Midnight Oil drummer and co-founder Rob Hirst has died aged 70.
The musician and singer “died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones”, according to a statement on the Sydney band’s social media today (Tuesday January 20).
“After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain – ‘a glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness’,” the post read.
Last April, Hirst shared that he had been living with stage three pancreatic cancer since 2023. “I’ve had pretty much every treatment known to man – every scan, ultrasound, MRI,” he said at the time. I’ve kind of had ‘the works’.”
Midnight Oil’s message added that Hirst’s family is asking fans who want to honour the late drummer to donate to Australian pancreatic cancer foundation Pankind, or music industry charity Support Act.
In a separate post, the group wrote: “We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob. For now there are no words but there will always be songs. Love Always from Jim, Martin & Pete.”
When discussing his illness for the first time last year, Hirst told The Australian about his support for voluntary assisted dying – for which he was eligible in New South Wales.
“Why should you have to die in terrible, drawn-out pain?” he said. “When you’ve had this amazing life – a life like I’ve had – why should end-of-life be so horrific when there’s an alternative?”
He also urged fans to seek medical attention if they believed something was wrong: “I think that the lesson for me – and maybe why I’ve lasted this long – is because, if you do have any of that kind of symptom, where there’s something that you feel is wrong, just go and get a simple blood test. It could be life-changing, and life-extending.”
Hirst is credited as a co-writer of the lyrics and melodies for many of Midnight Oil’s well-known tracks, such as ‘Beds Are Burning’, ‘The Dead Heart’, ‘The Power And The Passion’, ‘Forgotten Years’ and ‘King Of The Mountain’.
Australian singer Jimmy Barnes paid tribute to Hirst on social media, saying that he’s “had a massive impact on Australian culture”.
“He was the engine driving one of the greatest live bands of all time,” he continued. “RIP, dear Rob. You are irreplaceable, one of a kind, and myself, my family, and all the rest of this great country will miss you so much.”
Rob Hirst has had a massive impact on Australian culture. He was the engine driving one of the greatest live bands of all time. RIP, dear Rob. You are irreplaceable, one of a kind, and myself, my family, and all the rest of this great country will miss you so much. pic.twitter.com/zZAXWwDTWA
— Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) January 20, 2026
Journalist and commentator Rohan Connolly said he was “so sad to hear of the passing of the great Rob Hirst, drummer extraordinaire and the heartbeat of the mighty Midnight Oil”.
“He was an absolute beast behind the kit,” he said. “You could never take your eyes off his playing, so much power and effort did he exert, and he was a fine singer as well, whose backing vocals to Peter Garrett were another critical part of the mix.”
Connolly went on: “The Oils will always be my favourite Australian band, a band my mates and I saw at least 30-odd times, a soundtrack to our lives, really, and getting to meet Rob about 10 years ago and have a decent chat about the band and music in general was a memory I will always treasure. RIP Rob, you were a legend.”
Adelaide rock outfit Cold Chisel offered their “huge condolences” to Hirst’s family and surviving bandmates, while honouring “the great Rob Hirst”.
“Rob was an incredible drummer and songwriter – and a good friend to all of us in Cold Chisel,” they added.
So sad to hear of the passing of the great Rob Hirst, drummer extraordinaire and the heartbeat of the mighty Midnight Oil. He was an absolute beast behind the kit. You could never take your eyes off his playing, so much power and effort did he exert, and he was a fine singer as… pic.twitter.com/Itvhd2JKLE
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) January 20, 2026
Australia’s Minister For Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security and the Arts, Tony Burke, wrote: “For me, Rob Hirst was characterised by three words: genius, generous and genuine.
“Whether I saw him performing to stadium sized crowds with the Oil’s or at the back of a festival with ‘The Break’ he never stopped giving. He was forever generous to his audience and would push his values without fear.”
The Labor MP added: “Everyone will wish we still had Rob but his music, his kindness and his instinctive warmth will never disappear. My thoughts are with his wife Leslie, his daughters and everyone who’s part of the Midnight Oil family.”
Born in Camden, New South Wales, in 1955, Hirst was given his first drum kit after a benign tumour was discovered in his right leg when he was 12, and he subsequently underwent surgery (via The Guardian).
He also performed in the bands Ghostwriters, Backsliders, the Angry Tradesmen and The Break.
Midnight Oil released 13 studio albums between 1978 and 2022. Hirst co-founded the band with Jim Moginie and original bassist Andrew James in 1972, under the name ‘Farm’. They later recruited vocalist Garrett, before changing their name to Midnight Oil in 1976.
Hirst remained in the line-up until the group took an extended hiatus in 2002, when Garrett departed to pursue a career in federal politics. They reunited in 2005 and 2009, ahead of embarking on a full comeback tour in 2017.
They wrapped up their farewell tour in late 2022. Midnight Oil’s longtime bassist, Bones Hillman, died of cancer in November 2020.
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