Midnight Oil Inducted At ARIAs

Both U2‘s Bono and Silverchair inducted Midnight Oil into the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Hall of Fame as part of the ARIA awards at Accor Stadium in Sydney October 29th.

Bono relayed a message through videotape, speaking of the Oils’ lack of compromise and willingness to speak out on a wide range of issues, including indigenous rights and environmental issues.

“Theirs was a nagging voice,” the U2 singer said before complimenting their “red earth rhythms under urban rhymes.”

Silverchair played a thundering version of Midnight Oils’ “I Don’t Want To Be The One” joined by a brass section. It climaxed with Sliverchair’s Daniel Johns throwing his guitar down on the stage and, while the rest of the band continued to play, he spray painted “PG For PM.” (Peter Garrett for Prime Minister).

Wolfmother smashed up their equipment after playing “The Joker And The Thief.” They won three awards during the night, including best group, breakthrough artist (album) and rock album.

John Mayer teamed with multi-platinum troubadour Pete Murray.

Powderfinger singer Bernard Fanning played the ballad “Watch Over Me” from his solo album Tea And Sympathy with singer/songwriters Kasey Chambers and Clare Bowditch. Fanning won two major categories, for best album and male artist.

Hilltop Hoods, the uncompromising hip-hop collective that won two awards for its crossover chart-topping album The Hard Road, performed with a string section.

Human Nature did a Motown medley, finally winning an ARIA after 15 years of unsuccessful nominations. The win was for best-selling album of the year for their Motown tribute Reach Out.

Twin sisters The Veronicas were joined by a cast of lookalike dancers. The duo’s debut album, The Secret Life Of…, which was released in the United States through Sire Records, won pop release.

Also playing were The Youth Group, which won the breakthrough artist (single) category for the hit “Forever Young” from “The OC” soundtrack.

The shock win of the night was EMI signing Clare Bowditch for female artist of the year, trumping her good friend Kasey Chambers. During her acceptance speech, Bowditch thanked the Government’s funding arm The Arts Council for the good work it did in helping new acts get on the road. The sentiments went down a storm with the 4,000 guests at the awards.

– Bryan Jones