12 Native Australian Bands That Changed The World

These 12 native Australian bands have dominated regional charts and achieved success abroad. The following bands, both old and new, have made significant contributions to the Australian and international music scenes, from the enduring anthems of AC/DC to the Bee Gees’ supremacy of the disco era.

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Australian bands 80s: AC/DC

One of the greatest rock bands of all time, AC/DC, often known as “Acca Dacca,” influenced groups like Guns n’ Roses, Metallica, and the Foo Fighters. AC/DC, a rock band known for their powerful guitar riffs, raw strength, and lyrics about the dangers of rock and roll, was founded by Angus Young and his late brother Malcolm. Back in Black, which was released in 1980 and is currently the second best-selling album of all time, marked the band’s debut with singer Brian Johnson, who took over for Bon Scott, who had passed away earlier in the year. Among the many, many top songs are “It’s a Long Way to the Top,” “Thunderstruck,” “Back in Black,” and “Highway to Hell.”

Australian bands 90s: Bee Gees

The Bee Gees, who have become synonymous with disco and three-part harmonies, have sold more than 220 million records worldwide and have a long list of successes, including “How Deep is Your Love,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “Jive Talking.” The Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb brothers formed the group, which has won five Grammy Awards, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. The band is particularly well-known for providing the music to the film Saturday Night Fever, which is the seventh best-selling album of all time.

Australian bands 90s: INXS

Before his tragic death in 1997, INXS, a band featuring the seductive Michael Hutchence, recorded 10 studio albums. The band then went on to create two more albums with singer J.D. Fortune. “What You Need,” “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” and “Never Tear Us Apart” are some of the band’s biggest successes. INXS was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001 and has won seven ARIA awards.

Australian bands 90s: Little River Band

Little River Band is one of the most important Australian bands of all time. They have sold more than 30 million records and had 10 Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 hits. Since 1975, the band has put out 17 studio albums and 35 singles. Their song “Reminiscing” is the Australian song that has been played on American radio the most. The band was put in the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2004. “Cool Change,” “Help Is on the Way,” and “Lady” are also good songs.

Australian bands 90s: Silverchair

Silverchair, Australia’s answer to Nirvana, came on the scene in 1994 after they won a national contest. The next year, when all three members of Silverchair were only 15, they put out their first album, Frogstomp, which had the hits Tomorrow and Pure Massacre. The album also made it into the Billboard Top 10 in the U.S. Silverchair went on to make four more albums, all of which reached no. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. In 2011, they announced that they were taking a break for good. The band has won a record 21 ARIA awards. Some of its best-known songs are “Freak,” “Anthem for the Year 2000,” “The Greatest View,” “Ana’s Song,” and “Straight Lines.”

Australian bands 90s: Cold Chisel

Australian bands 80s: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds started in 1983 when the Melbourne band The Birthday Party broke up. They are an experimental rock band that has 16 studio albums with music from the last four decades. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have put out 31 singles. “Red Right Hand,” “The Mercy Seat,” “Stagger Lee,” “The Ship Song,” and “Into My Arms” are all deeply story-based songs. The band’s most recent album, Skeleton Tree, debuted at number one on the Australian Albums Chart and came in at number 20 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 50 best albums of 2016.

Jet

Jet is a band from Melbourne, Australia. Their first studio album, Get Born, which came out in 2003 and sold 3.5 million copies around the world, made them famous. The band’s most famous song, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” is on the album. It was voted the number one song on the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2003. Jet put out two more albums before breaking up in 2012, but they got back together in 2016.

Australian bands 70s: Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil is one of the most uncompromising Australian bands of all time. They have a unique rock sound and are very aware of political, social, and environmental issues. Since 1978, Midnight Oil has put out 11 studio albums, 3 compilation albums, and 3 live albums. “Power and the Passion,” “The Dead Heat,” “Beds are Burning,” and “Blue Sky Mine” are some of its best-known and most powerful songs. The band has won eleven ARIA Awards, and in 2006, they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Australian bands 80s: Crowded House

Crowded House has been doing well since 1986. They have a lot of songs that are popular with a wide range of people. Its self-titled first studio album went to number one in Australia, and songs like “Something So Strong” and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” were big hits all over the world. At One Love Manchester in 2017, Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande sang “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” Crowded House has had 16 singles that made the Aria Top 50, and in 2016 they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. “Better Be Home Soon” and “Four Seasons in One Day” are two other well-known songs.

Australian bands 80s: Divinyls

The Divinyls were a new-wave rock band that was popular in the 1980s. They were known for songs like “I Touch Myself,” “Pleasure and Pain,” “Science Fiction,” and “Boys in Town.” Chrissy Amphlett, who sang, and Mark McEntee, who played guitar, were the core of the band. They recorded five studio albums with a mix of other band members. The Divinyls were put into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. Amphlett died on April 21, 2013, after a long fight with breast cancer.

Australian bands 80s: Men at Work

Creating a lasting cultural impact, Men at Work’s smash hit “Down Under” epitomises Australia’s satirical sense of humour and has since become a patriotic anthem. Released in 1981, off the band’s debut album Business as Usual, “Down Under” went to no. 1 in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1983, Men at Work won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and in 1994 was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Other popular singles include “Who Can It Be Now” and “Overkill.”

Topic: 12 Australian Bands That Changed The World

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