Midnight Oil Drummer Rob Hirst Dies at 70

Rob Hirst, the longtime drummer and co-founder of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, died on January 20 at age 70 after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

The band announced Hirst's death on its official Facebook page, stating, "After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain a glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness. He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones." In a follow-up post, Midnight Oil expressed profound grief, writing, "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."

Hirst formed Midnight Oil in Sydney in 1976 alongside guitarist Jim Moginie, singer Peter Garrett and bassist Andrew James, with guitarist Martin Rotsey joining the following year. As the band's steadfast drummer, Hirst contributed to all 13 of its studio albums, from the self-titled debut in 1978 to the 2022 release Resist, which marked the end of the group's farewell tour in October of that year. Known for his powerful and precise playing, Hirst also co-wrote several of the band's signature songs, including "Beds Are Burning," "Blue Sky Mine," "Forgotten...