was!! Years later he even appeared on the show Scrubs!! Look that up!! It was unforgettable!!

On the cover of Rolling Stone, "back when that mattered"!😝 Good one, Adam!👍💜

My favorite band back in 83. Overkill is also my favorite Men at Work song. Very haunting like Colin say's. It gave me goosebumps as a kid.

That lawsuit was a joke.

For me it was always "Overkill" with these guys. Such a beautiful song that anyone can relate to. Simply magnificent

Colin Hay did a small solo show in Montgomery Alabama at a local theater. I had to go by and pick something up for work. He came in to do a sound check and struck up a conversation. He was a super nice guy, gave me a few tickets for my wife and I. It was a great show. He would chat with the crowd and after talked with my wife and I so much people thought we knew him. Great group, great guy!

The way that lawsuit effected Greg Ham is heartbreaking and in my opinion an example of how the nature of copyrights can be insidious. No consideration was given to the context of the song and how it borrowed from the past, and that, in fact all songs borrow from the past.

I truly think Men At Work has to be one of the most unique bands of the 80s. Really interesting sound and themes! So cool man!

Around 2001 I was in my early 20's working as a pizza delivery guy... I was heading home and a couple of my musician buddies were coming back form a gig around 4 am. I had Land Down Under on the stereo.. They pulled up next to me at a red light. I didn't notice at first. I looked over and they are bobbin their heads to the song so I cranked it up and we had a lil Wayne's World moment that continued as the light changed and we cruised a few blocks til they turned off. No words spoken.. Just jammin to MaW.

Colin Hay is one of my favorite singer-songwriters. I have all of his solo albums and there's not a bad song among them. "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" is a beautiful and sad song as is "I'm Doing Fine", both on "Transcendental Highway". Shame he's not a household name but I kind of like it that way.

I saw Men At Work in concert last summer. Colin Hey was the only original member, but they still sounded really good. The young lady playing all the wind instruments did a fantastic job. I wish I had seen them in their 80's lineup. The very first video I ever saw on VH-1 was "It's a Mistake" and I loved it.

My band played on a bill with Colin for a multicultural festival once. I convinced the promoter to let me come to Colin’s sound check that morning. I had a chance to meet and talk with him for ten minutes or so. He was so delightful and charming. Later that evening as we came offstage from performing our set Colin was waiting at the side of the stage to congratulate us on our performance. I was blown away that he came to check out our set. Flash forward 13 years and Colin is playing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, I am attending as a fan. I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Colin. He said I thought that was you, how have you been? Like we had seen each other last month. He is a brilliant entertainer and if you ever have the chance to see him perform, do not pass it up.

I was 9 back in 82 and I could never get the lyrics to down under, it took me decades to finally know what the heck they were. A song you forgot to mention is "dr. Heckyll and mr. Jive", I always found it interesting and weird at the same time

As an 80s kid, Men at Work and arcade games were LIFE. I absolutely love Colin Hay.

I remember when "Overkill" debuted at number 28 on the hot 100 and that was a big feat at the time.

Colin Hay! Wow... That's a HUGE interview man. Congrats!!!

Just saw him on the tour with Ringo Starr, and he's still so great! To anyone reading, I highly reccomend catching this tour. Business as Usual was actually the second LP I ever bought with my own money (the first being a K-Tel compilation). No regrets!

I’m an Aussie, and loved all their early songs! I also was in disbelief at that frivolous lawsuit, and although I knew Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, I never associated it with Land Down Under. Was really sorry for them.

Colin Hay's acoustic version of Overkill is unbelievably good.

Always love your total approach to bringing the background info that we missed about these epic songs. This in particular filled in the missing gaps about this group for me. I always remember that cameo appearance of Colin Hay on 'Scrubs." The man has a good voice and personality. Thank you for your dedication to maximizing the experience of the music history, it resonates.

Colin Hay’s acoustical material is incredible. My favorite Men at Work songs are not the huge hits off of Business as Usual, they are: I can see it in your eyes (great song) Be Good Johnny Overkill (one of the all-time great songs) It’s a mistake

Also on a totally unrelated note, are you planning to do a tribute to Andy Rourke of the Smiths who passed away recently? Would love to see that - The Smiths were amazing and Andy was a huge part of that.

Through mutual friends, Colin Hay kindly wrote a personal birthday message on a cassette of 'Cargo' for my younger sister, who was a huge Men At Work fan. The look on her 13 year-old face was priceless. Years later I was able to thank Colin in person when I worked as his sound engineer for the Adelaide South Australia gig on his first solo tour which was a wonderful mix of new & revised songs highlighting his exceptional guitar playing and a euphonious voice that's been informed by a 1000 lifetimes of introspection. Great interview, Adam !

I loved this Adam! I graduated HS in 1983 and Men at Work, A Flock of Seagulls, The GoGos etc. were all huge for me. My longtime girlfriend broke up with me in March 1983 and Overkill along with Blue For You became the soundtrack of my life until I had a date with my future wife a few months later. Colin Hay’s a genius and honestly helped me go from devastation to unbridled elation. My wife and I are still happily together 39 years later. We have seen Colin many times as a solo artist live and he is just so good. His solo song “Dear Father” is spot on about my own Dad who took his life in 1994 and never got to see his incredible Grandchildren or to see me become the man I am now. This is my favorite video of yours. Thank you.

I’m Australian and that little tune was easily recognisable. All our children sang it at school. I think people just assumed that it was out of copyright because it was sung so frequently it was considered iconic - it was almost as well known as Waltzing Matilda. I don’t think it wasn’t that the composer didn’t recognise it so much as she didn’t listen to “Land Down Under”. It’s very sad that the case caused the musician so much distress.

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 HEY! It's Colin Hay! 😅 Yes, Men At Work. With Jethro Tull, a band that introduced the flute to the masses. It's A Mistake is my fave from them. Guess when the band broke up, Greg Ham was cooked? 😅 Thanks for this Professor! You are truly our Man at Work.

There’s an early, more reggae-influenced version of Down Under from 1980 available that is worth checking out. Glad to see you covering them and terrible what happened to Greg Ham

I think the lawsuit was non-sense, especially so many years after the song was released

I'm glad you brought up "Be Good (Johnny)". That was one of my favs from them. They may have been a short run band, but they sure made some catchy tunes. I think the MTV definitely helped their cause, because their videos were so much fun. I sure wish they could have made a few more albums together, but I guess that wasn't in their future. 😀

Being a young teen in the early 80's, Men at Work was refreshingly revolutionary compared to the classic rock I was raised on. Now theirmusic has joined the pantheons of the immortals of the music world. I love it even more now.....

I was given Business as Usual as a birthday present in December 1981 (I'm Australian). To me, I will always associate the record with painless summer days and the joys of being a new teenager - I had just turned 13. I know every song on the record back to front, left to right, etc. It's been with me 40+ years. And you know, it wasn't until the mid 80s that I learned the band had been huge in the US. But best song on the record? I Can See It In Your Eyes. Oh, and Professor, it's said "Cook-a-burra" not "Kook". You need to come out here so you can hear these birds in person.

Business as Usual was one of my first tapes. I played it over and over. Cargo was also a great album. I still randomly start singing Be Good Johnny.

Band tension seems to be the catalyst of so many breakups. I didn't realize they'd had such a short-lived career, their music was so prolific. As for the lawsuit, so much music can be heard as having similar sections, it's amazing that entirely new songs ever get produced. I feel bad for them that they had to go through that and that it ended so tragically. I love hearing the back stories to these songs through these interviews. Thank you for another great episode, Adam. Have an excellent day!

A needless and frivolous lawsuit, and an obvious money grab. Utterly shameful. No one would've even given it a second though -- or a first one, for that matter -- had it not been for that game show.

My college roommates & I DJ’d a school dance in 1993, and when it was over and the lights came up, we played “Down Under” as a last song. And no one would leave until the song ended. Everyone stayed and danced, and sang at the tops of their lungs. It was 10 years after that song was a hit, and it still had literal staying power. That’s a damn good song from an underrated band.

Loved all these songs. Thanks for a great interview! Unique lead voice. Always recognizable and catchy tunes/ rhythm.

Oh yeah. I remember Friday Night Videos.

Professor of Rock you once again deliver a fantastic video and interview, Thank you. I am sure I and many would love to hear a playlist that you put together. Please put one out.

I'm actually eating vegemite on my toast as I watch this. Yes, I am an Aussie. Men at Work has always been high on my music rotation. Overkill is my favourite.

Just saw Colin a few weeks ago near Seattle. I’ve seen him several times and once again he didn’t disappoint. It’s like a two for the price of one, great music, and he’s so humorous you get comedy as well. Been a fan since day one.

I’ll always remember this album because it was the first album that was actually mine it was Valentine’s Day I think like 1982 maybe somewhere in there and I gave my girlfriend at the time box of chocolates and she gave me the business as usual album as a gift so I’ll be eternally thankful for this. And of course I was lucky enough that my family had a bunch of good albums but I knew this album forward and backwards and then as things go my parents got divorced and then couple years later I’m living with my dad and I had that album and as I was playing it he fell in love with it as well and then the cargo album came out and he bought that and we listened to that together but I think that was the first time that one of my musical influences brought us to listening to music together instead of the other way around. And yeah overkill still to me I can listen to and the way the second verse is up a couple keys it’s just so nice it’s a perfect song for someone with a twisted mind like mine.

How can You not love Colin Hay-His entire vibe makes Me happy

Rip Greg Ham

As an Australian , I remember that whole lawsuit thing... and to this day think it sucks ... as Colin Hay said the actual writer of the song never bought it up at all ...

I totally loved Men at Work! It’s a shame about what happened to them, especially the lawsuit. I especially liked the Cargo album better than Business as Usual. And yes, I remember those days when I watched Friday Night Videos and then Saturday morning cartoons the next day!

The lawsuit was nothing more than SLIMEY lawyers grubbing for money that isn’t theirs!!! I’d say “shame on them” but shame requires a SOUL 🔥

I love Men At Work's music. They were one of the top musical group's in the world during the years 1982 and 1983. Then, they completely disappeared. I always wondered what happened to them. Because they lacked the longevity, I always felt they were very underrated. However, their early 1980's run was very memorable with many great songs.

"Overkill" is one of my favorite Men at Work songs too. I am surprised that you didn't talk about how the show Scrubs used "Overkill" in an episode, and Colin Hay sang the song throughout the episode. Funny story about "Down Under." My dad who is in his 60s didn't understand the lyric about the vegemite sandwich until recently. He always thought it said, "He just smiled and gave me a bit of a sandwich."

Colin is an amazing artist, singer, songwriter. Men At Work are the very first band whose music I fell in love with. Their time was brief, but those songs are well-remembered and beloved. "Cargo" is an amazing early-mid-80s album. "Overkill" is also my favorite MaW song, and that album features my favorite album of track of theirs, "Blue For You". And you're spot-on about discussing the "Next Year People" album, it's his best solo work in my opinion. P.S. : "They were on the cover of Rolling Stone back when that mattered"... LOL ! so true !!!!!

Love your interview with Colin, Adam. This band had so many catchy songs, with "Be Good Johnny" being my favourite.

Loved Who Can It Be Now? Loved the sax and the drums in that song in late 1982 - played that song over and over again after school on my tape cassette when I was in 5th grade

It's Colin Hay, not Colin Hey (unless you're trying to get his attention, in which case it would be "Colin, hey!")

No matter how hectic and chaotic life gets I can always count on the professor of rock to bring me great interviews and stories behind some of my favorite music and artists. Great interview I have often wondered what happened to this fantastic band and it's original sound. Great episode!

And all this time I've been singing "He gave me a wedge of my sandwich" Oh brother. I've turned into the Norm Crosby of song lyrics.

For some reason, my favourite songs are usually ones no one else knows about. For Toto it's "Holyanna". For Chris de Burgh it's "Separate Tables". For Duran Duran it's "Hold Back the Rain". And for Men at Work it's "Everything I Need". It played on heavy rotation on MuchMusic in my native Canada back in 1985, so that's where I got it from. Such an amazing song.

Men at Work was my favorite band for over 20 years. They were the first band I saw in concert. My top 3 favorites are ‘It’s a Mistake’, ‘Man with Two Hearts’, and ‘Underground’.

Come on! Loved Dr. Heckell and Mr. Jive and Johnny be good

So glad you talked about "Be Good Johnny'. That, I'd say, is my favorite Men At Work song.

The song, land down under is being used in the new Australia tourism video, 'G' day Australia' here in the UK.

Business As Usual and Cargo are both great albums. Men At Work didn’t do much, but what they did do is fantastic.

The Larrakin "ruling" never should have happened. Vulture capitalism at it's absolute worst.

Love this band. Business as Usual was such an amazing album, every track was addictive and I played it over and over. Cargo and Two Hearts were bought on their release dates and played repeatedly. Also they inspired me to check out other Australian acts like INXS, Mental as Anything and the Hoodoo Gurus. Great music.

Even though Colin is from Australia, he sounds a little Irish.

Their debut is easily one of my fave 80’s albums EVER. Remember I had an iron on T-shirt of Men at Work and wore it proudly when I was 12/13 years old. Maybe my favorite underrated song on the album is “I Can See It In Your Eyes”. Amazing. Saw Colin Hay a few years back and also met him. Great down to earth guy. Thx for this great video Professor! RIP Greg…😔

I've been a big Men at Work fan since the early 80's. They're one of the two bands I think of, when I think of Australia. Them and Midnight Oil. I had, "Business as Usual" and "Cargo" on cassette tape in the 80's. Very good content as usual. Great interview. Please keep up the good work. Thank you.

Funny how MaW brought Aussie culture to the U.S. (& world). Aside from their big radio hits, I have to agree w/others here: "Overkill" and "It's a Mistake", the songs and videos, resonate the most for me.

This is where my musical journey began. The first song that I really loved was Who Can It Be Now? Down Under and Be Good Johnny, the latter being a very under-rated song, soon followed. But, I was too young to buy Business as Usual. But, when Cargo first hit the market, I ran out and bought it on cassette. It was the first album I ever bought. I picked up Business As Usual shortly after when I joined Columbia Records and Tapes club. I must of worn out Cargo, I played it so much. My newly teen mind loved Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. I didn't really understand Overkill but as an adult, it has become one of my favorites. Men at Work had interesting lyrics and they could be funny as well as poignant. I ran out and bought Two Hearts on vinyl as soon as it came out but except for Children on Parade, this album lacked that magic, that spark. I remember watching MTV when MTV news came on announcing the end of the band, saying Colin Hay had left the band to be a producer and do jazz albums. And that was that. I moved on to other bands. I found it interesting that Colin Hay talked about listening to You Really Got Me by the Kinks. The Kinks Word of Mouth album was another one of my early purchases and it lead to life long love for the Kinks. The Kinks had that same kind of humor and poignancy but much more prolific. Professor of Rock, you really need to interview Ray or Dave Davies or both...that would be a scoop! The Kinks were so influential and such amazing artists.

Great interview with Colin. Those Australian words and cultural references were a refreshing novelty at the time, and certainly contributed to Men At Work’s success, not to mention their inventive and unique sound. They rocked, too! Thanks, Adam!

Favorite song? Definitely Overkill. The Film Clip of him wondering around St Kilda brings back wonderful memories of seeing Live Bands at The Palais Theatre, The Esplanade (The Espy) & Prince of Wales Hotel. The acoustic version is my favorite, Colin playing it on Scrubs certainly introduced it to a new generation of fans. The Legal Challenge was a mockery of justice. If my memory servers me correctly, the rights were actually owned by Boy Scouts Australia for many years, before Larakin got the rights. 'Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree', was always free use song, anyone could play it without any legal accountability or royalties. Then the greedy pr%*ks at Larakin sued them after it appeared on 'Spicks & Specks'. In my opinion, yes there are some similarities, but not enough for a copyright infringement, which even the Judge said it was minor. Apparently Larakin have been going through other old 'free use songs' since getting ownership, and looking for other songs to collect on. I'm not sure where that sits these days, it was certainly a wildly believed story in the wake of the 'Land Down Under' Court Case. I'm not even sure how a song that was once a Free Public Domain song, suddenly became copyrightable. I guess they are claiming it's no longer free since they purchased the publishing rights to the song, from the original writer of the song.

My high school’s drama students worked with Men At Work in Melbourne, a few years before they made it big, on a school-based musical. They were fantastic, generous and so much fun. Down By The Sea is still my favourite song of theirs, Colin’s voice is incredible.

I get to see him tomorrow 6/4/23...with Ringo's All Starr band... Woodinville Washington... woo hoo!! I took my boy to see Paul last summer..now he gets to see the other half of the rhythm section...he's just seven...having big fun.🥁

Great interview! Men at Work really set the tone and feel of early '80s pop music. They were a key element in the early MTV programming. Thanks for posting and for the channel/content.

Colin is such an awesome guy. A unique and very addictive singing voice, a great sense of timing, and he’s extremely hilarious (especially his story about having a hit on a soundtrack record and sharing royalties). IMO Overkill is the definitive 80’s song and possibly the best of the decade. To this day, time stops for me (and so does work) when it comes on. The 80’s were better because of him and Men At Work.

The sax in Baker Street!

As a kid, and just being uneducated about music, I often confused them with Men Without Hats, lol Some years later, I randomly came across a RU-vid video of Colin performing Overkill acoustically. It was a very moving performance. He himself almost crying at the end. Thanks for the vid, Prof.

I have Business As Usual album in my collection. Who Could It Be Now is one of my favorite songs on the record. I played the flute in the band, and taught myself the flute melody from Down Under. I listened to this record alot. Overkill is a bed time song for me. When I can't sleep, this is my song. 😊

Men At Work’s first album was released in the US during my senior year in High School. I was a DJ at a local skating rink and remember convincing the 30-something manager who seemed old to me (ah perspective) for money so I could go to Specs and buy the album. Not a session went by without lots of requests for Men At work. Fun band, great toons, and fond memories.

Colin had that Sting/reggae-style voice that personified the early '80s to me. Many new wave and mainstream bands (even RUSH!) were experimenting with reggae in their works at about that time. It was indeed a very interesting time in music. I particularly remember the kids in the school halls singing: "Be good, be good!!!"

Another song I really liked by Men at Work was "Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive", but I really grew to appreciate "Overkill" when I was going through some mental health struggles a few years ago - I loved it from when it first came out when I was 13 years old but it's only later in life I truly understood and related to it.

Hey ProRo🤓 👋 I wonder who your guest can be Now?

Colin is a legend; MAW is a gift from the rock gods. The lawsuit is nothing but BS, people will do anything to extort money if they think they can. MAW landed at the perfect time, the dawn of the 80's and the key ingredient to a magical decade. I will forever be grateful that I lived that decade as preteen and teen, the best years of my life. Thank you, Professor of Rock.

MORNING EVERYONE BE GOOD JOHNNY WAS MY FAVORITE

I learned kookaburra as a young girl scout in the Midwest. And I regularly sang the song Down Under. 45 years later I would never have guessed that those two songs had anything to do with one another but I do hear it of course. That's a real tragic story and one that seems could have been avoided. Adding in that memorable kookaburra was intentional. I would think if permission had been ask for, most original musicians would have enjoyed the notoriety and gladly given consent. After it being such a worldwide hit of course they would want some credit monetarily. Live and learn. I never would have known without seeing this episode. Fascinating. Thank you

The lawsuit for Down Under was a joke. Like Colin said, that song was huge all over the world, and nobody noticed any similarity for 20 years. Was a rubbish lawsuit, and just a money grab. Us Aussie kids are taught the Kookaburra song from kindergarten and nobody ever thought it sounded the same.

I saw M A W in late 83 or early 84 at get this......country western club called Crystal Chandelier just south of Dallas. Very unusual for a non country band to be there, but it was a super fun concert. Still have the half sleeve shirt concert shirt stored with all my other dozens I from the 80's. They had their time but it was too short. Great MTV videos they had.

Even though I was mostly into metal at that time I must say I loved Men At Work back then and to this day I still love their hits. I agree "Overkill" is their "best" song. I'm also finally realizing how frigging awesome Duran Duran was(is)... Only took me 40 years but... But as back in the day I STILL detest "Come On Eileen"... so I suppose nostalgia only goes so far for me. 😂

Overkill is my favorite MAW song and Who Can It Be Now is my ring tone. Love those guys. The Colin Hay cameo on the Season 2 premiere of Scrubs was so great.

1981 I was in 2nd year of high school in Sydney Australia. When "Who Can It Be Now" hit the radio, it almost seemed like from then on Men At Work had a song in the top 40 for the next 3 years. There was much rivalry between bands from Sydney vs Melbourne. Men At Work were touted as the next big thing to come out of Melbourne. They were awesome.

I can't hear "Overkill" without thinking of how it was used in the Scrubs episode with Colin singing & playing acoustic guitar. Believe at the end of the song, Colin plays the last cord, then lays back to be slid into the morgue cooler drawer.

"It's A Mistake" is my favorite Men At Work song, I even found a vintage button for it a while back at a flea market. Feels apropos given the current world situation.

I took my 18yo daughter to see Colin's current Men At Work lineup earlier this year. She loves them as much as I do now. She's the kid who's known for the having the 'good music taste' amongst her friends.

Also to many Aussies 'Down Under' is linked to the 1983 America's Cup win. It was THE anthem!

Those two albums are CHOCK full of GREAT songs! You OWE IT to yourself to check them out.

Such a cool, different band with some killer songs. Overkill being my personal favorite.

Loved Colin's appearance on Scrubs, anything giving Overkill exposure is a good thing.