The song refers to the Wittenoom asbestos mine in Western Australia where blue asbestos was mined between 1947 and 1966. The once-thriving town is now a virtual ghost town. Shops are boarded up, the two schools are closed, the local cinema is derelict. In their ignorance, the original settlers used asbestos in gardens, school yards and roads. Wittenoom is without doubt Australia's greatest industrial disaster and it is estimated that 25% of the 20,000 men who mined asbestos there will die from related diseases. Peace out.
The sad part is its not just the men who mined that fell victim - the wives who washed their clothes, the kids who played in the tailings that littered the town, the wharfies who transported the sacks without any protective clothing. Yet the Govt knew the dangers, and let it happen.
I love that the original video was used. The images used on this video tell the tale of CSR caring about the profits and not the people who got sick and died because of the asbestos dust.
My father Dave Roberts was a deputy shire president for the shire of Ashburton and late premier Ernie Bridge declared the old mining town of Wittenoom gorge mines and townsite closed down from late 1980.s till now and now its a biggest contiminated zone in the southern hemisphere
So much of their stuff has to do with Australian themes and politics, a lot of it stuff the US listener might not get. This one is pretty universal, so even if you don't know about Wittenoom you get their point, but a lot of their other stuff isn't.
"Blue Sky Mine" has the greatest harmonica work of all time for any rock song.... PERIOD! Peter Garrett did a masterful job. It also has to be said that this masterpiece belongs on the top 100 Rock Songs of All Time. It would be at the bottom of my list but on the list without question! Congratulations on a nice review.
They had a really good album in '93, called Earth and Sun and Moon. I saw them live that year, at San Diego State University. It was an excellent show, but the university had an early curfew ( I think 10pm), so all concerts had to end by then. The band walked offstage at 10, but didn't come back for an encore. It's definitely a credit to the band and the strength of their show, but the audience was pissed off at the lack of an encore and there was almost a riot between concertgoers and security, who were just trying to get the crowd to disperse and leave. A memorable show indeed.
The town they are referring to was called Wittenoom, in my home State of Western Australia. The town and mining was active from 1947 to 1966 when it was closed due to being unprofitable and because of growing health concerns…..The town is now degazetted and has no inhabitants, but at one stage in 1961 it was the largest town in the Pilbara region. The town is not on maps, and roads are closed to that area. It was 1420 km or 882 miles north of our Capitol of Perth. Midnight Oil formed in 1972. They are legends in Australia. Peter Garrett was a Minister in the Government to.
Fantastic band and song. The Oils were always rock with a social message...yes legends..one of our biggest bands. Funnily enough INXS used to open for them, I think it was their manager who early on came up with the name INXS instead of The Farris Brothers! They broke up for a while while Peter Garrett became a politician. He copped flack for joining a major party in the Labour Party (like your Democrats)instead of The Greens. But he felt he could effect change more inside a party in power at the time. Though being in a major party meant some compromise and towing party lines. I feel he did a great job, some will say he sold out. They reformed about 4 years ago, released a final album which was great and quite successful,before doing a farewell tour last year!
Great comments. Check out another great later Midnight Oil song - 'Truganini' another story about current exploitations and early injustices against native peoples. You will love it.
They can still command huge audiences in most continents. One of the issues is they broke up and Peter went into the snake pit of politics. Honestly if they had stayed together they could have transformed the world. They had more power to change minds as a band. A lot of the differences in Australia alone have had foundation work laid via their music. Creeping into peoples minds. Was a lot of mental changes through the 80s and 90s. Pushed by bands like the oils.
I was living in San Francisco when this song came out and it got loads of okay on real rock stations they had back then krqr and kfog. Beds Are Burning got no play where i lived before SF when i was in college in Oklahoma. Go figure. I had never heard of them before this song. But instantly became a fan
Who's gunna shave me is the joke. +10% publicity great party song carrying a message. This year 2023 a friend died from asbestos. He was 73 but otherwise a tank
Australian youth had thier eyes opened by this band
The song refers to the Wittenoom asbestos mine in Western Australia where blue asbestos was mined between 1947 and 1966. The once-thriving town is now a virtual ghost town. Shops are boarded up, the two schools are closed, the local cinema is derelict. In their ignorance, the original settlers used asbestos in gardens, school yards and roads. Wittenoom is without doubt Australia's greatest industrial disaster and it is estimated that 25% of the 20,000 men who mined asbestos there will die from related diseases. Peace out.
But do you still take sugar in your coffee. C.S.R
The sad part is its not just the men who mined that fell victim - the wives who washed their clothes, the kids who played in the tailings that littered the town, the wharfies who transported the sacks without any protective clothing. Yet the Govt knew the dangers, and let it happen.
@@jeanwilson717 and everyone who used the product. Mesothelioma is a horrific way to die and THEY KNEW! They knew it was cancerous
I love that the original video was used. The images used on this video tell the tale of CSR caring about the profits and not the people who got sick and died because of the asbestos dust.
My father Dave Roberts was a deputy shire president for the shire of Ashburton and late premier Ernie Bridge declared the old mining town of Wittenoom gorge mines and townsite closed down from late 1980.s till now and now its a biggest contiminated zone in the southern hemisphere
It’s weird to me that the Oils only had a couple of hits in the USA. They’ve got around 15-20 “hits” in my mind. So many iconic songs.
So much of their stuff has to do with Australian themes and politics, a lot of it stuff the US listener might not get. This one is pretty universal, so even if you don't know about Wittenoom you get their point, but a lot of their other stuff isn't.
"Blue Sky Mine" has the greatest harmonica work of all time for any rock song.... PERIOD! Peter Garrett did a masterful job. It also has to be said that this masterpiece belongs on the top 100 Rock Songs of All Time. It would be at the bottom of my list but on the list without question! Congratulations on a nice review.
The oils never tipped their toes into anything. Full plunge into their beleifs.
I love that this song ends on a positive note. "In the end the rain comes down and washes clean the streets of a blue sky town".
Yep, absolute legends in Australia. They have household name recognition, even now.
Midnight Oil's BEST song no doubt (despite what others will say about "Beds Are Burning") A true classic!
RIP Wittenoom entire town killed by its asbestos mines 😔
Their live shows are out of this world and their message was always relevant.
You’ve got a lot to catch up on. They have a lot of great songs.
Cheers mate, I didn’t know I needed the oils today. Legends 👊
Legends? Yes - The Oils are rock royalty here in Oz.
Love the Oils!!!!
The Oils are so unique, can't wait to do more 😎❤️
They had a really good album in '93, called Earth and Sun and Moon. I saw them live that year, at San Diego State University. It was an excellent show, but the university had an early curfew ( I think 10pm), so all concerts had to end by then. The band walked offstage at 10, but didn't come back for an encore. It's definitely a credit to the band and the strength of their show, but the audience was pissed off at the lack of an encore and there was almost a riot between concertgoers and security, who were just trying to get the crowd to disperse and leave. A memorable show indeed.
All their best albums pretty much came before that.
The Oils absolutely dominated the 80s in Oz, along with Cold Chisel and INXS of course.
The town they are referring to was called Wittenoom, in my home State of Western Australia. The town and mining was active from 1947 to 1966 when it was closed due to being unprofitable and because of growing health concerns…..The town is now degazetted and has no inhabitants, but at one stage in 1961 it was the largest town in the Pilbara region. The town is not on maps, and roads are closed to that area. It was 1420 km or 882 miles north of our Capitol of Perth.
Midnight Oil formed in 1972. They are legends in Australia. Peter Garrett was a Minister in the Government to.
government made it unproftable or union leaders >??? i think both parasites
Wittenoom is the Australian equivalent of Chernobyl.
Which is what this song is based on.
Great track. Yes they are legends.
AUSSIE GOLD OILS
Alot of their best stuff was before "Diesel & Dust". Very successful career in Oz. Pity they didn't gain traction internationally.
I had this album in the late 80s. Loved Midnight Oil.
Do more. Last album in 2022.
There’s this Australian Funk rock band called “parcels” I hope you’re able to give them a try and make a video on it.
Fantastic band and song. The Oils were always rock with a social message...yes legends..one of our biggest bands. Funnily enough INXS used to open for them, I think it was their manager who early on came up with the name INXS instead of The Farris Brothers! They broke up for a while while Peter Garrett became a politician. He copped flack for joining a major party in the Labour Party (like your Democrats)instead of The Greens. But he felt he could effect change more inside a party in power at the time. Though being in a major party meant some compromise and towing party lines. I feel he did a great job, some will say he sold out. They reformed about 4 years ago, released a final album which was great and quite successful,before doing a farewell tour last year!
Great comments. Check out another great later Midnight Oil song - 'Truganini' another story about current exploitations and early injustices against native peoples. You will love it.
My friend Dan and I saw Midnight Oil at, of all places, the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, California
I'd recommend Stand in Line from the Oils on Water concert. Amazing stuff.
They can still command huge audiences in most continents. One of the issues is they broke up and Peter went into the snake pit of politics. Honestly if they had stayed together they could have transformed the world. They had more power to change minds as a band. A lot of the differences in Australia alone have had foundation work laid via their music. Creeping into peoples minds. Was a lot of mental changes through the 80s and 90s. Pushed by bands like the oils.
Hey my Friends, react to JOURNEY" Don't stop believin" live in Houston 1981. Iconic song & great live performance. Thanks
They’re legend in San Francisco.
Asbestos mining & the cover up
I was living in San Francisco when this song came out and it got loads of okay on real rock stations they had back then krqr and kfog.
Beds Are Burning got no play where i lived before SF when i was in college in Oklahoma. Go figure.
I had never heard of them before this song. But instantly became a fan
Who's gunna shave me is the joke. +10% publicity great party song carrying a message.
This year 2023 a friend died from asbestos. He was 73 but otherwise a tank
You should reaction true story about the blue asbestos exposure and mining town of Wittenoom gorge mines
Head injuries is the best album btw
Early Oils is best Oils.
US forces is worth a listen