Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil Founder and Drummer, Dies at 70
Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil's founding drummer, died at 70 after battling pancreatic cancer; the Australian band asked supporters to donate to cancer and music charities.
Overview
Rob Hirst, 70, co-founded Midnight Oil, served as drummer and co-writer of signature songs; the band announced his death, saying he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Hirst had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and reportedly fought treatments for almost three years; the band requested donations to Pankind, Support Act and other charities.
As writer and drummer, Hirst helped create hits like 'Beds Are Burning', 'The Dead Heart' and 'Blue Sky Mine', driving Midnight Oil's international breakthrough in the late 1980s.
Formed in Sydney in the mid-1970s with Peter Garrett and Jim Moginie, Midnight Oil released landmark albums Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining, later reuniting for tours and albums.
Fellow musicians and fans paid tribute on social media; Hirst's family asked donations in lieu of flowers and his musical contributions were praised for political engagement and live energy.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the obituary as celebratory and legacy-focused, using laudatory phrases (e.g., "driving drums," "grabby chorus") and emphasizing chart successes and political impact. They foreground band statements of grief and triumph — the quotes themselves are source content, but their prominent placement and selective detail reinforce an honoring, uncritical narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Rob Hirst was the founding drummer, percussionist, and backing vocalist (sometimes lead vocals) and co-writer of many songs for Midnight Oil.
Key hits include 'Beds Are Burning', 'The Dead Heart', 'Blue Sky Mine', 'Power and the Passion', and 'The Dead Heart'.
Rob Hirst was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and battled it for almost three years until his death in January 2026.
The band requested donations to Pankind, Support Act, and other cancer and music charities in lieu of flowers.
History
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