Who are Men at Work?
Men at Work is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1978, led by singer Colin Hay. Their song Down Under became a global hit in 1982 and 1983 and an unofficial Australian anthem.
The band's 1981 debut album, Business as Usual, topped the charts in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Its singles Who Can It Be Now? and Down Under both reached number one in the US.
In 1983, Men at Work won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, the first Australian act to do so.
Down Under
Down Under's lyrics mention vegemite sandwiches and a land where women glow and men plunder. It was played at the America's Cup win in 1983 and at many sporting events since.
In 2010, a court ruled that the song's flute riff copied part of the children's song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.
The band split in 1986, though Colin Hay and Greg Ham reunited to perform in later years. Greg Ham, who played the famous flute part, died in 2012.
Down Under remains one of the best-known Australian songs worldwide and is often sung by fans at international sporting events involving Australian teams.
Did You Know?
Colin Hay later had a successful solo career in the United States.