Rob Hirst | Long Play Series

Drummer, singer and songwriter Rob Hirst is a founding member of legendary Australian band Midnight Oil. Straddling the rock/surf/punk divide, Midnight Oil rode the pub rock wave of the 1970s and 1980s raising audience awareness of the dangers posed by environmental destruction, nuclear armament and our continuing failure to reconcile with our Indigenous and First Nations peoples.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Hirst worked on a number of musical side projects starting with Ghostwriters which he formed with Hoodoo Gurus’ bassist Rick Grossman in 1990. Many of these projects have included other members of the Oils and have allowed the group to explore different musical styles including Delta blues (Backsliders, The Angry Tradesmen) and surf rock (The Breaks).
In this interview with Tracee Hutchison, Rob Hirst discusses what it was like to be an up-and-coming band in the pub rock scene, the process of writing ‘Beds Are Burning’, and touring with Warumpi Band for the “Blackfella/Whitefella” tour in 1986.
Midnight Oil were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.
Interviewer: Tracee Hutchison
Location: Eleven Music, Sydney, 2017
For more Australian Music Vault stories and information visit www.australianmusicvault.com.au/
As part of our commitment to capturing and sharing great Australian music stories, the Australian Music Vault asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music.

[@eoghanbrannigan9917]

Best drummer ever. Fact.

[@queenslander7756]

Rehearsed once circa 1976 in Chatswood, and Peter (with hair) sat in on the session. Supported Oils at times over the years in some of the “massive beer barns” Rob mentioned. Great times and venues and the incubator for many iconic Aussie bands to hone their craft before assaulting the international stage.

[@davidgaul572]

Just an amazing interview. Rob Hirst is so smart and eloquent. Brilliant! Thanks to the Australian Music Vault! Awesome!

[@cathrynmasters3199]

Rob Hirst would have to be one of the the best drummers ever. Brilliant! Great interview. Love the Oils. Living legends.

[@livianegidius9772]

I have listened to words of your songs then music. But they are pefectly fit together.

[@neil2550]

Served him once in the bank in the early 90 s Chatswood,, Great drummer n songwriter

[@joshdance9959]

I think Rob is the best drummer Australia has ever produced. He's like a combination of Keith Moon and John Bonham. Or maybe Keith Moon and Phil Rudd. His work on Best of Both worlds is the most inspired drumming I've ever heard. Not only driving the song, but riding it at the same time. Mind blowing stuff. Thanks Rob.

[@CJ-pe5dl]

No question its a fact.

[@gavinkitchen1472]

I see a definite Nick Mason influence. Not sure whether I'd include Phil Rudd. The Youngs are ACDC, & with this any ACDC drummer is supplied with a metronome, which they have to strictly follow.

[@dolphinberserk]

And let's not forget live performances of Only the Strong, Don't Wanna Be the One, Stand in Line, Powderworks and Kosciusko (while singing lead)

[@cerimccoy]

Saw Midnight Oil many times back in the 1980s. A full frontal assault on your senses, the Oils were probably the loudest band I've ever seen with the hugest electric guitar sound from Martin Rotsey and Jim the Genie. Makes the Foo Fighters sound a little tame in comparison. Amazing!

[@seanmcwha9325]

I love these interviews. The genuine people who they all really are is amazing. As a father of a very young musician I love showing my young fella how it works and what needs to be done just to believe in oneself. I love Australian musicians and how/why they think. It’s all about where they come from, what resonates with them, at the time, and that’s partly why they all are legend status. Also due to the LIVE performances they put on. Chisel, Oils, Angels, etc. Glenn Wheatley, Mark Opitz, and the list is endless. Much respect for all, and thank you for these videos. Hope they keep coming. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Thanks Sean for the feedback - thrilled to hear you're enjoying them. We've got a few more up our sleeve to share!

[@piaxgft5799]

I LOVE them they have informed my world view enormously

[@naj70]

Really fantastic articulation of the early period and Rob is candid - "we made it up as we went along, we were broke" - not that there was a "vision for Midnight Oil". I remember Tracee Hutchinson from glory days of 2JJJ (glory because of what Hirst says - no tablets, devices, bad TV (well - just the 4 channels), DJs, Raves.... people went to see bands/gigs). And we roll the clock forward 35 years and the "irreverence of 2JJJ" (to quote Bill Hayden of that era) - and Tracee looks and sounds in many ways - like corporate Australia. And that's a kind and careful takeaway - we all grow up, mellow, become less energetic, less overtly rebellious in posture - as we conform to mortgages, school fees, family multi-decade stability...a paycheck even. A real litmus test for the oils - is to check and see if any member of the band catches a mining company's dividend every six months - to keep them in first-world comforts.

[@nongthip]

As a die-hard Oils fan, it's great to hear Rob or any of the band members reminiscing about their history back then and again now.

[@benscheeres]

Love you

[@lindalorko4478]

This is a wonderful interview, Thankyou for the quality of questions presented to Rob, I could listen to his storytelling for hours. His passion for social issues is still evident and I feel has been the key spokesperson throughout the band's history. Thankyou for the wonderful music and memories!

[@PapaCowboySr]

Absolutely agree!

[@timvivoda5208]

Love Rpb all I ever wanted was a one hour drum lesson.

[@danozism]

They just don't make em like this anymore. Thanks Rob, Tracee and AMV

[@jasoncarruthers2722]

Thankyou so much. As ive been an Oils fan all my life!

[@P.Galore]

Rob Hirst is among the very small number of drummers who are both precise to listen to and entertaining to watch. His style has the openess of Ringo Starr where each beat is defined and placed and the power of legendary John Bonham. None of them "ride the cymbals"

[@MrsBazzy]

I remember writing an essay in high school about The Oils and the issues they sang about and Peter and the Nuclear Disarmament Party. They most definitely did get their message across ❤️

[@PapaCowboySr]

I really loved this interview! Rob Hirst is so enlightning . So we'll read. I was fortunate enough to see the on Oils in Hollywood Calif, (where I'm from) twice in the early 80s at the Palace. They were electric!!! Pete Garret wouldn't put up with the mosh pit in front of the stage. They were willing to stop playing if the pushing and shoving didn't stop. Crowd was warned twice. Garret was amazing!!

[@pellelindbergh4455]

i learn so much about Midnight oil early days ,some of the band he metions i never heard of before that great.

[@AdamSandaver]

Great talk. Thanks Tracee and Rob.

[@TimOestmann]

Thanks, really interesting interview.

[@troymasters3315]

Great interview. Well done.

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Thank you

[@pellelindbergh4455]

Peter garrett had the same questions but he gave very short and dull answers but Hirst is a better interview

[@daniels1975]

Wonderful interview, but I wish they had talked about red sails, a phenomenal album. ESM is also skipped over.

[@mrindecisive100]

These interviews are really good. An interview with one (or more) of the original members of Mental As Anything would be great.

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Great to hear you're enjoying them, thanks for the feedback, it will be shared with the team for consideration.

[@marymcbeath7996]

Wonderful reflection on the growth of the Oil’s, what an amazingly powerhouse they were on stage. And who is the extraordinarily beautiful interviewer?

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Hi Mary, the interviewer is Tracee Hutchison.

[@shanesthief]

Only the strong is there best song hands down

[@peterbozich4433]

Totally agree was wrapped when i heard them play it live first time

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Hercules is mine

[@pellelindbergh4455]

mi sex??????!!! got to find that band!

[@queenslander7756]

Mi Sex, great Kiwi band who made a home in Australia. Very visual stage presentation with creative light show. Album called “Graffiti Crimes” with a futuristic hit single “Computer Games”. Supported them a couple of times, great guys. Singer Steve Gilpin died some years back in a car accident on the way back from a show I believe somewhere in North Coast of NSW. Hope you get to hear their music.👍🏼🎶

[@seanc.mcnally2118]

Silly little Uni hangover Man, but we love him

[@assininecomment1630]

This interview is _entirely_ carried by good Mr Hirst. Hutchison's questions are awkward, lacking any conversational craft, and staggering incoherently one way, then another. direcmmmm as per normal. Hirst suffers the clumsy dynamics, by sharing details and story aplenty. 6 out of 10.

[@queenslander7756]

Is that all you got out of the conversation?🤔

[@jacktzu1528]

Is there anything worse that a self hating person.?

[@pistolpete224able]

I liked the band but the politics was unbearable left wing trash.

[@queenslander7756]

I think there was a certain element of that in their ethos, but in the context of the times (an era that I personally experienced) people were genuinely concerned with issues. Just as the Vietnam war created a culture of disobedience against authority, the Oils represented the voice of youth concerned with environmental and other issues of those times. Problem being, big business and politicians hijack this fervour for their own selfish purposes and corrupt it. The woke culture of today is an example of this degradation.

[@legowifey4773]

ok Boomer

[@queenslander7756]

We all stand on the shoulders of those who’ve gone before.