Person · Male

Rob Hirst

From: Camden, Australia
Active: 1956–2026
Releases: 7

rock

About

Robert George Hirst (3 September 1955 – 20 January 2026) was an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales. He was a founding member of the rock band Midnight Oil on drums, percussion and backing vocals (sometimes lead vocals) from the 1970s until the band took a hiatus in 2002. The band resumed performing and recording in 2017.

Hirst was also a member of the bands Ghostwriters, Backsliders, the Angry Tradesmen and the Break. He wrote a book, Willie's Bar & Grill, recounting the experiences on the tour Midnight Oil embarked on shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. His final project, the book World Is Almost at Peace was published in October 2026.
Six days after his death, Hirst was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for significant service to the performing arts through music" in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

From Rob Hirst on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.