Ron Strykert
| Ron Strykert | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ronald Graham Strykert |
| Born | 18 August 1957 |
| Origin | Korumburra Australia |
| Genres | Pop, rock, new wave, acoustic |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels |
Columbia Records Le Coq Musique |
| Associated acts | Men at Work |
Ronald "Ron" Graham Strykert (born 18 August 1957) is an Australian musician. He is most well known for playing lead guitar, providing vocals, co-founder and composing songs with the 1980s band Men at Work.
Strykert co-founded Men at Work with Colin Hay as an acoustic duo in 1978, regularly performing at the Cricketer's Arms Hotel in Richmond, Victoria. From 1979 to 1985 he provided guitar, vocals and bass guitar for that group. He contributed to all three Men at Work studio albums. He wrote or co-wrote many of their songs, including "Down Under" which appears on their first album Business as Usual. He sings lead vocals on "Settle Down My Boy", one of his self composed songs on their second album Cargo.
Strykert played bass guitar on the very first recordings of the early group in a stage musical called Riff Raff in 1979. When bassist John Rees was later added in 1980 to the band, he moved forward to lead guitarist. He developed a unique soaring style of playing which added a high amount of energy to their songs. His signature playing went from long sustained notes, to a rapid fire, staccato lead guitar style, with some similarities to bass technique, most often using a customised Yamaha SC-800 guitar with EMG S pickups. He would often duel with fellow guitarist Hay adding dimension to his presentation as well as blending strong backing vocals. He often weaved his guitar playing around the stylistic playing of Greg Ham on his keyboards, saxophone, clarinet and flute.
As a founding member of the group, Strykert was concerned when the group lost their rhythm section of Jerry Speiser and Rees who completed the band's excellent hit making chemistry. During the process of recording their Two Hearts album, he decided to leave the group in 1985.
Strykert composed and co-composed thirteen songs for Men at Work:
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