transcript
show notes
Peter Garrett has been an unstoppable force of Australian music for decades.
As the iconic frontman for Midnight Oil, a grassroots activist, and a former Federal Parliamentarian, he's spent a lifetime driving change.
Kicking off a brand-new series of Take 5 with the theme "songs of change," Peter Garrett reveals a softer, surprisingly open side behind the public persona.
Fall into the stories and songs that hold Peter Garrett together.
Peter's song choices:
- Peter, Paul & Mary - Tell It On The Mountain
- Warumpi Band - From The Bush
- DOBBY - Dirrpi Yuin Patjulinya
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - War (live)
- Sarah Blasko - Without
01:46 A life punctuated by music and change
03:21 Peter, Paul & Mary - 'Tell It On The Mountain'
03:30 Growing up in a musical household
06:40 Reflecting on his parent's deaths
09:32 Peter Garrett's first band
10:14 Warumpi Band - 'From The Bush'
15:35 Midnight Oil tour to remote Indigenous communities in 1986
18:49 Influence of Warumpi Band on Beds Are Burning
22:33 DOBBY - 'Dirrpi Yuin Patjulinya'
26:35 Rob Hirst tribute at APRA Awards 2026
29:51 Discussing the legacy of Rob Hirst
34:39 Future of Midnight Oil
36:18 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - 'War (Live)'
41:29 Music and Politics
43:23 Reflecting on political career
45:27 Sarah Blasko - 'Without'
49:33 Peter's wife of 40 years Doris
52:37 Looking forward not back
54:24 Zan's final reflections
54:55 Preview next episode with Shania Twain
This episode kicks off a brand new season of Take 5 with Zan Rowe on ABC TV and ABC iview. You can stream the whole season on ABC iview now.
Watch Take 5 on ABC iview:
