Peter Garrett reveals what Midnight Oil was nearly called – and how the band members finally landed on the iconic name

Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett revealed the bizarre names the Aussie rock band were nearly called.

Appearing on The Project on Wednesday night, the 71-year-old revealed ‘Schwampy Moose’, ‘Sparta’ and ‘Television’ were all considered.

The band eventually settled on Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat in 1976.

The name was reportedly inspired by the Jimi Hendrix song Burning of Midnight Lamp.

When drummer Rob Hirst, 68, and guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie, 67 formed the group in Sydney in 1972, they originally went by the name Farm.

Garrett was on the program to discuss the bands new film that looks back at their astonishing 45-year-long career.

The two-hour documentary, called The Hardest Line had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on Wednesday night.

Made by Australian filmmaker Paul Clarke, the title of the film is taken from the chorus of the 1982 song Power and the Passion, one of Midnight Oil’s biggest hits.

Appearing on The Project on Wednesday night, the 71-year-old revealed the names Schwampy Moose, Sparta and Television were all considered

Midnight Oil went on sell over 20 million albums since releasing their first record in 1978.

After Garrett joined in 1976 as singer and frontman they became a pub rock favourite and were famed for their loud, raucous sound and ferocious stage act.

Their long term lineup also included guitarist Martin Rotsey and bass player Bones Hillman. The band’s other members included original bass guitarist Andrew James, who was replaced by Pete Gifford.

Just as well known for their outspoken views on social issues as much as their hard driving tunes like U.S. Forces and Beds are Burning, the film will look at the band’s controversial politics.

The band eventually settled on Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat in 1976. Pictured L-R Rob Hirst, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Bones Hillman, Jim Moginie

Included in the film will be footage of Midnight Oil’s notorious show in Manhattan in 1990, in which they played before thousands of stunned New Yorkers.

The out door lunch time gig was staged in front of the Exxon building to protest the environmental catastrophe following a super tanker disaster the previous year.

Also featured in the new film, which took seven years to complete, will be unseen footage as well as a behind the scenes look at Midnight Oil’s ‘Sorry’ protest at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line will be released in Australian cinemas on July 4. 

When drummer Rob Hirst, 68, and guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie, 67 formed the group in Sydney in 1972, they originally went by the name Farm