Midnight Oil’s beating heart, Rob Hirst, dead at 70 after pancreatic cancer battle

A founding force in Australian rock

Hirst co-founded Midnight Oil in Sydney in 1972, helping shape a band that would go on to become one of Australia’s most politically outspoken and globally recognized rock acts.

The group released its self-titled debut album in 1978 and later earned 11 ARIA Awards. In 2006, Midnight Oil was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, cementing its legacy in Australian music history.

Beyond his role behind the drum kit, Hirst was also a key creative contributor, co-writing many of the band’s most iconic songs, including “Beds Are Burning,” “The Dead Heart,” “Blue Sky Mine,” “Forgotten Years,” and “King of the Mountain.”4

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