Midnight Oil
Australian band, Midnight Oil developed from an association struck
up in 1974 between drummer Rob Hirst, bassist Andrew James and
guitarist/keyboard player James Moginie. The three found
shaven-headed vocalist (and law graduate) Peter Garrett two years
later, and the line-up was completed in 1977 with the addition of
guitarist Martin Rotsey.
After gigging around the northern
beaches of Sydney (originally as The Farm) the band recorded
their debut album in 1978 on the independent Powderworks label. It
included tracks which had been live favourites such as Used
and Abused, Run by Night (The single) and Surfing
with a Spoon.
Their second album, Head Injuries was recorded during
July/August 1979 at Trafalgar Studios in Sydney. A tighter and
more proficient effort it made solid chart impact in Australia and
approached gold status. Stand out tracks were Back on the
Borderline and the single, Cold Cold Change.
 Their first charting release was the 4-track 12" EP Bird
Noises (December 1980) which reached Number 28 on the
Australian singles chart and featured the stand-out instrumental
track Wedding Cake Island.
Vocalist Peter Garrett became notorious for airing his
political views both in print (through a series of newspaper
columns which were compiled in a book called Political Blues)
and on television.
In 1984 he ran for the Australian Senate on the
Nuclear Disarmament Party ticket. He very nearly succeeded.
Early in 1980, bassist Andrew James left the band because of
health problems. He was replaced by Peter Gifford.
The band achieved their only Top Ten success in Britain in 1989
with Beds Are Burning.
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