Rob Hirst, the founding drummer and rhythmic heartbeat of Australia’s legendary rock band Midnight Oil, has passed away at 70 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. A founding member since 1972, Hirst helped build Midnight Oil into one of the world’s most politically outspoken and influential rock bands. With over 20 million albums sold and classics like Beds Are Burning, Blue Sky Mine, and The Dead Heart, the group became a voice for social justice and environmental awareness. The band announced his death with a heartfelt tribute, calling him their brother and promising that while words fail, their songs will carry his spirit forward. He died peacefully surrounded by loved ones after nearly three years of fighting cancer.

Beyond the drum kit, Hirst was a songwriter, collaborator, and devoted father. In recent years, he reunited with his daughter Jay O’Shea to create music born from rediscovered family bonds, and he continued releasing solo work even as illness progressed. In one of his final interviews, he reflected that he was “counting back rather than forward,” treasuring every remaining day while melodies still came to him in sleepless nights. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy remains in every beat that drove Midnight Oil’s message of resistance, compassion, and change. Rob Hirst didn’t just keep time — he helped shape the soundtrack of a generation.