According to information shared by the band, Rob Hirst, the founding drummer of Midnight Oil, has died at age 70 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hirst was a core member of Midnight Oil from its formation in Sydney in the mid 1970s. His drumming helped define the band’s sound, marked by tight rhythms and an intensity that matched the group’s socially focused lyrics. Alongside his work behind the kit, he was also a songwriter and co-wrote many of the band’s most recognized songs.
In statements reflecting on his passing, attention has focused on Hirst’s long partnership with frontman Peter Garrett and his role in maintaining the band’s musical direction across decades of recording and touring.
Midnight Oil became known internationally for combining rock music with political and environmental themes. Hirst’s steady presence and musicianship were central to that legacy, which remains influential in Australian music.