‘Rob Hirst is gone. Such sad news.’
That’s how I heard of it. From great mate and great guitarist, Simon Edwards, when the legendary drummer, vocalist and song-writer for Midnight Oil died a week ago. Like so many others, most of what I felt was ‘oh no!’.
Simon and I played in a rock band together many years ago, and always marvelled at Rob’s power, artistry and energy. It sure wouldn’t have been the Oils without it. And I wouldn’t have been me.
The Oils website said:
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. The family asks that anyone wanting to honour Rob donate to Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia or Support Act.’
The band said:
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.
There will always be songs. In recent days I’ve revelled in some of my most cherished memories of Rob with the Oils (and his other bands). The most cherished, still, being the transcendent Goat Island concert on Sydney Harbour in 1985. And in particular, this - from Oils on the Water, highlighting not just Rob’s full flight drums and vocals, but his brilliant song-writing too. It still makes me shake.
You can watch the concert in full on the ABC now, in tribute.
It’s also brought back memories of how Rob inspired me as a young drummer. His drive. His physicality. Beats that pounded and cracked.
I found the audio attached at the top of this piece today. It’s an early recording of me on drums jamming with a great mate from high school, John Lazzara, on bass - recorded on cassette tape with a little recorder positioned between us.
Later, through the ‘90s, John and I played with Simon and another mate Christopher Raphel in a rock band, and the influence, well, wasn’t hard to spot (with the beats, and the nature-loving).
It wasn’t just the music that captivated and inspired. It was a love of Country. And its people. And how it could be expressed in music, in performance and in words. Everywhere from the unique Aussie pub scene they cut their teeth in, to concert halls and stadia around the world. And from outback communities …
… to the streets of New York.
Rob’s was love enough to dedicate a life to.
Yesterday, Rob was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours. He knew he was to receive the honour, though sadly died just ahead of the date. A date about which he may have had something eloquent to say, as suggested in this AAP report:
Hirst himself might have preferred the honour to be bestowed on another day: Midnight Oil recorded a song called Change the Date on their 2020 album The Makarrata Project.
Hirst’s family said “our beloved father and husband receiving this honour feels particularly poignant this week”.
“Rob was a ferocious talent and we’re so proud of the impact of his songwriting, music and advocacy,” they said in a statement.
“The outpouring of love this past few days has kept us afloat in this turbulent moment - we know so many are grieving alongside us.
“Rob loved this great south land, and dreamed of a day when we could heal through Makarrata and get on with the urgent work of caring for Country together.
“The time has come.”
