Throwback: Happy 71st Birthday, Peter Garrett!

Aries season is a very busy period in music history. And it continues through April: 

• The 75th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Gil Scott-Heron was on April 1
• The 85th anniversary of the birth of R&B and soul legend Marvin Gaye was on April 2
• The 111th anniversary of the birth of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters was on April 4 
• Pharrell Williams celebrated his 51st birthday on April 5
• One of the most beloved figures of the Outlaw Country movement, 
• Merle Haggard was born 84 years ago on April 6
• Robert Glasper celebrated his 46th birthday on April 6
• The 109th anniversary of Billie Holiday‘s birth was on April 7
• John Oates, of Daryl Hall and John Oates fame celebrated his 75th birthday on April 7 
• The 60th anniversary of Biz Markie‘s birth was on April 7
• The 77th anniversary of Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was on April 7
• A Tribe Called Quest‘s Q-Tip one of hip-hop’s greatest emcees and producers celebrated his 54th birthday on April 10
• The legendary and pioneering Herbie Hancock celebrated his 84th birthday on March 12
• Echo & The Bunnymen‘s Will Sergeant celebrated his 66th on April 12 
• R&B and soul legend Al Green celebrated his 78th birthday on April 13
• Radiohead‘s Ed O’Brien celebrated his 56th birthday on April 15

Midnight Oil‘s frontman Peter Garrett celebrates his 71st birthday today. Midnight Oil is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and beloved acts. In their native Australia, they’ve won 11 ARIA Awards while being critically applauded for crafting material that was frequently politically charged, centered around causes they proudly supported.

In the States, they were best known for 1987’s Diesel and Dust, which featured “Beds Are Burning,” a song about the plight of Australia’s indigenous people and 1990’s Blue Sky Mining, which featured “Blue Sky Mine.” But they have a ton of amazing material that more Americans should know.

Happy birthday, sir! May there be many more!