Midnight Oil is an Australian rock band, known as much for their incendiary live performances as for their outspoken political activism. Formed in 1972 in Sydney, the band originally called themselves Farm, but by 1976 had changed the name to Midnight Oil. The group’s lineup stabilized around Peter Garrett (vocals), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard), Martin Rotsey (guitar), and later Bones Hillman (bass), following the departure of initial bassist Andrew James.

Throughout their career, Midnight Oil has blended their hard rock stylings with a deep commitment to environmentalism and the rights of indigenous peoples—an ethos that has permeated their music and action. They achieved international acclaim with the 1987 album "Diesel and Dust," propelled by Garrett's commanding stage presence and hits such as "Beds Are Burning" and "The Dead Heart," which underscore social and environmental themes relevant to Australia and beyond. After a long hiatus in the 2000s during which Garrett pursued politics, the band re-formed and continued to release new material, including the critically acclaimed album "The Makarrata Project" in 2020. Their recent works such as "RESIST" and "At the Time of Writing" continue the band's tradition of combining rousing music with poignant messages, further cementing their legacy as one of Australia's most iconic and conscientious rock bands.

Genres

Australian Rock

New Romantic

Related Artists

INXS

Powderfinger

Paul Kelly

The Living End

Men At Work

Crowded House

Silverchair

Divinyls

AC/DC

Tame Impala

The Wiggles

Jet

Latest Release

LIVE at the Old Lion, Adelaide 1982

Midnight Oil

Album - 16 Tracks - Released December 2, 2022