COLIN HAY
COLIN HAY
plus guestsScottish-Australian Colin Hay is probably best known for his time with 1980’s legends ‘Men at Work’ – the platinum selling Australian band that topped worldwide charts in the 80’s with anthems like “Down Under,” “Overkill,” and “Who Can It Be?”. We have most recently been reminded of Hay’s outstanding talent from his many appearances in US comedy series ‘Scrubs’ – which became (and still is) a staple of evening television here in the UK and throughout the globe.
Although he’s one of Australia’s best-known exports, Colin Hay was born in Kilwinning, Scotland, and to this day remains hugely popular in the country and the rest of the UK.
Hay has released nine albums since founding own label Lazy Eye in 1992. Peaks & Valleys (1992), an outing for solo acoustic guitar and voice; Topanga (1994), a rock album that featured “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin;” Transcendental Highway (1988); the acoustic Going Somewhere (2001); Company of Strangers (2002); a collection of newly recorded Men at Work hits and some new songs called Man At Work (2003); Are You Lookin’ at Me? (2006); American Sunshine (2009) and the current Gathering Mercury.
Since 2003, Hay has had a partnership with Compass Records and has slowly rebuilt his name recognition. “for the most part Im happy to be on the road and still making music, and attracting ever increasing audiences.” Hay and Greg Ham toured with backing musicians as Men At Work from 1996 to 2002, and played to an estimated audience of 2 billion viewers during the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He’s also toured with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band in 2003 and 2008 and took part in the All Starr TV special.
Hay and his music, most notably an acoustic version of the Men at Work hit “Overkill”, as well as more recent works such as “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin” and “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get over You”, has been featured on TV showsincluding Dawson’s Creek, Judging Amy, and Scrubs – converting a new generation of devout fans across the globe.
His song “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” was included on the soundtrack of the Zach Braff film Garden State. Hay also appeared in an episode of the celebrated “Larry Sanders Show,” in Hay’s mind, a career highlight.
Today, he’s equally at home in the studio or on stage, playing with either his band or solo acoustic. “I started off playing acoustic; it’s my natural game, if you will,” he concludes. “It’s the point I started from and may well be the point I end with. It’s always what I return to.”