Midnight Oil will reform for shows in 2017. The line-up is Bones, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey, Peter Garrett and Rob Hirst.
The band has confirmed their reunion via their official website stating, “We know it’s been a while but we wanted to tell you that the five of us are finally making plans to get together again for some gigs next year. We’re looking forward to hopefully playing overseas and touring our homeland for the first time since 2002”.
Other than that, no definite dates are in place. “We won’t know exactly when, where and what we’ll be doing before next January at the earliest so in the meantime please just ignore any rumours. Unless and until you hear about something from us you can safely assume that it’s not yet confirmed,” they posted.
As well as a Midnight Oil tour singer Peter Garrett will release his first solo album. “For starters Peter Garrett can confirm reports that he will finally return to music by releasing his first solo album. When writing his memoir ‘Big Blue Sky’ Peter revealed that ‘a surprising byproduct of writing words all day was to suddenly find music coming back…’ This news sparked some speculation that a new Oils album might be in the making. However the songs that he wrote alongside his memoir are more personal in nature – hence the decision to record them for a solo release. Expect more news on his album over coming months,” the band wrote.
The other members of the Oils have been active musically since the break-up in 2002. “Drummer/songwriter Rob Hirst has maintained his work with acclaimed Australian blues outfit – and festival favorites – ‘The Backsliders’, with a new album just recorded. Last year, he released ‘Hirst and Sennett’, a garage pop/rock collaboration with Brisbane musician/writer Sean Sennett. Most recently Rob co-wrote ‘The Truth Walks Slowly In The Countryside’ with Nashville based duo Jay and Mark O’Shea – a musical tribute to the late farmer/ CSG activist George Bender”.
“Composer/producer/guitarist Jim Moginie continues to push the musical envelope with the development of his ‘Electric Guitar Orchestra’ for whom his composition ‘The Colour Wheel’ explores the boundaries between music and colour. Jim has produced records for artists including Sarah Blasko. He also works as a screen composer and tours internationally with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as well as pursuing his passion for Irish music with The Tinkers and Shameless Seamus”.
“Guitarist Martin Rotsey teamed up again with Jim and Rob to form instrumental surf combo ‘The Break’, and joined in to play guitar on Peter’s new record. Whilst bass player Bones Hillman moved to the US in 2007 and has since been active on the North American live scene, working out of Nashville and with Canadian artist Matthew Good, and long time Oils producer Warne Livesey”.
Midnight Oil has also given fans a free download form the one-off charity performance at Sound Relief warm-up gig in Canberra in 2009. Grab it here.
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