Rob Hirst was a towering figure in Australian music; an artist whose energy and craft resonated across five decades and defined the sound and social conscience of one of our most influential bands. 

Known for a fiercely physical playing style that could shake a room and galvanise a crowd, Rob was equally admired for his songwriting that gave voice to stories of justice, place, memory and resistance. He helped forge anthems that became part of Australia’s cultural fabric, and his performances, both thunderous and precise, reminded us of the unifying force of live music at its most electric.

With power came passion. Through Midnight Oil’s unmistakable fusion of music and message, he helped bring conversations about environmental destruction, First Nations rights, power, and political accountability into the mainstream. His lyrics cut through noise and complacency to offer clarity and courage.

Millie Millgate, Director Music Australia:
“Rob had a way of making everyone around him feel seen. His drumming was seismic, but so was his commitment to lifting others up. His loss is felt deeply across the music community, and he leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary artistic impact, unwavering advocacy and profound humanity. The rhythms he carved, and the intentional, hard‑hitting words he helped bring into the world, will continue to echo for decades to come.”

Rob Hirst gave so much to music in this country, and even more to the people within it. Water-tanks will never quite look, or sound, the same again.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, to the members of Midnight Oil, and to the many collaborators, peers and fans whose lives he touched.

Rob Hirst 
1955–2026