Peter Gifford

Peter Gifford (born 5 April, 1955), sometimes known as "Giffo," is an Australian musician. From 1980 until 1987 he played bass guitar for Australian rock band Midnight Oil.

Midnight Oil

Peter is credited with creating a significant part of the tight, driving sound that was the Oils, described as being an aggressive bass guitarist. He played on many of the band's most popular albums, including Place without a Postcard (1981), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982), Red Sails In The Sunset (1984) and Diesel and Dust (1987), as well the band's two studio EPs, Bird Noises (1980) and Species Deceases (1985).

He is credited with the bass lines of some of the band's most popular songs, including "Only the Strong", "US Forces", "Power and the Passion", "Best of Both Worlds", "When the Generals Talk", "Progress", "The Dead Heart", "Put Down That Weapon", "Dreamworld" and "Beds Are Burning".

Gifford joined the band in 1980 after hearing on the radio about the auditions for a replacement bass guitar player for Andrew 'Bear' James. He was actually driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to work as a roadie at the time. Andrew James was quite ill by this time and he had to withdraw from the band. The band was looking for a much more aggressive style of bass playing (an 'animal' as described by guitarist Jim Moginie) and Gifford fitted perfectly.