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Midnight Oil

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Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by Hirst, Moginie and original bassist Andrew James as Farm: they enlisted Garrett the following year, changed their name in 1976, and hired Rotsey a year later. Peter Gifford served as bass player from 1980 to 1987, with Bones Hillman then assuming the role until his death in 2020. Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide as of 2021.

Midnight Oil issued their self-titled debut album in 1978 and gained a cult following in their homeland despite a lack of mainstream media acceptance. The band achieved greater popularity throughout Australasia with the release of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982) – which spawned the singles "Power and the Passion" and "US Forces" – and also began to attract an audience in the United States. They achieved their first Australian number one album in 1984 with Red Sails in the Sunset, and topped their native country's singles chart for six weeks with the EP Species Deceases (1985).

The group garnered worldwide attention with 1987 album Diesel and Dust. Its singles "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" illuminated the plight of Indigenous Australians, with the latter charting at number one in multiple countries. Midnight Oil had continued global success with Blue Sky Mining (1990) and Earth and Sun and Moon (1993) – each buoyed by an international hit single in "Blue Sky Mine" and "Truganini", respectively – and remained a formidable album chart presence in Australia until their 2002 disbandment. The group held concerts sporadically during the remainder of the 2000s and announced a full-scale reformation in 2016. The band released their 15th and final studio album, Resist, on 18 February 2022,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and announced an accompanying tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The band's music often broaches political subjects, and they have lent their support to multiple causes. They have won eleven ARIA Awards and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. Midnight Oil's legacy has grown since the late 1970s, with the outfit being cited as an influence, and their songs covered, by numerous popular artists. Aside from their studio output, the group are celebrated for their energetic live performances, which showcase the frenetic dancing of Garrett. Guardian writer Andrew Street described Midnight Oil as "one of Australia's most beloved bands".

OverviewEdit

While studying at Australian National University in Canberra, vocalist Peter Garrett<ref name="McF">Template:Cite book</ref> answered an advertisement for a spot in Farm,<ref name="RS3">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Howl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> and by 1975 the band had started touring the east coast of Australia.<ref name="McF" /> By late 1976 Garrett had moved to Sydney to complete his law degree,<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> and Farm changed its name to Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat.<ref name="Jeff">Template:Cite book</ref> The name was coined by Peter Watson, a short-term keyboard player with Farm.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Important to their development was manager Gary Morris, who successfully negotiated favourable contracts with tour promoters and record companies and frustrated rock journalists.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" />Template:Request quotation Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977<ref name="ARDb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Midnight Oil, with Morris, established their own record label, Powderworks,<ref name="ARDb" /> which released their debut eponymous album in November 1978. Their first single "Run by Night" followed in December.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> Founding bass-guitarist James, forced to leave due to illness in 1980, was replaced by Peter Gifford. Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="ARDb" /><ref name="Howl" /> Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear, environmentalist and indigenous causes.<ref name="RSBio">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The following Midnight Oil albums peaked in the Australian Top Ten:<ref name="Kent">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="AusCharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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  • Resist<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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The following Midnight Oil releases peaked in the Top Ten of the Australian singles chart:<ref name="Kent" /><ref name="AusCharts" />

Aside from chart success, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 2001 listed both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time,<ref name=apra01>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a chart in which Midnight Oil are the only artists to feature twice. In December 2002 Garrett announced that he would seek to further his political career and Midnight Oil disbanded, but they reformed for two warm-up shows in Canberra leading up to their performance, at one of the "Sound Relief" charity concerts, in honour of the victims of the 2009 "Black Saturday" fires in Victoria and floods in Queensland.

In 2010 their album Diesel and Dust ranked no. 1 in the book The 100 Best Australian Albums by Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

Farm: 1972–1976Edit

In 1971 drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James, and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie were performing together. They adopted the name "Farm" in 1972,<ref name="ARDb" /> and played covers of Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin songs.<ref name="Howl" /> They placed an advert for a band member;<ref name="RS3" /> Peter Garrett (ex-Rock Island Line) became their new vocalist and synthesizer player and began introducing progressive rock elements of Focus, Jethro Tull and Yes, as well as their own material.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> Garrett was studying at the Australian National University in Canberra, so Farm was only a part-time band.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> They played for the northern-Sydney surfing community and, by 1975, were touring the east coast.<ref name="McF" /> In late 1976 Garrett moved to Sydney to complete his law degree.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> Farm then became a full-time group and changed its name to "Midnight Oil" by drawing a name out of a hat, leaving behind "Television", "Sparta", and "Southern Cross".<ref name="Jeff" />

The name "Midnight Oil" was inspired by the Jimi Hendrix song "Burning of the Midnight Lamp",<ref name="Howl" /> although the word "oil" appears nowhere in the lyrics. The expression "midnight oil" first appeared in a 1635 poem by Francis Quarles (1592-1644):<ref>Online Etymological Dictionary</ref> Template:Poem quote

1976–1981Edit

File:Martin Rotsey.jpg
Martin Rotsey, Midnight Oil guitarist, at the Souths Leagues Club in Brisbane, 2007

After changing its name to Midnight Oil, the group began to develop an aggressive, punk-hard rock sound for their pub rock audiences.<ref name="Howl" /> Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977<ref name="ARDb" /> and Midnight Oil, with their manager Gary Morris, established their own record label Powderworks.<ref name="ARDb" /> In June 1978 they entered the Alberts Studio in Sydney with producer Keith Walker, from local radio station 2JJ, to record their debut eponymous album, Midnight Oil, which was released by Powderworks in November 1978 and peaked at No. 43 on the Australian albums charts.<ref name="Kent" /> Midnight Oil's first single "Run by Night" followed in December,<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> but had very little chart success, peaking at No. 100 on the singles charts.<ref name="Kent" />

The band built a dedicated fan base, initially restricted to Sydney, which was extended to other Australian cities through constant touring – performing some 200 gigs in their first year.<ref name="Howl" /> They became known for their furious live performances, which featured the two guitarists Moginie and Rotsey, the drumming and vocals of Hirst and the presence of the towering, bald Garrett as lead singer.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /><ref name="RSBio" />

The Midnight Oil LP disappointed some critics as it did not capture their powerful live performances, with undemanding playing and Garrett's vocals sounding stilted.<ref name="McF" /> Their second album Head Injuries, released on Powderworks in October 1979, was produced by former Supercharge member Leszek Karski.<ref name="ARDb" /> It mixed solid guitar rock with progressive flourishes and was an improvement by highlighting the group's strengths and growth.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> It peaked at No. 36 and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Kent" /> In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by Peter Gifford (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band).<ref name="ARDb" />

Further interest in Midnight Oil was generated by the popular Bird Noises EP, also produced by Karski, which peaked at No. 28 on the Australian singles charts.<ref name="Kent" /> One of its four tracks was the surf-instrumental "Wedding Cake Island" named after the rock outcrop in the ocean off Sydney's Coogee Beach. The band's third LP Place without a Postcard, released by CBS Records in November 1981, was recorded in Sussex with English producer Glyn Johns (The Rolling Stones, The Who).<ref name="ARDb" /><ref name="Howl" /> Creative tensions between the band and Johns plagued the recording and the group were not totally happy with the outcome. Johns had an arrangement with A&M Records and they asked Midnight Oil to return to the studio to record material suitable for an American single release – they refused and returned to Australia.<ref name="Howl" /> Place without a Postcard peaked at No. 12 on the albums charts and related singles "Don't Wanna be the One" and "Armistice Day" reached the Top 40 in Australia.<ref name="Kent" />

Fans, music industry, mediaEdit

Driven largely by commercial pressures to stay with reliable chart-toppers and teenage pop sensations, the Australian music industry in the mid-1970s cast a dismissive eye toward most bands with an alternative outlook. Although consistently championed by Sydney alternative rock station Double Jay and its FM band successor Triple J, Midnight Oil were almost totally ignored by Australia's mainstream commercial radio stations in their early career. Manager Morris developed a reputation as one of the toughest managers and became notorious for banning critics or journalists, who were usually given free admission to concerts, for writing unfavourable reviews. Writer and critic Bruce Elder, in a mid-1980s newspaper review described their music as "narrow and xenophobic" and declared Midnight Oil were:

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"a kind of antipodean pub rock version of Queen [...] life-denying, sexist, secular and bigoted [...] endless touting of Australia and all things Australian"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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In retaliation, Morris banned Elder from Oils shows permanently. Elder later recanted, describing them as the only Australian band to have developed a truly Australian sound.Template:Citation needed

The frostiness of Midnight Oil's relationship with the traditional music media quickly saw the band develop a strong "street cred" and a reputation for making no compromises with the music industry. In the early 1980s the band was scheduled to appear on an episode of the all-powerful Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV pop show Countdown but on the day of the show they were "bumped" from the line-up. Countdown required artists to mime their songs during 'live' performances, Midnight Oil and Morris insisted they perform completely live and have their sound engineer supervising – neither side backed down.<ref name="Verrender">Template:Cite news</ref> According to Countdown producer Michael Shrimpton, the band had arrived late for rehearsal and, due to the show's very tight schedule and budget, there was a strict policy that latecomers were not allowed to appear; and, as such, they were told they could not perform that day. In response, the group declared that they would never appear on the show, a promise they faithfully kept.<ref name="Quirk">Template:Cite news</ref> Countdown presenter Molly Meldrum shaved his head bald, imitating Garrett, for its final show on 19 July 1987 and expressed regret that Midnight Oil had never appeared on the show.<ref name="Jeff" /><ref name="Quirk" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fans of the group were drawn to the band's "us and them" mindset, and fan loyalty to the Oils' ideas and music was fierce. Two venues at which they built significant fan bases from their early live performances were the Sydney northern beaches pub The Royal Antler at Narrabeen and the Bondi Lifesaver club near Sydney's Bondi Beach. Politically oriented rock of the style produced by the band was something of a new concept for the Australian music scene, and Peter Garrett quickly earned a reputation as one of the most charismatic and outspoken musicians in the country. He recalled that there were dangers in playing the pub scene:

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Peter Garrett quoted in The Big Australian Rock Book (1985) published by Rolling Stone Magazine, ed.:Ed St John, Template:ISBN{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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Rise to fame: 1982–1985Edit

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1Edit

Their Australian breakthrough and first international recognition came in 1982, with the release of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, which included the singles "Power and the Passion" and "Read about It". The album peaked at No. 3 and "Power and the Passion" peaked at No. 8.<ref name="Kent" /> The album also includes their denunciation of American military interference in foreign affairs in "US Forces" and their critique of imperialist repression in "Short Memory". 10 to 1 was recorded in London during September and produced by Englishman Nick Launay,<ref name="McF" /><ref name="ARDb" /> who had previously worked with acts including The Jam, XTC, Peter Gabriel, PiL, Gang of Four and The Birthday Party.<ref name="McF" /> Launay worked on several other major Australian recordings in this period including INXS' The Swing, Models' The Pleasure of Your Company and The Church's Seance.

The album remained in the Australian charts for 171 weeks.<ref name="Kent" /> It retained their live energy but was more adventurous and radical than previous work.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> Their ascendancy was signalled by a series of concerts on the release of the album at Sydney's Capitol Theatre, one of which was filmed and recorded and later released on their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD. The band also played their first shows outside Australia during this time, with the album being released in the US on Columbia Records, where it charted in 1984 on the Billboard 200;<ref name="BillA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in the UK it was released on CBS.<ref name="McF" />

Red Sails in the SunsetEdit

Midnight Oil undertook more politically motivated benefit concerts,<ref name="Howl" /> including organising the Stop The Drop nuclear disarmament concert in 1983, which received a United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize.<ref name="McF" /> 10 to 1 was followed by Red Sails in the Sunset in October 1984, which was recorded in Japan, produced by Launay again.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="ARDb" /> It peaked at No. 1 for four weeks on the Australian charts,<ref name="Kent" /> and charted on the Billboard 200.<ref name="BillA" /> Singles from the album were released in US and UK but had no chart success.<ref name="McF" /> Whilst the album showed an overreliance on technical wizardry, their lyrical stance was positive.<ref name="McF" /> The band continued to expand their sound and explore themes of politics, consumerism, militarism, the threat of nuclear war and environmental issues.<ref name="Howl" /> The album cover by Japanese artist Tsunehisa Kimura featured a photomontage of Sydney – both city and harbour – cratered and devastated after a hypothetical nuclear attack.<ref name="MemTV">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Live concert footage of "Short Memory" was used in the Australian independent anti-nuclear war movie One Night Stand.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A promotional video for "Best of Both Worlds", later on Best of Both Worlds, received airplay worldwide on cable music TV station MTV.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Garrett ran as a Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP) candidate for a NSW seat in the Australian Senate during the December 1984 federal election, Garrett obtained 9.6% of votes but was unable to obtain the required quota of 12.5%.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 1985, Garrett, with some 30 other members, walked out of the national conference and resigned from the NDP claiming it had been infiltrated by a Trotskyist group.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Although unsuccessful in that federal election, Garrett was now a recognised public figure.<ref name="McF" />

Goat Island Triple J concertEdit

In January 1985, Midnight Oil performed Oils on the Water, a concert on Goat Island in Sydney Harbour to celebrate Triple J's tenth birthday,<ref name="McF" /> before a select audience of fans who had won tickets in a radio competition. The concert was filmed, simulcast on ABC-TV and Triple J, and released on video,<ref name="McF" /> which was remastered for their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD.

International success and activism: 1985–2002Edit

Diesel and DustEdit

In December 1985 the four-track EP Species Deceases produced with Francois Kevorkian was released by CBS/Columbia;<ref name="ARDb" /> it peaked at No. 1 on the Australian singles charts for six weeks.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Kent" /> Species Deceases, featuring the track "Hercules", featured a return to their pub rock sound with hard hitting firepower.<ref name="McF" /> Midnight Oil spent several months in 1986 on the Blackfella/Whitefella tour of outback Australia with indigenous groups Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland, playing to remote Aboriginal communities and seeing first hand the seriousness of the issues in health and living standards.<ref name="McF" /> The tour was criticised by some journalists for being a one-off event instead of a long-term attempt to build bridges between communities.<ref name="Vellutini">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band was galvanised by the experiences and made them the basis of Diesel and Dust, released in 1987 and produced by Warne Livesey.<ref name="ARDb" /> The album focused on the need for recognition by white Australia of past injustices involving the Aboriginal nations and the need for Reconciliation in Australia. Peter Gifford left the band before the album's release due to extensive touring schedules,<ref name="Howl" /> and was replaced by Bones Hillman, formerly of The Swingers.<ref name="ARDb" />

Diesel and Dust peaked at No. 1 on the Australian albums charts for six weeks,<ref name="Kent" /> No. 21 on the Billboard 200 charts in 1988,<ref name="BillA" /> and No. 19 on the UK albums charts.<ref name="UKCharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Beds Are Burning" was their biggest international hit single, peaking at No. 6 in Australia,<ref name="Kent" /> and No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100,<ref name="BillS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No. 6 on the UK singles charts.<ref name="UKCharts" /> "The Dead Heart" peaked at No. 6 in Australia,<ref name="Kent" /> and charted on the Hot 100<ref name="BillS" /> and in the UK.<ref name="UKCharts" /> "Put Down that Weapon" also charted in Australia,<ref name="Kent" /> while "Dreamworld" charted on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and at No. 16 on its Modern Rock Tracks.<ref name="BillS" />

At the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 1988 Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won "Best Cover Art " for Diesel and Dust and both "Best Single" and "Best Song" for "Beds Are Burning".<ref name=aria1988>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A fracas developed between Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, and former Countdown compere Ian Meldrum who was presenting: Meldrum objected to Morris making political commentary from the podium.<ref name=aria1988 />

There were concerns about Diesel and Dust and Midnight Oil's attempts to express indigenous issues to white urban audiences – namely, the question "who holds the power to tell whose history?"<ref name="Vellutini" /> The lyrics of "The Dead Heart" tell the story of colonisation from an indigenous point of view but some critics felt they reinforced the "primitive" stereotype.<ref name="Vellutini" /> Use of the bullroarer was criticised as belonging to sacred rituals and therefore not appropriate for rock songs.<ref name="Vellutini" /> "The Dead Heart" had been written in response to a request by organisers of the 1985 ceremony to return control of Uluru to its indigenous caretakers; Midnight Oil had originally resisted, arguing it would be more appropriate for an indigenous band to release the single. However, the organisers insisted, arguing that the band would reach a wider audience within the predominantly Caucasian urban centres.Template:Citation needed Midnight Oil requested that all royalties from the song go to indigenous communities.<ref name="MemTV" /> In addition, two indigenous groups, Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland, toured with them.

Following the 1988 American tour in support of Diesel and Dust with Australian band Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil launched the Building Bridges – Australia Has A Black History album with various artists contributing, including Paul Kelly, Scrap Metal, Coloured Stone, Hunters & Collectors, James Reyne, The Saints, Crowded House, INXS and Yothu Yindi.<ref name="McF" /> All sales proceeds were donated to the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations.<ref name="McF" />

During 1989–1993 and 1998–2002 Garrett was the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, whilst during 1993–1998 he was on the International Board of Greenpeace.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1990 Midnight Oil played an impromptu lunchtime set in front of Exxon headquarters in New York with a banner reading, "Midnight Oil Makes You Dance, Exxon Oil Makes Us Sick," protesting the Exxon Valdez oil spill the previous year.<ref name="Howl" />

Blue Sky MiningEdit

In February 1990, Blue Sky Mining, produced by Livesey, was released by CBS/Columbia.<ref name="ARDb" /> It peaked at No. 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts.<ref name="AusCharts" /> It stayed at No. 1 for two weeks in Australia and had Top 5 chart success in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.<ref name="BlueSkyA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200<ref name="BillA" /> and No. 28 on the UK charts.<ref name="UKCharts" /> The album was more defiant and outspoken;<ref name="McF" /> the single "Blue Sky Mine" describes asbestos exposure in the Wittenoom mine tragedy.<ref name="McF" /> The single peaked at No. 8 on the ARIA singles charts,<ref name="AusCharts" /> top 15 in Norway and Switzerland,<ref name="BlueSkyS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No. 47 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts,<ref name="BillS" /> and appeared on the UK charts.<ref name="UKCharts" /> The second single, "Forgotten Years", was more moderately successful, reaching No. 26 on the ARIA singles chart, No. 97 in the UK, No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, and No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks.

In Sydney in 1990, while Midnight Oil were taking a break, Hirst joined up with guitarist Andrew Dickson, drummer Dorland Bray of Do-Ré-Mi, guitarist Leszek Karski (Midnight Oil producer) and bass guitarist Rick Grossman of Hoodoo Gurus to form a side project called Ghostwriters.<ref name="ARDbGhost">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The name refers to the practice of ghostwriting, wherein famous writers contribute under assumed names in order to remain anonymous. Ghostwriters' line-ups – both live and in the studio – changed considerably through the years, with only founders Hirst and Grossman being mainstays. Between successive album releases Hirst and Grossman returned to active involvement with Oils and Gurus respectively. Ghostwriters have released Ghostwriters (1991), Second Skin (1996), Fibromoon (1999) and Political Animal (2007).<ref name="ARDbGhost" />

At the 1991 ARIA Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won 'Best Group' and an 'Outstanding Achievement Award' and 'Best Cover Artist', 'Best Video' and 'Album of the Year' for Blue Sky Mining.<ref name=aria1991>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes.<ref name="Jeff" /><ref name=aria1991 />

Scream in Blue (Live), their June 1992 live album produced by Keith Walker, contained material from concerts between 1982 and 1990, including "Progress" from their Exxon Valdez protest gig.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="ARDb" /> It peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA albums charts;<ref name="AusCharts" /> Top 50 in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland;<ref name="ScreamBlueA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and appeared on the Billboard 200.<ref name="BillA" />

Earth and Sun and MoonEdit

Midnight Oil's Earth and Sun and Moon album, produced with Nick Launay, was released in April 1993 and also drew critical acclaim and international success, peaking at No. 2 on the ARIA albums charts,<ref name="AusCharts" /> top 20 in Sweden and Switzerland,<ref name="EarthSunA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Top 50 on Billboard 200,<ref name="BillA" /> and top thirty in the UK albums chart.<ref name="UKCharts" /> The single "Truganini" referenced multiple issues, including the 'last' Tasmanian Aboriginal person, the treatment of Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira, the Australian flag debate, and republicanism.<ref name="Vellutini" /> Liner notes for the single claimed "Truganini was the sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine, the last of her race, when she died in 1876."<ref name="Vellutini" /> The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, representing over 7000 contemporary Tasmanians, called for the single to be boycotted as it perpetuated a 'white' myth about the extinction of Aboriginal Tasmanians.<ref name="Vellutini" /> Their Native Title claims hinged upon establishing links with ancestral lands. Morris responded with, "My suggestion to these people is to stop shooting themselves in the foot and let a band like Midnight Oil voice its appeal to White Australia on behalf of Black Australia".<ref name="Vellutini" />

Critics contended that Morris disparaged Indigenous Australians' ability to represent themselves and overestimated Midnight Oil's ambassadorial powers while diminishing their errors, while some indigenous activists saw benefit in Midnight Oil's highlighting of the issues.<ref name="Vellutini" /> Nevertheless, "Truganini" released in March peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA singles charts,<ref name="AusCharts" /> No. 10 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 4 on their Modern Rock Tracks charts,<ref name="BillS" /> and top thirty for the UK charts.<ref name="UKCharts" /> Peter Garrett issued an apology for the mistake in the liner notes. The band performed the song along with "My Country" from the album on the American sketch-comedy series Saturday Night Live during the 8 May 1993 episode hosted by Christina Applegate.<ref name="nbcsnl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1993, the band also participated in the Another Roadside Attraction tour in Canada and collaborated with The Tragically Hip, Crash Vegas, Hothouse Flowers and Daniel Lanois on the one-off single "Land" to protest forest clearing in British Columbia.

Breathe to CapricorniaEdit

Breathe was released in 1996. It was produced by Malcolm Burn and had a loose, raw style with almost a low-key sound.<ref name="McF" /> It peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA albums chart,<ref name="AusCharts" /> and had Top 40 success in New Zealand and Switzerland.<ref name="BreatheA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They returned to No. 1 on the ARIA albums charts<ref name="AusCharts" /> with the compilation 20,000 Watt R.S.L. in 1997 on Sony Records, which achieved 4×Platinum sales.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later album releases include the electro tinged hard rock Redneck Wonderland in 1998, live album The Real Thing in 2000 and the more stripped back Capricornia in 2002 again renuniting with producer Warne Livesey, all charted into the ARIA Top Ten.<ref name="AusCharts" />

Sydney 2000 Olympic Games performanceEdit

Midnight Oil again brought the politics of Reconciliation to the fore during their performance at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. Then Prime Minister John Howard had triggered controversy that year with his refusal to embrace symbolic reconciliation and apologise to Indigenous Australians and members of the Stolen Generations.Template:Citation needed But he had also said their reconciliation-themed single "Beds Are Burning" was his favourite Midnight Oil song. Midnight Oil performed the song at the ceremony with the word SORRY conspicuously printed on their clothes as a form of apology to Indigenous people for their suffering under white settlement and to highlight the issue to Howard, who was in the audience at the Olympic stadium as an estimated one billion people watched on television.<ref name="Vellutini" /> Midnight Oil had consulted with tour mates Yothu Yindi and other Indigenous activists, so that their performance would bring popular protest to the world arena.<ref name="Vellutini" />

In 2001, when Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) surveyed 100 music industry people for their Top 10 Best Australian songs of all time, "Beds Are Burning" was voted No. 3 behind The Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" and Daddy Cool's "Eagle Rock".<ref name="APRA10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the 2001 APRA Awards ceremony "Beds are Burning" was shown on video and introduced by Australian Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway as an Indigenous spokesperson on Reconciliation.<ref name="APRA10" /> "Power and the Passion" was also listed in APRA's Top 30 best Australian songs.<ref name=apra01 />

Dissolution and reunionEdit

File:Oils Alive Again by rakka of oz.jpg
Midnight Oil at Manly Leagues Club, 2005

Garrett announced his decision to quit Midnight Oil on 2 December 2002, to refocus on his political career.<ref name="Howl" /> In the 1984 federal election, Garrett had stood for the Australian Senate under the Nuclear Disarmament Party banner and narrowly lost. He won the seat of Kingsford Smith at the 2004 General Election for the Australian Labor Party and was selected as Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts. On Thursday, 29 November 2007, Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd named Garrett as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. The other members of the band continued to work together, but not under the Midnight Oil name.

After a warm up gig the previous evening at the Manly-Warringah Leagues Club, the band, including Garrett, reunited to perform at the WaveAid concert on 29 January 2005 to raise funds for the victims of the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The concert, which took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, also included performances by Powderfinger, Silverchair, Nick Cave, John Butler Trio, Finn Brothers, and others.

On 29 October 2006, Midnight Oil was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with ARIA chairman Denis Handlin describing them:

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

Denis Handlin{{#if:2006 |{{#if:|}}

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{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

Rob Hirst, in his acceptance speech, thanked his family, bandmates, and support from fellow Australians. He also lamented the fact that unlike the Vietnam war, which had inspired some of the best protest songs ever written, very few had been written in reaction to the invasion of Iraq.<ref name="Jeff" />

Flat Chat, another compilation album, was released in November 2006 and peaked at No. 21 on the ARIA album charts.<ref name="AusCharts" /> Rumours of an appearance by Midnight Oil at the Sydney leg of the Live Earth concert in July 2007<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> were false. However Ghostwriters, founded by drummer Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus bass guitarist Rick Grossman and including former Oils guitarist Martin Rotsey, performed six tracks including the Oils' song "When the Generals Talk", whilst Peter Garrett gave a speech introducing a reformed Crowded House.

Aside from Ghostwriters, Hirst has also been a member of Backsliders, performed with former Olympian Paul Greene, with fellow Backsliders member Dom Turner on The Angry Tradesmen, and, with Rotsey, assisted on Jim Moginie's solo album Alas Folkloric in 2006.

2009 reformationEdit

On the evenings of 12 and 13 March 2009 a reformed Midnight Oil, with Garrett, played at the Royal Theatre in Canberra.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following day, 14 March they headlined the Sound Relief concert in Melbourne.<ref name="Brumby">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This event was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to raise money for victims of Victoria's February bushfire disaster.<ref name="Mitchell">Template:Cite news</ref> The event was held simultaneously with a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground.<ref name="Brumby" /> All proceeds from the Melbourne Concert went to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire relief.<ref name="Brumby" /><ref name="Mitchell" /> Appearing with Midnight Oil in Melbourne were Augie March, Bliss N Eso with Paris Wells, Gabriella Cilmi, Hunters & Collectors, Jack Johnson, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley, Kings of Leon, Liam Finn, Crowded House, Jet, Paul Kelly, Split Enz and Wolfmother.<ref name="Official">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reunion, the Great Circle Tour, Midnight Oil: 1984 and Armistice DayEdit

On 4 May 2016 it was announced on the band's website that Midnight Oil intended to reform and embark on a tour in 2017 (their first concerts in Australia since 2002 and their first world tour since 1997).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Such plans were confirmed in February 2017, when the band announced The Great Circle Tour, which kicked off in April. After three warm up concerts in their native Australia, the band toured Brazil, the U.S., Canada, Europe, South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand before going back to play a series of concerts around the whole of Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band performed 77 concerts in 16 countries during the tour.

In March 2018, the band announced the release of a new documentary film entitled Midnight Oil: 1984. Directed by Ray Argall, the film primarily consists of previously-unseen footage from the band's tour in support of Red Sails in the Sunset. The film was given an Australian cinematic release in May 2018, an Australian DVD/Blu-ray release the following July and a limited North American and New Zealand cinematic release that August.

One of the Great Circle tour's final concerts was held on Armistice Day at The Domain, in Sydney on 11 November 2017. Both shows at the Domain (the band also performed there on 17 November) were filmed and recorded, being turned into the live album and film Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney. The film was given a one-night cinematic release on 24 October 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 9 November 2018, Armistice Day was released as a live album, as well as on DVD and Blu-ray.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In December 2018, the band announced a European and UK tour for June and July 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band were also announced as the headlining act of the Big Red Bash festival, taking place in Birdsville, Queensland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 2019, the band announced headlining shows in Thirroul and Canberra as warm-up shows for their European tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With the announcement came news that the band intended to record new material for a projected 2020 release.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2020: The Makarrata Project and "Gadigal Land"Edit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On 7 August 2020, Midnight Oil released their first song in 18 years titled "Gadigal Land", with all earnings going to organisations promoting the Uluru Statement from the Heart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song featured poetry spoken in the Gadigal language.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is the first song from a mini-album titled The Makarrata Project,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whose name is related to one of the elements of the Uluru Statement, a Yolngu word approximating a peace agreement or type of treaty.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Gadigal Land" peaked at number 5 on the Australian digital sales song chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The Makarrata Project was released on 30 October 2020<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and reached Number 1 in the Australian albums chart on 6 November 2020.<ref name="theguardian.com" />

Bass guitarist Bones Hillman died on 7 November 2020 of cancer at his home in the United States.<ref name="hillman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The surviving members of Midnight Oil announced Hillman's death in a statement that remembered him as "the bassist with the beautiful voice, the band member with the wicked sense of humour, and our brilliant musical comrade."<ref name="hillman" />

2021–present: Resist and final tourEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On 18 May 2021, Midnight Oil announced on Twitter that their thirteenth album, with the working title Show of Hands, was scheduled for release during their performance at the 2021 Byron Bay Bluesfest. As the event was cancelled in mid-August and the majority of lineup was confirmed for the 2022 edition (set to 14 April), the band's plans to release the album remained undefined for some six months.

On 28 October 2021, the band released on YouTube a video for their first single from the album, "Rising Seas".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They announced the single on Twitter: "The uncompromising song, released on the eve of [the United Nations Climate Change Conference] (COP26), adds the band's unique voice to billions of others around the world seeking a safe, habitable, and fair future for our planet." The band featured no bassist in the video, leaving only a bass guitar in a stand in the background beside the drums as a tribute to Hillman.

On 26 November 2021, the band officially announced the album Resist, which was released 18 February 2022. With the announcement of the album came the release of national Australian tour dates for 2022, which the band confirmed would be their last, while simultaneously confirming that the band will continue to make music together in the future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Resist: The Final Tour concluded on 3 October 2022 at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney with a 40-song, three-and-a-half-hour set from the band.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

LegacyEdit

Midnight Oil initially faced resistance from the mainstream media,<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> but went on to sell over 20 million albums.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006, having won 11 ARIA Awards during their career.<ref name=hof>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=ariahof>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> AllMusic noted that the band "brought a new sense of political and social immediacy to pop music", and were "inspirational and successful in their homeland",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while critic Bernard Zuel wrote, "It's been said of Midnight Oil that 'this is what Australia sounds like'."<ref name="zuel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Author Tim Winton remarked, "It was almost too much to believe that rock music could be about anything but itself. You know: life on the road and the inconvenience of VD. Dicks and chicks. Faux Americana. Finally someone was playing stuff that was musically idiosyncratic, fresh and strong. And authentic."<ref name="zuel" /> Spin founder Bob Guccione Jr. said of Midnight Oil, "If they were from New Jersey they'd be bigger than U2."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Guardian writer Andrew Street called them "one of Australia's most beloved bands".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The group have influenced international acts such as Green Day,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> R.E.M.,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Pearl Jam,<ref name="duran">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Garbage,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Cranberries,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Biffy Clyro,<ref name="fawbert">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Candlebox,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Maná,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hot Water Music<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Shades Apart,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as Australian performers like Crowded House,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Powderfinger,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Living End,<ref name="yates">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> John Butler,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Subscription required</ref> DMA's<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Tim Freedman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe described Peter Garrett as a "brilliant" songwriter who is "able to imagine a situation, put [himself] into it and write about it", adding, "That, to me, is incredible".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Crowded House singer Neil Finn went on to have multiple collaborations with Jim Moginie, whom he called "a great guy and an amazing guitar player".<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> Biffy Clyro vocalist Simon Neil said of Midnight Oil, "Every night for about three weeks, driving home from the studio I would just put 'Beds Are Burning' on, just on loop... They're a really underrated band."<ref name="fawbert" /> The Living End founder Chris Cheney reported that his ensemble listened to "a lot of [Midnight Oil's] 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and Red Sails in the Sunset, and were blown away by their fearlessness in not being shackled to a style".<ref name="yates" /> The group have also inspired artists outside the realm of popular music, including poet Daniel Nester<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and painter Nicholas Harding.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Midnight Oil's songs have been covered by performers such as Pearl Jam<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (and frontman Eddie Vedder solo<ref name="duran" />), U2,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Patti Smith,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Killers,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Imagine Dragons,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Silverchair,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tom Morello (as The Nightwatchman),<ref name="penn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Billy Bragg<ref name="penn" /> and Anti-Flag.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> U2 singer Bono recorded a speech for Midnight Oil's ARIA Hall of Fame induction, sections of which aired intermittently. He recited the chorus lyrics of their song "Forgotten Years" and hailed the outfit as an "extraordinary" band whose music "brought people's differences together; not to resolve them, just to get them in the same room, up each other's noses".<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> Killers vocalist Brandon Flowers said, "I wish I'd written 'Forgotten Years'... That song touches my heart."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Midnight Oil's music is the subject of 2001 tribute album The Power & The Passion, which features covers by several mainstream rock acts from Australia and New Zealand, including Something for Kate, Regurgitator, Grinspoon, Jebediah, Augie March and Shihad.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> In 2009, a version of "Beds Are Burning" was recorded by numerous musicians – among them Duran Duran, Lily Allen, Bob Geldof, Fergie, Mark Ronson and Scorpions – in protest of global warming and climate change.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Music journalist Kurt Loder once noted that Midnight Oil were "reputed to be Australia's most formidable live act";<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Tomas Mureika in AllMusic argued they were "the tightest band on the planet for a time".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Writer John O'Donnell said that the group's performances "quickly became the stuff of legend and earned the band a large and fiercely loyal following".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Cold Chisel singer Jimmy Barnes called them "one of the greatest bands ever and one of my favourite live bands in the world".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan referred to the 2016 announcement of Midnight Oil's impending reformation as "awesome news", noting that they are "one of the greatest live bands I've ever seen".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Corgan had previously likened his dancing to that of Peter Garrett.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Garrett's onstage routine – described by critic Richard McGregor as "mesmerising"<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> – incorporates a wild and eccentric dance style;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Guardian journalist Andrew Stafford wrote that Garrett has a "unique dance step that captivated audiences for over 20 years" prior to the group's 2002 disbandment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His dancing was imitated in Parliament by Australian politicians Peter Costello<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and John Elferink.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

PersonnelEdit

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Current members

  • Peter Garrett – lead vocals, harmonica (1976–2002, 2005, 2009, 2016–present)
  • Rob Hirst – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals (1976–2002, 2005, 2009, 2016–present)
  • Jim Moginie – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (1976–2002, 2005, 2009, 2016–present)
  • Martin Rotsey – guitars (1977–2002, 2005, 2009, 2016–present)

Former members

  • Andrew James – bass (1976–1980), backing vocals (1979–1980)
  • Peter Gifford – bass, backing vocals (1980–1987)
  • Bones Hillman – bass, backing vocals (1987–2002, 2005, 2009, 2016–2020; died 2020)

Template:Col-2 Former touring musicians<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Charlie McMahon – didgeridoo (1984, 1986)
  • Glad Reed – trombone (1985–1990, 2009)
  • Chris Abrahams – keyboards (1993–1994, 2000)
  • Jack Howard – trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, percussion (2017)
  • Andy Bickers – saxophone (2019, 2021–2022)
  • Adam Ventoura – bass, backing vocals (2021–2022)
  • Leah Flanagan – backing vocals (2021–2022)
  • Liz Stringer – backing vocals, acoustic guitar (2021–2022)

Template:Col-end

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:150 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1976 till:{{#time: d/m/Y }} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1976 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1976

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id:vocals  value:red    legend:Lead_vocals,_harmonica
id:backing value:pink   legend:Backing_vocals
id:guitar  value:green  legend:Guitar
id:keys    value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:bass    value:blue   legend:Bass
id:drums   value:orange legend:Drums,_occasional_lead_vocals
id:album   value:black  legend:Studio_album
id:bars    value:gray(0.9)

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bar:Peter  text:"Peter Garrett"
bar:Jim    text:"Jim Moginie"
bar:Martin text:"Martin Rotsey"
bar:Bear   text:"Andrew James"
bar:Giffo  text:"Peter Gifford"
bar:Bones  text:"Bones Hillman"
bar:Rob    text:"Rob Hirst"

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color:album
at:01/11/1978
at:01/10/1979
at:01/11/1981
at:01/11/1982
at:01/10/1984
at:01/08/1987
at:25/02/1990
at:20/04/1993
at:15/10/1996
at:03/11/1998
at:19/02/2002
at:30/10/2020
at:18/02/2022

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bar:Peter  from:start      till:02/12/2002 color:vocals
bar:Peter  from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:vocals
bar:Peter  from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:vocals
bar:Peter  from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:vocals
bar:Jim    from:start      till:02/12/2002 color:guitar
bar:Jim    from:start      till:01/01/1990 color:keys    width:3
bar:Jim    from:01/01/1990 till:02/12/2002 color:keys    width:7
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bar:Jim    from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:guitar
bar:Jim    from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:keys    width:7
bar:Jim    from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:backing width:3
bar:Jim    from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Jim    from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:keys    width:7
bar:Jim    from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:backing width:3
bar:Martin from:01/01/1977 till:02/12/2002 color:guitar
bar:Martin from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:guitar
bar:Martin from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:guitar
bar:Martin from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Bear   from:start      till:01/04/1980 color:bass
bar:Bear   from:01/06/1979 till:01/04/1980 color:backing width:3
bar:Giffo  from:01/04/1980 till:01/08/1987 color:bass
bar:Giffo  from:01/04/1980 till:01/08/1987 color:backing width:3
bar:Bones  from:01/08/1987 till:02/12/2002 color:bass
bar:Bones  from:01/08/1987 till:02/12/2002 color:backing width:3
bar:Bones  from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:bass
bar:Bones  from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:backing width:3
bar:Bones  from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:bass
bar:Bones  from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:backing width:3
bar:Bones  from:04/05/2016 till:08/11/2020 color:bass
bar:Bones  from:04/05/2016 till:08/11/2020 color:backing width:3
bar:Rob    from:start      till:02/12/2002 color:drums
bar:Rob    from:start      till:02/12/2002 color:backing width:3
bar:Rob    from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:drums
bar:Rob    from:28/01/2005 till:30/01/2005 color:backing width:3
bar:Rob    from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:drums
bar:Rob    from:12/03/2009 till:14/03/2009 color:backing width:3
bar:Rob    from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:drums
bar:Rob    from:04/05/2016 till:end        color:backing width:3

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Studio albums

Awards and nominationsEdit

APRA AwardsEdit

These annual awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.<ref name="APRA History" /> From 1982 to 1990, the best songs were given the Gold Award (also called the Special Award).<ref name="APRA History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="APRA Awards">APRA Music Awards for Midnight Oil:

  • 1989–90 winners: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }} Note: APRA-AMCOS changed the timing of their awards ceremony from May to the previous November and hence a special presentation for 1989/90 recipients was made at the May 1991 ceremony.

  • APRA Top 30 Australian songs (1–10): {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • APRA Top 30 Australian songs (11–20): {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • 2008 winners: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • 2008 Ted Albert Award: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | 1989–90 || "Beds Are Burning" (Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, James Moginie) || Gold Award || Template:Won |- | rowspan="2"| 2001 || "Beds Are Burning" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) || APRA Top 10 Australian songs || Template:Won |- | "Power and the Passion" (Hirst, Moginie, Garrett) || APRA Top 30 Australian songs || Template:Won |- | 2018 || Midnight Oil (Garrett, Hirst, Martin Rotsey, Moginie, Bones Hillman || Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music || Template:Won |- | 2021 || "Gadigal Land" (Joel Davison, Rob Hirst, Bunna Lawrie) || Song of the Year<ref name="APRA Noms 2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Won |- | 2022 || "First Nation" || Song of the Year<ref name="APRA2022Noms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="2" | 2023 |rowspan="2" | "Rising Seas" | Song of the Year <ref name="SotYshortlist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | Template:Shortlisted |- | Most Performed Rock Work <ref name="APRAnoms2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | Template:Nom |-

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ARIA Music AwardsEdit

The ARIA Music Awards are an annual set of awards, commenced in 1987, which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Midnight Oil have received 11 wins from 38 nominations.<ref>ARIA Music Awards for Midnight Oil:

  • Search Results 'Midnight Oil': {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1987 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1988 winners: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1988 winners and some nominees: Template:Cite news
  • 1989 winners: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1989 winners and nominees: Template:Cite news
  • 1991 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1993 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1994 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1998 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 1999 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 2004 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 2006 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • 2017 winners and nominees: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Template:Awards table |- | 1987 | "The Dead Heart" | Best Group | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="5"| 1988 | "Beds Are Burning" | Single of the Year | Template:Won |- | "Beds Are Burning" (Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie) | Song of the Year | Template:Won |- | Midnight Oil | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Diesel and Dust | Best Indigenous Release | Template:Nom |- | Diesel and Dust – Ken Duncan, Creative Type Wart, Gary Morris, Midnight Oil | Best Cover Art | Template:Won |- |rowspan="4"| 1989 |rowspan="2" | "Dreamworld" | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Best Indigenous Release | Template:Nom |- | "Dreamworld" – Guy Gray | Engineer of the Year | Template:Nom |- | "Dreamworld" – Andrew de Groot | Best Video | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="8"| 1991 | rowspan="2"|Blue Sky Mining | Album of the Year | Template:Won |- | Best Group | Template:Won |- | Blue Sky Mining – Livingstone Clarke | Best Cover Art | Template:Won |- | "Blue Sky Mine" | Single of the Year | Template:Nom |- | "Blue Sky Mine" (Hirst, Moginie, Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Bones Hillman) | Song of the Year | Template:Nom |- | "Blue Sky Mine" – Claudia Castle | Best Video | Template:Won |- | Midnight Oil – David Nicholas | Engineer of the Year | Template:Won |- | Midnight Oil | Outstanding Achievement | Template:Won |- | 1993 | Scream in Blue – Midnight Oil, Neo One Design | Best Cover Art | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="3"|1994 || Earth and Sun and Moon | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Earth and Sun and Moon – Kevin Wilkins, Midnight Oil | Best Cover Art | Template:Nom |- | "Outbreak of Love" – Paul Elliott | Best Video | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="3"|1998 | 20,000 Watt R.S.L. | Highest Selling Album | Template:Nom |- |20,000 Watt R.S.L. – Kevin Wilkins | Best Cover Art | Template:Nom |- | "White Skin / Black Heart" – Magoo | Engineer of the Year | Template:Won |- |1999 | Redneck Wonderland – Magoo | Engineer of the Year | Template:Nom |- |2004 | Best of Both Worlds | Best Music DVD | Template:Won |- |2006 | Midnight Oil | Hall of Fame | Template:Yes2 |- |2017 | The Overflow Tank – Mitchell Storck | Best Cover Art | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="2"| 2019 | Armistice Day | Best Rock Album | Template:Nom |- | Midnight Oil | Best Australian Live Act | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="5"| 2021<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | rowspan="3"| The Makarrata Project | Album of the Year | Template:Nom |- | Best Rock Album | Template:Nom |- | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Robert Hambling for Midnight Oil – "First Nation" | Best Video | Template:Nom |- | Makarrata Live | Best Australian Live Act | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2"| 2022<ref name="2022ARIAnoms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | Resist | Best Group | Template:Nom |- | Resist. The Final Tour 2022 | Best Australian Live Act | Template:Nom |-

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Countdown Australian Music AwardsEdit

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987; it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="1987noms&wins">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Awards table |- |1981 | Themselves | Most Consistent Live Act | Template:Nom |- |1982 | 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 | Best Australian Album | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2" |1983 | rowspan="2" | "Power and the Passion" | Best Australian Single | Template:Won |- | Best Promotional Video | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="4" |1984 | Red Sails in the Sunset | Best Australian Album | Template:Nom |- |"Read About It" |Best Group Performance in a Video | Template:Nom |- |"Short Memory" – Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil) |Best Male Performance in a Video | Template:Nom |- | Themselves | Most Popular Australian Group | Template:Nom |- | 1986 | "The Dead Heart" | Best Australian Single | Template:Nom |-

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Environmental Music PrizeEdit

The Environmental Music Prize is a quest to find a theme song to inspire action on climate and conservation. It commenced in 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Awards table ! Template:Abbr |- | 2023 | "Rising Seas" | Environmental Music Prize | Template:Nom | <ref name="EMP 2023 noms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |-

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Helpmann AwardsEdit

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001.<ref name=lpa>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Template:Awards table ! Template:Abbr |- | 2005 | Midnight Oil - WaveAid - the Tsunami Relief Concert | Best Performance in an Australian Contemporary Concert | Template:Nom |<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- | 2018 | Midnight Oil - The Great Circle World Tour 2017 | Best Australian Contemporary Concert | Template:Nom |<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |-

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J AwardsEdit

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005. Template:Awards table ! Template:Abbr |- | 2022 | Midnight Oil | Double J Artist of the Year | Template:Won | <ref name="2022nomsJ">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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Mo AwardsEdit

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Midnight Oil won two awards in that time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Awards table (wins only) |- |rowspan="2"| 1990 | Midnight Oil | Rock Group of the Year | Template:Won |- | Midnight Oil | Rock Performer of the Year | Template:Won |-

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ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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