80s Rocker Dies at 70 After Cancer Battle
The Daily Beast • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Rob Hirst, co-founder and drummer of Australian rock band Midnight Oil, has died at age 70 after battling pancreatic cancer diagnosed in 2023.
- His bandmates announced his peaceful passing on social media, requesting donations to pancreatic cancer charities in his honor.
- Hirst was instrumental in shaping Midnight Oil's sound over nearly five decades, co-writing iconic songs like “Beds Are Burning” and “The Dead Heart.”
- Midnight Oil, formed in the mid-1970s in Sydney, released 13 studio albums and became known for their politically charged rock music.
- In a 2025 interview, Hirst reflected positively on his life despite his illness, expressing gratitude for his experiences.
