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Australia Midnight Oil, an Australian rock band, has consistently utilized their platform to advocate for anti-nuclear, environmental, and indigenous rights causes, performing globally from Sydney to New York.
Midnight Oil collaborated on the 'Makarrata Project', with earnings going to organizations promoting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which featured Indigenous artists.
Midnight Oil toured with the Australian band Yothu Yindi in support of their album Diesel and Dust in 1988 and also launched the 'Building Bridges – Australia Has A Black History' album with contributions from various artists.
Green Music Australia interviewed Rob Hirst thirty-five years after Midnight Oil's Exxon protest in NYC, highlighting the band's continued environmental advocacy.
Director Paul Clarke, in a podcast for Screen Australia, discussed the inspiration and process behind his documentary 'Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line'.
During 1993–1998, Peter Garrett was on the International Board of Greenpeace. The band also performed a gig aboard the Greenpeace flagship 'Rainbow Warrior' in Rio De Janeiro’s harbour.
Midnight Oil, informally known as “The Oils,” formed in Sydney in 1972, evolving from the band Farm. The original lineup included Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard), and Andrew James (bass), with Peter Garrett joining in 1975 as lead vocalist and synthesizer player. Martin Rotsey (guitar) was added in 1977. Their early career from 1976 to the early 1980s was characterized by an aggressive, punk-hard rock sound and energetic live performances in Sydney’s pub rock scene, particularly at the Royal Antler Hotel in Narrabeen. Their debut self-titled album in 1978, later nicknamed “The Blue Meanie,” hinted at future success with the track “Run by Night.” Despite limited mainstream radio support, the album charted, marking the band’s initial penetration into the Australian music scene. Peter Gifford replaced Andrew James in 1980, and Bones Hillman took over from Gifford in 1987.
The band gained national recognition with “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” in 1982, an album that remained on the Australian charts for 171 weeks and saw their first international release with Columbia Records. This period also marked a significant turn towards political activism, notably with Peter Garrett running for the Australian Senate in 1984 on a Nuclear Disarmament Party platform. Their 1987 album, “Diesel and Dust,” became a global success, achieving multi-platinum sales and earning Grammy nominations. Singles like “The Dead Heart” and “Beds Are Burning” highlighted the issues faced by Indigenous Australians, reflecting the band’s commitment to social and environmental justice themes, a stance they reinforced by protesting the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1990 outside Exxon’s New York headquarters. This blend of musical success and unwavering advocacy continued with albums like “Blue Sky Mining” (1990) and “Earth and Sun and Moon” (1993).
Midnight Oil’s dedication to their causes culminated in their 2000 Sydney Olympic Games closing ceremony performance, where they wore clothing emblazoned with “SORRY” to highlight the Stolen Generations. After Peter Garrett’s departure in 2002 to pursue a full-time political career, the band reunited for significant charity events such as WaveAid (2005) and Sound Relief (2009). They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. The band officially reformed in 2016 for “The Great Circle Tour,” spanning 77 gigs in 16 countries and releasing new music, including “The Makarrata Project” in 2020 which earned a “Song of the Year” APRA award. Their final studio album, “Resist,” and accompanying farewell tour in 2022 underscored their enduring message of resistance and engagement with contemporary global issues. The 2024 documentary “Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line” further chronicles their impactful career.
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