Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil Drummer, Dead At 70
The legendary musician passed away after a three-year battle with cancer.
Midnight Oil drummer and co-founder Rob Hirst has passed away at the age of 70.
The news was revealed by the band via a post on social media that reads: “After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain - ‘a glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness’. He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. The family asks that anyone wanting to honour Rob donate to Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia or Support Act.”
Hirst was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three years ago in 2023, although he only revealed the news to the public late last year as his condition worsened.
One of the founding members of Midnight Oil, who originally went by the name Farm from 1972 to 1976, Hirst is best known for his powerful stickwork (the solo on ‘Power and the Passion’ is epic) and writing some of the bands biggest hits, including ‘Beds Are Burning’, ‘The Dead Heart’, ‘Forgotten Years’, ‘King of the Mountain’ and many more.
Hirst achieved tremendous success with the Oils, appearing on the chart-topping albums including Red Sails in the Sunset, Diesel and Dust, Blue Sky Mining, The Makarrata Project, and Resist and winning 11 ARIA Awards.
He also played and wrote music with a host of other bands, including the Ghostwriters, Backsliders, Hirst & Greene, The Angry Tradesmen and The Break.
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Fellow Aussie icon Jimmy Barnes was one of the first to pay tribute to Hirst, taking to social media to write: “He was the engine driving one of the greatest live bands of all time. RIP, dear Rob. You are irreplaceable, one of a kind, and myself, my family, and all the rest of this great country will miss you so much.”
The Hoodoo Gurus also paid tribute to Hirst on social media. “Today the world has lost a great musician. Rob's family and friends have lost even more: a great partner, father, and mate,” the band posted. “We in the Gurus have been lucky to have known Rob for decades. Our previous drummer, Mark Kingsmill even went to the same school. Imagine that - two brilliant drummers, though one year apart in age.”
Dom Turner, the blues guitarist with whom Hirst played in The Backsliders, said he was devastated at “the passing of my musical brother”.
“Rob had incredible musicality, intelligence, boundless physical and creative energy, a fantastic sense of humour and a passion for life. I am honoured and blessed to have had over 20 years of adventures with Rob.”
Hirst is survived by his wife, Lesley Holland, and his daughters Lexi, Ella and Jay.
