Australian band Midnight Oil announced on Tuesday that Rob Hirst, the powerhouse’s drummer and founding member, has died at the age of 70.
“After fighting valiantly for almost three years, Rob is now pain free – ‘a little light in the wilderness.’ He died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” said the band in a Facebook post. The band has announced donations to charities focused on pancreatic cancer research, support and awareness.
Former band members Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey said on another website: “We are devastated and saddened by the loss of our brother Rob. There are no words yet but there will always be songs.”
Midnight Oil’s origins date back to the early 1970s, with band members living in Sydney and Canberra in the early years. The group’s first self-titled album was released domestically in 1978. They released four albums before 1987. Diesel and dust he established them as a socially conscious group with an international presence.
“We take, immediately, all the things you should avoid,” Hirst told United Press International in 1988.
“We fight battles that we collectively feel we should fight and we win some and lose others,” he added.
The Aboriginal rights anthem inspired success
The group’s call for repatriation to indigenous lands, New Bedsit was a huge smash hit Diesel and dustreaching number 1 on the Canadian charts and top 20 on the Billboard charts in the US Dreamworld again Dead Heartfrom the same album, it also received airplay on rock and other radio stations.
As a live act, the band was captivating. Garrett, six-feet-inches tall with a shaved head, rocked the stage, while Hirst laid down what a Toronto Star reviewer saw as “a thunderous beat” in a review of the 1996 concert.
WATCH | Midnight Oil’s international success:
Album release Blue Sky Mining again Earth and Sun and Moon they destroy their reputation with songs Blue Sky Mine, The Forgotten Years, Truganini again My Country being solid additions to their catalog and live sets.
Hirst shared many of the songwriting credits, credited with composing most of the songs with Moginie, while Garrett was the main songwriter.
The band proved popular in Canada, and was invited by The Tragically Hip to perform at the band’s first Kingston, Ont., Another Roadside Attraction festival in 1993. The two groups, along with Crash Vegas and Daniel Lanois, met in a Calgary studio that year to record. The worldwith proceeds going to protect conservationists fighting logging in Clayoquot Sound in British Columbia.
Like many bands, the advent of the internet and internet streaming have hit international sales figures, but Midnight Oil continued to release albums until 2002 when Garrett, who studied law at university and first tried to enter federal politics in 1984, jumped in with both feet. He was elected to represent the Labor Party in the Australian House of Representatives in 2004 and later became environment minister in Kevin Rudd’s government, and minister for young children under Labor prime minister Julia Gillard.
At the time, Hirst was busy with the fourth and final album of his side project Ghostwriters, which began in 1990 and even saw him lead the stage on some instruments.
Garrett eventually left politics, and Midnight Oil changed from time to time for tours and albums. Their last album was 2022 Resist each otherwhich they support with shows around the world, including in Toronto and Vancouver.
PM, artists pay
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Hirst “the real deal” when he paid tribute on Tuesday.
“As the beating heart of Midnight Oil, he showered us with the generosity of his talent and spirit,” Albanese wrote on social media. “Rob was amazing to listen to and he was amazing to watch. His energy and strength were so amazing that you got tired just watching him, but Rob kept going.”
Rob Hirst was the real deal. As the beating heart of Midnight Oil, he showered us with the generosity of his talent and spirit.
Rob was amazing to listen to and everything was amazing to watch. His power and strength were so amazing that he fainted just looking at him,…
Australian musicians, including Jimmy Barnes and members of INXS and the Hoodoo Gurus, also shared their condolences on social media.
“We’ve played with them countless times and they’re always strong and amazing. Rob was one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen,” said INXS bassist Gary Beers in an Instagram post.
Hirst received a cancer diagnosis in April 2023, and endured chemotherapy and two gastric bypasses thereafter.
In October, Hirst told local media that he was including Ludwig’s drum kit that he had and used since the band’s second album in 1979 to be sold. It cost $90,000 ($84,000 Cdn) and the proceeds were supposed to go to two charities, including one that supports indigenous artists.
Hirst revealed the club’s legacy to the Sydney Morning Herald in late 2025.
“I’m glad we were among those groups – U2, Billy Bragg, all First Nations artists here and overseas – pushing for justice.”
