How Touring With With Ringo Starr Inspired Colin Hay To Announce New Men At Work Tour

Men At Work fans around the world were blindsided this week when it was announced the band will be embarking on their first headline tour in almost two decades.

The tragic death of keyboardist and vocalist Greg Ham in 2012 made many believe that the Melbourne-founded group would never reform again. However, Men At Work have confirmed they will perform a string of shows throughout the UK and Europe next June. 

In a statement given to The Music today, frontman Colin Hay said the inspiration to get the band back together came while touring with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band earlier this year. 

"Every night we would play each other’s hits, and it was most enjoyable," Hay said.

"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."

Hay confirmed that the Men At Work outfit will consist of himself and his LA-based band mates. 

"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," Hay's statement continues.

"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."

As for plans to bring to the tour back home to Australia, Hay writes, "... I’m going to stage a Men At Work tour in Europe for a few weeks next summer, and see what happens."

Read the full statement below. 

Hay will head out on the Men At Work tour following a solo tour of Australia next April, which also includes a stop at Bluesfest 2019. For a look at all of the dates and venues of the run, check out theGuide or scroll down.

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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!