Men @ Work with Greg Ham, far left

Men at Work star Greg Ham, 58, was found dead in Melbourne, Australia on April 19th.  He played flute on the band’s Down Under, lived by himself and was discovered by friends who had gone to his house to check up on him. He was involved in the band’s copyright dispute over his flute solo in Down Under. They were accused of sampling part of Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree, a song written by a music teacher for the Girl Guides in 1934, and were ordered to hand over a large portion of their royalty money.

Ham later admitted he was devastated to have been accused of copying the track: “It has destroyed so much of my song… I’m terribly disappointed that that’s the way I’m going to be remembered – for copying something.” I believe, not many people would think of him that way, or even remember that story.  I’d prefer to remember him for the happy flute sound on that infectious song!  R.I.P. Greg, and know how happy your song made us!