Rob Hirst, heart of Midnight Oil, dies at 70 after cancer battle
The founding drummer of Midnight Oil, Rob Hirst, has died at age 70, leaving behind a powerful legacy in music and activism.
Rob Hirst, drummer and co-founder of the legendary Australian rock band Midnight Oil, has passed away after a nearly three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 70.
Rob Hirst wasn’t just the drummer behind Midnight Oil’s powerful sound—he was one of its most passionate voices and creative forces. From the band’s formation in 1972 to their global rise, Hirst helped shape the sound and message that made Midnight Oil one of Australia’s most beloved and socially conscious rock bands.
The band confirmed Hirst’s death in a heartfelt statement shared on January 20:
“We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob… For now there are no words but there will always be songs,” wrote his bandmates Jim, Martin, and Pete.
Born in Sydney, Rob Hirst helped launch Midnight Oil in the early 1970s. By the late ‘80s, they were an international sensation, known for hits like “Beds Are Burning” and “Blue Sky Mine”—songs that not only rocked arenas but raised awareness on Indigenous rights, environmental issues, and global inequality.
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With more than 20 million albums sold, the band earned 11 ARIA Awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. Hirst wasn’t just behind the drum kit—he co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits and drove the group’s powerful messages with passion and precision.
In a Facebook post, Midnight Oil revealed that Hirst had been living with pancreatic cancer since April 2023.
“After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain,” the band wrote. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
The family has asked fans to consider honoring Hirst’s memory with donations to Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia, or Support Act, a charity that aids musicians and artists in need.
Midnight Oil reunited in 2016 after a long hiatus and released their final album, Resist, in 2022. It was followed by a farewell tour that celebrated their decades of music and activism.
Even while battling illness, Hirst continued to create. He released a solo EP in late 2025 titled A Hundred Years or More. In one of his last interviews, he shared a deeply reflective thought: “Now that I’ve started counting back in life rather than counting forward, the days are even more precious.”
In 2020, Hirst released a special album with his daughter, country singer Jay O’Shea, whom he reconnected with later in life after she was adopted as a baby.
“We made this music as a way of getting to know each other,” O’Shea said at the time. Their project became a symbol of healing, family, and the deep connection that music can build.
After Hirst’s passing, she posted an emotional tribute:
“There are no words right now to describe the feeling of losing this great friend and Father. We are all just… heartbroken. Love you so much, Dad.”
Rob Hirst wasn’t just a drummer. He was a storyteller, activist, and believer in the power of music to spark change. Whether on stage or in the studio, he brought intensity and heart to everything he did.
He leaves behind not just songs, but a legacy of rhythm, resistance, and purpose—one that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Rest in peace, Rob Hirst. The beat goes on.
