Skip to content 
He Was Also an Important Songwriter
Hirst’s contribution to Midnight Oil extended well beyond percussion.
He earned songwriting credits on several of the band’s best-known songs, including “Beds Are Burning,” “Blue Sky Mine,” “The Dead Heart,” and “The Power and the Passion.”
His ability to contribute both musically and lyrically made him an important creative force within the group.
He was also recognized through songwriting awards during his career, including honors connected with songs such as “Beds Are Burning” and “Gadigal Land.”
Midnight Oil Built a Reputation for Music With a Message
The band became known not only for its sound but also for addressing political, environmental, and social issues.
That identity separated Midnight Oil from many other major rock acts.
The music could fill arenas, but the songs frequently carried messages about land, inequality, environmental concerns, and responsibility.
Hirst’s drumming added urgency to that approach.
His performances gave many of the songs a relentless drive that matched the seriousness of the subjects being addressed.
Fans Remembered the Physical Energy of His Performances
Anyone who saw Midnight Oil live was likely to remember how intensely Hirst played.
He was not hidden behind the rest of the band.
Even from the back of the stage, his performance demanded attention.
His movements were forceful, his timing distinctive, and his drum fills often became memorable moments within songs.
One of the performances most closely associated with him was his drumming on “Power and the Passion,” which became a particularly recognizable example of his style.
His Influence Extended Beyond Midnight Oil
Although Midnight Oil remained the defining band of his career, Hirst also worked with other musical projects.
His activities included work with Ghostwriters, Backsliders, Angry Tradesmen, and the Break.
These projects allowed him to explore different musical settings while retaining the intensity and musicianship that audiences associated with his work.
Even so, his name remained inseparable from Midnight Oil and the sound he helped build over decades.
A Generation Grew Up With His Rhythm
For longtime listeners, Hirst’s death represented the loss of a musician whose work accompanied large parts of their lives.
Fans remembered songs heard on radios, albums played repeatedly at home, and concerts where the band’s enormous energy could be felt throughout the venue.
Because Midnight Oil’s music was often connected with major public debates and social concerns, Hirst’s influence also extended beyond entertainment.
For many listeners, the songs became tied to memories of activism, political discussion, and cultural change.
Tributes Focused on More Than His Musicianship
After news of his death spread, people who had followed his career reflected on both the musician and the person behind the public performances.
Hirst was remembered for his humor, intelligence, generosity, and commitment to the work he cared about.
Those qualities helped explain why the response to his death reached beyond people discussing technical drumming ability.
Fans and colleagues were mourning a personality who had helped shape the identity of one of Australia’s most enduring bands.