Colin Hay will tour again as Men At Work in 2019.
Hay’s last run as Men At Work ended in 2002. Colin and original member Greg Ham reformed the band in 1996 and toured the world. The tour as captured as the ‘Brasil ‘96’ live album in 1996.
Men At Work formed in Melbourne in 1979. The first single was the independently released ‘Keypunch Operator’ backed with the first version of ‘Down Under’ as the b-side.
The first version of ‘Down Under’ was completely different to the re-recorded ‘Business As Usual’ song.
Hay released a statement through his website to explain what’s going on.
He wrote:
Going back a few months, I had the privilege of touring Europe as part of Ringo’s All Starr Band, during the Northern Hemisphere summer. Every night we would play each other’s hits, and it was most enjoyable. The audience’s appetite for those old tunes is insatiable. I started to wonder about the feasibility of mounting a European tour with my band to play primarily those dear old songs. For the last three decades, I have spent the bulk of my time, making records, and touring the US, building an audience playing my solo music. It seems to have built up a head of steam, and I shall continue to do this till I drop most likely, as I find it rewarding, nourishing, and connecting.
But I know how much a lot of fans love the old Men At Work hits, and I do enjoy playing them. In short, that’s what I’m going to do in the summer of 2019. I’ve decided to take on a short tour in Europe playing the Men At Work material. The band will consist of myself, and my group of amazing LA based musicians, whom I’ve worked with over the last few years. The set list obviously will feature all the known and even lesser known Men At Work songs, perhaps with a couple of later songs thrown in, but make no mistake, it will be a Men At Work show, billed as such so that the people know they will be coming to hear a Men At Work set list!
I will miss my friend Greg Ham, and indeed we toured together as Men At Work in the latter half of the ’90s into the 2000s. He is gone but never forgotten, and his contribution to the sound and personality of the band, is forever. I loved being in Men At Work. I had a plan. I loved writing those songs, and I am in awe of what we managed to achieve in such a short time. It was powerful, though short lived.
So, I’m going to stage a Men At Work tour in Europe for a few weeks next summer, and see what happens. Hope to see you then!
The Men At Work 2019 tour will start in Manchester, UK on 20 June 2019. Hay will spend three weeks on the road touring Europe with the tour ending in Milan, Italy on July 10.
Prior that that Colin Hay will have a round of Australian dates as well as a season playing Shakespeare for the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Colin Hay dates
Thursday, 18 April 2019 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul, NSW
Saturday, 20 April 2019 Byron Bay Bluesfest
Sunday, 21 April 2019 Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane, Qld
Tuesday, 23 April 2019 Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Melbourne Vic
Wednesday, 24 April 2019 Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA
Friday, 26 April 2019 The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra ACT
Saturday, 27 April 2019 State Theatre, Sydney, NSW
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