Men at Work

Australia's answer to the Police, Men At Work found international fame as Australian ambassadors of crossover new wave. Originally a pub-rock band, the group was founded by Scottish-born Colin Hay and his fellow singer-guitarist Ron Strykert. They eventually brought in bassist John Rees, drummer Jerry Speiser and the multi-instrumentalist Greg Ham, whose flute and saxophone solos would greatly distinguish the band's terse, reggae-tinged rock. Their lead single "Who Can It Be Now?," a quirky treatise on paranoia, became an international smash in 1982; it was followed by the even more successful "Down Under," a paean to Aussie expats that introduced many listeners to the word "Vegemite." Men at Work rode the success of their debut album, Business as Usual, through a 1983 follow-up, Cargo, until lineup changes, a weak third album, and their waning novelty shunted the band down the "where are they now?" path.