Colin Hay, of the 1980s hitmakers Men At Work, has sustained a decades-long career as a solo artist and collaborator following the band’s rapid ascent and internal dissolution. While Men At Work achieved the rare feat of holding the No. 1 single and album simultaneously in both the U.S. and U.K. in 1983, the group fractured shortly thereafter due to internal management disputes and personal tensions. Hay has since rebuilt his professional life, navigating a high-profile copyright lawsuit and finding a new generation of fans through television and film.
The Rise and Fracture of Men At Work
Men At Work’s commercial peak in 1983 remains a landmark moment for Australian music. The band’s debut album, Business as Usual, and the hit single "Down Under" dominated international charts. However, according to Hay’s interview with producer Pete Ganbarg on the Rock & Roll High School podcast, the group struggled to maintain its cohesion under the pressures of sudden fame.
Hay described the band’s internal environment as increasingly volatile, comparing the power struggles to the reality television show Survivor. The primary conflict centered on the band’s management; Hay’s bandmates sought to fire the manager, who was a close personal friend of the singer. Hay refused to concede, leading to a breakdown in trust that effectively ended the group’s trajectory despite the release of subsequent albums Cargo (1983) and Two Hearts (1985). Hay maintains that the band was not structured to last, noting that the inability to enjoy their success collectively rendered the project unsustainable.
Personal Recovery and Career Resurgence
By January 1991, Hay relocated to Los Angeles and achieved sobriety, a shift he identifies as the catalyst for his professional and personal recovery. In the years following his departure from the band, Hay established a career as a solo musician and became a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
His profile saw a resurgence in the 2000s, largely due to Zach Braff. Braff introduced Hay to new audiences on the television series Scrubs and in the film Garden State. This transition allowed Hay to pivot toward a career defined by storytelling and intimate live performances.
The "Down Under" Copyright Litigation
A significant period of professional and personal distress for Hay involved a protracted legal battle over the flute refrain in "Down Under." In 2009, a copyright battle began, alleging that the flute melody infringed on a copyright.
The Australian Federal Court ordered Men At Work to pay 5% of royalties earned from the song since 2002 and from future earnings. Hay characterized the six-year legal ordeal as "horrible" and "unforgivable." The situation was compounded by the 2012 death of bandmate Greg Ham, who had played the line in question. Hay stated that Ham felt a sense of guilt regarding the lawsuit, despite not being the songwriter sued for the infringement.
Key Facts Regarding Colin Hay’s Career
- Chart Success: In 1983, Men At Work reached No. 1 on both the U.S. and U.K. charts with "Down Under" and Business as Usual.
- Management Conflict: Hay attributes the band’s early breakup to a "classic blunder" involving a dispute over the firing of a manager.
- Sobriety: Hay credits his move to Los Angeles in 1991 and his decision to quit drinking as the start of his "new life."
- Legal Precedent: The copyright ruling against "Down Under" ordered the band to pay 5% of royalties earned from the song since 2002.
- Cultural Resurgence: Hay’s career was revitalized in the early 2000s through the support of Zach Braff, who introduced him to new audiences on Scrubs.