Rob Hirst, Founding Drummer and Songwriter of Midnight Oil, Passes Away at 70

Tributes Pour In for Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil

SYDNEY, Australia — Rob Hirst, the co-founder, co-songwriter, and drummer of Midnight Oil, passed away on Wednesday, January 20, after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.

Hirst was not only the timekeeper for the band, affectionately known as “the Oils,” but also their driving force. His drumming, particularly highlighted by his solo in “Power And the Passion” released in 1982, is regarded as one of the most impactful moments in Australian rock music history.

A statement from Midnight Oil shared on social media noted, “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 surviving bandmates—Peter Garrett (vocals), Jim Moginie (guitar, keys), and Martin Rotsey (guitar)—expressed their grief: “We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob. For now, there are no words, but there will always be songs.”

Born in Camden, on the outskirts of Sydney, Hirst co-founded the band in the early 1970s, initially named Farm. The group transformed into Midnight Oil in 1976, capturing the world’s attention with their lyrics addressing critical issues like corporate greed and civil rights.

Their 1987 single “Beds Are Burning,” which advocated for Indigenous land rights, is celebrated as a seminal piece in Australian music. The song reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, part of three entries the band achieved on the chart. Their album, Diesel and Dust, reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200, while its successor, Blue Sky Mining (1990), peaked at No. 20. Overall, seven Midnight Oil albums made an impact on the U.S. all-genre charts.

By the time the band concluded their journey in 2022, they had earned six ARIA No. 1 albums, including Resist, their first studio album in two decades, and their last as a collective.

Although the band could have garnered more hits—having collected 11 ARIAs—Garrett’s foray into federal politics from the mid-2000s shifted focus away from the group.

Hirst reunited with bandmates to receive induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. The group later embarked on a world tour and was honored in 2018 with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the APRA Music Awards.

A prolific creator, Hirst collaborated with various artists, forming groups like The Ghostwriters, Backsliders, and Hirst & Greene, among others. He released a collaborative album with his daughter Jay O’Shea in 2020 and a deeply personal EP, A Hundred Years or More, last November.

Additionally, Hirst contributed an explosive opening piece for the ABC’s early ‘80s youth program Beatbox.

The music community has remembered Hirst fondly. Fellow ARIA Hall of Famers Cold Chisel remarked, “Rob was an incredible drummer and songwriter — and a good friend to all of us. Vale Rob.”

ARIA acknowledged his legacy, stating, “Beyond the awards, Rob stood for integrity, activism, and collaboration, using music as a force for change and connection. His influence continues to echo through generations of Australian artists.”

Ian Haug, guitarist with Powderfinger and The Church, expressed: “R.I.P. Rob Hirst. What an absolute beast of a drummer… songwriter… and character. Such a lovely and inspiring man.”

To honor Hirst’s memory, his family requests donations to Pankind — Pancreatic Cancer Australia or the music industry charity Support Act.

Hirst’s passing follows the death of Midnight Oil’s bass player Bones Hillman, who succumbed to cancer in November 2020 at the age of 62, shortly after the band learned that their album The Makarrata Project had reached No. 1 on the Australian chart.