The Australian rock band Midnight Oil has announced the passing of their founding member, Rob Hirst, three years after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. The band shared the news on Instagram alongside a photo of themselves, expressing their deep sorrow and grief.
"We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob," the band wrote in the caption. "For now, there are no words, but there will always be songs. Love Always from Jim, Martin & Pete."
In a separate statement on Facebook, the band added, "After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain." They continued, "'A glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness.' He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. The family asks that anyone wanting to honor Rob donate to Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia or Support Act."
Hirst was a founding member of Midnight Oil in Sydney in 1972 and went on to co-write several of the band's hits, including "Beds Are Burning," "The Dead Heart," "Blue Sky Mine," "Forgotten Years," and "King of the Mountain." Despite the band's success, Hirst went on to release solo music in 2005 and collaborated with his daughter, Jay O'Shea, on a collaborative album in 2020.
Following the announcement of his death, O'Shea shared a tribute to her father on Instagram. "There are no words right now to describe the feeling of losing this great friend and Father. We are all just... heartbroken. Love you so much, Dad," she wrote.
Hirst's last solo project was an EP titled "A Hundred Years or More," released last November. In 2022, Midnight Oil released their last album, "Resist," followed by a farewell tour. The band's self-titled debut album was released in 1978 and they went on to win 11 ARIA Awards and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.
