Men At Work star Colin Hay has paid tribute to legendary music producer Peter McIan, after his shock death earlier this month.
The Down Under singer, 71, shared a heartbreaking post to social media on Wednesday confirming McIan’s passing and thanking him for his incredible work.
‘I just found out that Peter McIan, who produced Men At Work’s Business As Usual and Cargo albums, recently passed away,’ Colin began.
McIan was the sole producer on Men At Work’s iconic 1983 album Business As Usual, which was a smash hit worldwide.
The album reached number one in the US, the UK and Australia and featured the hit songs Down Under and Who Can It Be Now?
‘He was a very warm, intelligent and talented man. We were very close some 40 odd years ago,’ Colin added.
Men At Work star Colin Hay (pictured) has paid tribute legendary music producer Peter McIan, after his shock death earlier this month
‘He helped us arrange all those songs, and was able to sonically articulate what we were endeavouring to offer the world.
‘We saw each other sporadically over the years. I wish I’d seen him more. Condolences to those who were close.’
Many of Colin’s fans took to the comment section to offer their words of support.
‘Sorry for you loss Colin! He helped put incredible music out into the world,’ one person wrote.
‘His family should take comfort in knowing what amazing music he helped bring to the world. Condolences,’ a second added.
McIan was a key figure in helping Colin’s Melbourne-formed band achieve global fame in the early ’80s.
With his help, they sold over 10 million albums and had many hit singles, including Be Good Johnny and Overkill.
It comes after Australian comedian Adam Hills opened up about the Spicks and Specks question that destroyed his friendship with Colin.
The Down Under singer shared a heartbreaking post to social media on Wednesday confirming McIan’s passing and thanking him for his incredible work
McIan was the sole producer on Men At Work’s iconic 1983 album Business As Usual, which was a smash hit worldwide
In 2007, the ABC host asked the show’s contestants: ‘what children’s song is contained in the iconic song Down Under?’ with the correct answer being Kookaburra, written in 1932 by Marion Sinclair.
Two years after the episode aired, Larrikin Music, who own the rights to the nursery rhyme, took legal action against Men at Work’s Colin Hay and Ron Strykert.
Larrikin Music claimed the main flute riff was reproduced in the Men at Work 1981 song Down Under.
Songwriters Hay and Strykert strongly denied the claims.
The Federal Court copyright trial ruled in favour of Larrikin Music.
Last year, Hills opened up about how the saga damaged his close friendship with Colin.
‘I house-sat for him in LA for a month when I was over there in about 2005 and then I rented his apartment in Melbourne. I drove his car around. We were actually quite close,’ he told TV Tonight.
‘It all got weird between us, because he knew it wasn’t my fault that we asked a question about Down Under,’ said Hills.
Hills revealed the pair no longer speak after things turned ‘sour’ and ‘weird’.
However he insists there are no hard feeling between them.
‘I haven’t spoken to Colin for ages. I don’t think there’s hate there, but there’s definitely weirdness.’
