Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has died at the age of 70.
A statement posted on Midnight Oil’s social media said that Mr. Hearst “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.”
“After almost three years of heroic fighting, Rob is now pain-free and a ‘little ray of light in the wilderness,'” the statement said.
“The family is asking anyone who would like to honor Rob to donate to Pankind, the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Support Act or the Support Act.”
Hearst was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.
Rob Hurst’s bandmates (second from left) paid tribute to him via a statement on social media. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
A statement from the band, provided to the ABC through their management, said: “We are devastated and saddened by the loss of our brother Rob. There are no words at this time, but there will be songs.”
In addition to being the band’s drummer, Hearst was also the songwriter for many of Midnight Oil’s hits.
He has songwriting credits on songs such as “Beds Are Burning,” “Blue Sky Mine,” and “Read About It.”
Hurst, a founding member of Midnight Oil, was born in Camden, south-west Sydney.
Australian music legend Jimmy Barnes paid tribute to Hirst in a social media post, saying he had a “huge influence” on Australian culture.
“Rest in peace, dear Rob. You are irreplaceable and unique. You will be sorely missed by me, my family and the rest of this great country,” he wrote.
Life-changing cancer diagnosis
In one of his final interviews in November, Mr. Hearst spoke about his health history with pancreatic cancer.
“This diagnosis was made approximately six months after Midnight Oil finally stopped performing, at Hordern Pavilion on October 3, 2022,” he told ABC Radio Sydney Morning presenter Hamish McDonald.
“Everything was going well and I was looking forward to retirement, but then something unexpected happened.”
Rob Hurst was one of the founding members of Midnight Oil. (Supplied)
He explained the treatment he received.
“Despite all the tests, relentless chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a case of sepsis earlier this year, as the old man used to say, I’m still here,” Hurst said.
“My body feels like a tool surrounded by chickens in a bottle and taken to the tip.
“You realize all you’re doing is walking around this body.”
Ms Hurst said she had been surrounded by care and support since she became ill.
“One of the silver linings that I see in the battles that people face is that they may not really appreciate the love, the friendship, the attention, the care that comes back when something significant happens to them,” he told MacDonald.
“It has become more noticeable over the last few years and has brought me to tears many times.
“Fundamentally, I believe in the goodness of people, their hearts, and their motives. That’s written in the song ‘First Do No Harm.'”
Change in approach to music
Despite his illness, Hearst continued to make music even after his 1979 Ludwig drum kit, used on Midnight Oil’s second album and beyond, was auctioned and $90,000 was donated to charity.
“I can’t beat the rock ‘n’ roll drum anymore,” he said.
“This is a big rock’n’roll kit. It takes a lot of breath power to play a drum kit like that.”
It is currently housed in a museum in Melbourne.
At the time, he said he still did the odd gig, but wasn’t doing “big rock’n’roll gigs anymore.”
“I still play for the Backsliders.” [a three-piece blues band Hirst was a part of]But I brushed more with the snare drum and percussion, strummed an old Gibson acoustic guitar, and sang some harmonies,” Hirst said.
“The problem is that this disease has caused my voice to drop a few octaves, so I’m exploring more Leonard Cohen territory now.”