Peter Garrett | Long Play Series

Since 1975, Peter Garrett AM has been the lead singer of legendary Australian band Midnight Oil. Formed in Sydney’s northern beaches, Midnight Oil gained a loyal live following with their fiery onstage performances and provocative social commentary. Midnight Oil have been influential advocates for numerous political and social issues including nuclear disarmament, refuge for the homeless, land rights, environmental and conservation issues and better treatment for those seeking asylum in Australia.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Peter Garrett pursued political and advocacy roles as a candidate for the Nuclear Disarmament Party and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He entered parliament in 2004 as a member of House of Representatives for the Australian Labor Party and over the next decade worked in various portfolios including the arts, environment, education and reconciliation. Following his resignation from politics in 2013, Garrett returned to music and joined the reunited Midnight Oil on The Great Circle World Tour which saw the band perform in 16 countries.
Midnight Oil were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.
In this interview with Tracee Hutchison, Peter Garrett discusses the power of music as a driver for social change, his time in politics, and the impact of their breakthrough album '10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1'.
Interviewer: Tracee Hutchison
Location: Eleven Music, Sydney, 2017
For more Australian Music Vault stories and information visit www.australianmusicvault.com.au/
As part of our commitment to capturing and sharing great Australian music stories, the Australian Music Vault asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music.

[@roswithagotz2523]

Diese Band nimmt einen besonderen Platz ein. Weltweit. Sie haben ihren ganz eigenen Stil, den man mag oder eben nicht. Sie setzen sich für die Aborigenes ein, die jede Unterstützung verdient haben. Wie alle Indigenen, die uns überleben werden!!!!! Und auch dass haben sie verdient!!!! Ich bin jetzt überrascht, weil mir Peter Garrett immer sehr introvertiert vorkam. Sein Grinsen, lachen steht im gut. Ein hervorragender Musiker, die ganze Band, die vor lauter Energie Funken schlägt. Long live Midnight Oil!!!!!!

[@cathrynmasters3199]

The Oils are, imho, the most iconic Australian band. They have managed to respectfully forge the way for societal paradigm shifts in our country. They are extremely talented musicians who’ve raised awareness about ethical and moral issues, atrocities committed in the past, and social issues that needed to and still need to be resolved. Peter Garrett is a living legend & Rob Hurst is one of the best drummers who ever lived. Brilliant interview. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Thank you. ❤️🖤💛

[@AdamSandaver]

What a great talk. Thanks Tracey and Peter.

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Great to hear you enjoyed it.

[@TonyBurke100]

I'm now 70 and remember seeing the Oils every week at the Narrabeen Antler, once at French's and it's all as if it was yesterday. An amazing live band I couldn't stay away.

[@Max_Drunk]

From Norway: pure legend!!! Living legend!!! Love the band!!! There should be more people like him ❤

[@riffraff4213]

Pure legend...and legends are MO. Hall of Fame musicians. Great interview...thanks for asking the questions I wanted to hear!! The Oils are the soundtrack of my youth... and still are.

[@davidgaul572]

A must-view for all Oils fans!

[@assininecomment1630]

Re. favourite bands, and early influences... Yes! Taman Shud were definitely something very special. Also, Skyhooks were my favourite Australian band too! This was from around '74 (aged 6), to about '83. After that? Midnight Oil totally captured me. This was musically, socially, politically and more. 🙂

[@user-mc4nx6jl4h]

Greatest people with huge hearts! Thanks Garret! Thanks guys ! for what you are and what you bring to people, thanks for not giving up and not turning back. Russians love you!

[@neil2550]

Great Australian Seen oils few times over the years Caught the final show at hordern just the other week,, skyhooks one of my favourite s too...thank you Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil

[@timvivoda5208]

I was at a tennis court at a concert and people were throwing grass mats around I was knocked unconscious from one of these flying mats in Melbourne Victoria. What woke me up was Peter garret scream so load on pa everyone was brain blown .great concert .great times great to see this program....

[@asebritthellesfjord4573]

Love Peter ♥️❤️‍🔥♥️🇳🇴

[@harrow2355]

Great interview,I seen so many Australian bands in the 80s and 90s in Perth,the Oils I seen at the pub called the Overflow,fantastically loud,the girls were hot and the music was brilliant.

[@Cadcare]

Lonely keyboard worrier here. Peter, the Oils were the first band that I ever heard who sang in an Aussie accent. The Hooks sang with American accents. As a kid, I thought to sing meant to sound like that until you guys came along and I learnt something. (1:04)

[@alexandermaurici7569]

Fantastic chat guys. Thanks for the memories Pete, many a beer sculled and heads bashed (once into your massive speaker stack at The Excelcior in VIC) at your gigs! I'm only a young'n but you guys had me at at Postcard but unfortunately lost me at bit Red Sails - I think this was the balance point between artistry and politics (I don't like politicians!! :) ). A few serious brownie points lost with the turncoat move with Labour - stay true Pete - never sleep with the enemy!

[@andrewnorgrove6487]

My late wife and my life back in the day Listening to Peter's band Midnight oil Be it driving back and forth across Australia or just in a small outback bar Peter gave us a cause "Australia " what went wrong people ? Peter got into politics and was for a better word " Raped " by those he worked for and thrown to the wolves , I was so looking forward to what he had to offer But its almost like the major party's wont except different views One reason i don't vote for either party , Live long and prosper Peter Garrett

[@Roger-go6jc]

Well spoken.

[@naj70]

The Interview with Rob Hirst was far superior than this. It’s like that was done in the morning - and Pete got the same questions after lunch (“take me through” “tell us about” “give us a snap shot” um ar um “takes us back, what’s the back story?” Um

[@neil2550]

O really

[@louisesimons5903]

Is he a freemason

[@jamesbyrnes4989]

No.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Probably a low level one

[@Neil-Aspinall]

In 2019 I happened to see MO in Germany. The never ending Left wing diatribe between songs and Trump bashing was enough for me to leave before it ended. The other thing is the band I felt were very lackluster and way too comfortable.

[@tmnl8037]

I can’t stand this person. He is a hypocrite that became a failed politician that did not do what he preached. He sung protest songs about uranium mining and then as a politician voted in favour of it. He put down his elected prime minister Kevin Rudd and betrayed him in an act of treason and got Julia Gillard put in to further his own neck in the hope he himself would one day become prime minister. After his political career was over he went back to his old ways thinking he could be the singer that he once was before he abandoned the music industry in favour of being a politician. I guess now he draws a politicians pension from the perks of being an ex politician. He remains an ex musician and is nothing but a failure in everything he has ever done in his life. I would never buy any of his recordings and hate the music. Get him out of here!

[@riffraff4213]

Jog on champ... he is a fucken legend of Aussie Rock Music. No true Oils fan gives a shit about his political years... just the music that will make them Hall of Fame!

[@allymayful]

@tecno Yes he was. It was a really rough road for him. The chaotic political party machine dominated his ideals. He was a solicitor before music.

[@allymayful]

That hate is killing you - not Peter. Why come to this interview if he has such an affect on you. PLUS l don’t think that your version of his political life is as black and white as you describe.

[@sharynbailey4235]

What a horribly mean spirited and ill informed comment. So wtf are you doing stopping here to spread your negative energy? No one cares!