Colin Hay

As the former frontman for multi-million-selling Men At Work, which he formed with Ron Strykert in 1979, Colin Hay has experienced the kind of success phenomenon that comes along only once in a decade. Women glowed, men chundered, and the band went on to sell over 10 million copies of Business As Usual, which stayed on the top of the charts for 16 weeks, until it was knocked off by Michael Jackson's Thriller. Colin may never again scale such heights of commercial success and widespread popularity as he did with Men, but today he is writing and singing songs that are superior to those that brought him fame and fortune. He's easily one of the world's best soloists, with an incredible voice backed by steel-string playing that's simply amazing. And he tells stories, too-funny ones. This expatriate Scotsman (he emigrated with his family to Australia at the age of 14) still speaks in a broad Glasgow accent, but slips effortlessly (and all the more humorously for the contrast) into broad Australian. There are also poignant moments in his act, moving lyrics about betrayal, bitterness, anger, forgiveness and loss . . . they're all there. On stage, Colin Hay is a master who is not to be missed.

  -- CW