Rob Hirst’s life was never just about keeping time; it was about shaking it. From the early Sydney pub days to global stages, his drumming turned anger into rhythm and protest into anthems that defined a generation. Behind the kit, he powered songs about land rights, injustice, and environmental crisis, proving rock music could be both furious and fiercely compassionate. Offstage, his journey was quieter but no less profound: a father and daughter finding each other after decades apart, then building a fragile new bond through songs, wine, laughter, and late-night conversations. As cancer slowly closed in, he kept writing, counting his days but refusing to surrender his melodies. His final EP felt like a whispered farewell, a man looking back with urgency and grace. Now the beat has faded, but the echo of his drums—and his defiant hope that music could still change the world—refuses to die.
Midnight Oil’s beating heart, Rob Hirst, dead at 70 after pancreatic cancer battle
