Colin Hay returns to Australia with Men At Work, and in this Noise11 interview he looks back at the extraordinary history of one of Australia’s most successful bands.
Hay discusses the very early days of Men At Work, including the band’s residency at The Cricketers Arms in Richmond, the first recordings such as “Coin In The Slot” and “I Don’t Understand”, and the songwriting partnership with Ron Strykert that eventually grew into Men At Work.
He also reveals the important role played by Kim Gingell in connecting him with Greg Ham, and explains how Jerry Speiser and John Rees eventually joined the lineup that became the classic Men At Work band.
Hay talks about rebuilding Men At Work for touring in the 1990s, including the extraordinary response the band received in Brazil, where they performed to crowds of up to 20,000 people a night. He discusses the many Australian musicians who passed through the touring lineup during those years and explains how the current six-piece band came together.
The conversation also explores the Men At Work setlist, including why “Touching The Untouchables” and “No Restrictions” can open the show, why songs from Two Hearts have largely disappeared from the repertoire, and Hay’s candid reflections on the difficult departure of Jerry Speiser and John Rees.
Hay also explains why solo songs including “Looking For Jack” and “Can’t Take This Town” now sit comfortably alongside Men At Work classics.
With Men At Work returning to Australia for the Red Hot Summer Tour with Australian Crawl, Hay looks forward to playing the songs that defined a generation while giving audiences a chance to hear a broader live set at the band’s standalone shows.
Watch the full Colin Hay Men At Work interview with Noise11 and subscribe to the Noise11 YouTube channel for more Australian music interviews, news and features.
Tour Dates
20 October 2026, Sydney, State Theatre
30 October 2026, Canberra, Royal Theatre
4 November 2026, Melbourne, Palais Theatre
12 November 2026, Fremantle, Fremantle Prison
https://facetofacetouring.com.au/current-tours/men-at-work-live-in-concert
RED HOT SUMMER TOUR 2026
17 October 2026, Toowoomba, Queens Park
18 October 2026, Sandstone Point, Sandstone Point Hotel
24 October 2026, Berry, Berry Showground
25 October 2026, Manly, Keirle Park
31 October 2026, Hunter Valley, Roche Estate
1 November 2026, Coolangatta, Coolangatta Beach
7 November 2026, Ballarat, Victoria Park
8 November 2026, Mornington, Mornington Racecourse
14 November 2026, Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines
15 November 2026, Glenelg, Glenelg Beach
https://facetofacetouring.com.au/current-tours/red-hot-summer-tour-2026-australian-crawl
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