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Rob Hirst

Artist page

Rob Hirst

Percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter and producer, born 3 September 1955 in Camden, New South Wales, Australia. Died January 20, 2026.

He started drumming when he was 7, and got his first kit at 15. He and Jim Moginie began playing together, and formed the band known as Schwampy Moose. In 1972 he formed Farm, with Jim Moginie, Andrew "Bear" James. In 1976, with the addition of Martin Rotsey and Peter Garrett, Farm was renamed into Midnight Oil.
His other side projects include Ghostwriters, who have released three albums and a number of singles. Other projects include Hirst & Greene (with Peter Greene), Angry Tradesmen (with Dom Turner) and Backsliders (with Dom Turner and Jim Conway)
He has also worked with Charlie McMahon (Didgeridoo player) on the Gondwanaland Project, and co-wrote the Australian Olympic song for 1988.

Father of lex hirst, gabriella hirst and jay o'shea

Bands

Track collaborations

Blue Sky Mining (1990)

Midnight Oil

Blue Sky Mining (1990)

  • A2Stars Of WarburtonVocals, Drums, Written-By4:43
  • A3Bedlam BridgeVocals, Drums, Written-By4:25
  • A4Forgotten YearsVocals, Drums, Written-By4:21
  • A5Mountains Of BurmaVocals, Drums, Written-By4:50
  • B1King Of The MountainVocals, Drums, Written-By3:58
  • B2River Runs RedVocals, Drums, Written-By5:23
  • B5AntarcticaVocals, Drums, Written-By4:22

Related artists

The strongest connections in this collection.

Rob Hirst is a active member of Midnight Oil

Roles: Design Concept [Cover Concept], Producer, Recorded By, Written-By

Roles: Arranged By [Strings], Keyboards [Additional], Producer

Roles: Arranged By [Strings], Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals [Singing], Written-By