Rob Hirst: A born showman who led Midnight Oil from the back

Ask any Midnight Oil aficionado what drummer Rob Hirst will be remembered for, and the likely reply will be his unforgettable drum solo on Power and the Passion. Recorded in 1982 for the band’s breakthrough album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, the solo is an explosive, almost chaotic minute of pure energy—Hirst was reportedly on the verge of a breakdown during the session. Yet, far from mere virtuosity, his performance elevated the song, fusing seamlessly with its intricate layers. On tour, Hirst often replicated much of this solo on a corrugated iron water tank he had salvaged from the desert during the Blackfella/Whitefella tour of 1986.

While his drumming was phenomenal, Hirst was equally a gifted songwriter. His credits include some of Midnight Oil’s most enduring anthems: Power and the Passion, Beds Are Burning, The Dead Heart, Forgotten Years, King of the Mountain, and numerous deep cuts. Typically, Hirst would provide the song’s skeleton, while guitarist Jim Moginie fleshed it out. For example, The Dead Heart began as Hirst’s lyric and melody, with Moginie adding the iconic hooks and harmonic shifts. On other occasions, Hirst reshaped Moginie’s compositions: Valuable Thing became Hercules, an elegy for the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, while Women in History was transformed into Short Memory, a socially charged reflection on historical amnesia.

Hirst also contributed fully formed songs, such as Forgotten Years, inspired by his father’s and grandfather’s wartime experiences and hailed by lead singer Peter Garrett as among the great anti-war anthems of the era. His gift for lyrical precision is evident in Blue Sky Mine, where the line “Nothing’s as precious as a hole in the ground” captures both irony and social critique, dedicated to victims of the Wittenoom asbestos disaster. When Midnight Oil returned to the studio in 2019, Hirst was the first to present new material: First Nation and Gadigal Land, the latter winning Song of the Year at the 2021 APRA Awards.

Though he was never the sole leader, Hirst was the band’s heartbeat. His subtly off-kilter rhythms transformed Midnight Oil into a live juggernaut. He could sing harmonies over Garrett’s commanding style, and, alongside Garrett and original manager Gary Morris, helped forge the band’s defiant, five-against-the-world persona. Hirst remained creatively restless outside the band, contributing to projects such as the Ghostwriters, the Backsliders, the Break, and his final EP with Moginie and Hamish Stuart, which topped the ARIA charts in November.

Ultimately, Rob Hirst was more than a drummer. He embodied the power and passion of Midnight Oil, leading from the back with indomitable spirit. He died as he lived: fully engaged, uncompromising, and on his feet.

Key Midnight Oil Contributions of Rob Hirst