Rob Hirst facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rob Hirst
Rob Hirst, with The Backsliders Womadelaide 2007
Background information
Birth name	Robert George Hirst
Born	(1955-09-03) 3 September 1955 (age 69) Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, blues, delta blues, surf music
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Drums, percussion, guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Virgin, Mercury, SonyBMG
Associated acts	Schwampy Moose, Farm, Midnight Oil, Ghostwriters, Backsliders, The Angry Tradesmen, Hirst and Greene, The Break

Robert George Hirst, born on September 3, 1955, is an Australian musician. He is best known as a founding member and drummer for the famous rock band Midnight Oil. He also sang backing vocals and sometimes lead vocals for the band. Midnight Oil was active from the 1970s until 2002, and then they got back together in 2017. Rob also wrote a book called Willie's Bar & Grill. It's about Midnight Oil's tour right after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Rocking Out with Midnight Oil

In the early 1970s, Rob Hirst and his friends Jim Moginie and Andrew "Bear" James played their first show. They were still in school in Sydney and called their band Schwampy Moose. They mostly played songs by The Beatles.

By 1976, the band changed their name to Farm. Rob, who was studying at the University of Sydney, put an ad in the newspaper looking for a singer. Soon, Peter Garrett joined as the lead singer. The band then included Rob on drums and vocals, Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards, Andrew James on bass, and later, Martin Rotsey on guitar. Their manager, Gary Morris, was also a key part of the group. They decided to change their name one last time to Midnight Oil.

Midnight Oil was known for their energetic live shows. Their early music was a mix of surf and punk styles. As the 1980s began, Rob, Jim, and Peter started writing songs about important issues. These included Aboriginal rights, stopping nuclear weapons, and making society fairer for everyone. Peter Garrett, the singer, often used the stage to share the band's strong opinions on these topics.

In 1979, Peter James left the band and Peter Gifford took over on bass. In 1987, after touring the Australian outback and recording their famous album Diesel and Dust, Peter Gifford left due to health reasons. Midnight Oil kept making music and touring around the world for another 15 years. They released fourteen albums and two shorter music collections. In December 2002, lead singer Peter Garrett left the band to start a career in politics. The band reunited in 2017 and went on a world tour.

Rob's Other Music Projects

Ghostwriters

In the mid-1990s, when Midnight Oil was taking a break, Rob Hirst started a new band called Ghostwriters. He teamed up with guitarist Andrew Dickson and Hoodoo Gurus bass player Rick Grossman. Ghostwriters have released four albums: Ghostwriters (1991), Second Skin (1996), Fibromoon (2000), and Political Animal (2007).

Backsliders

In 2000, Rob joined Backsliders, an Australian Blues band. The group was formed in 1986 by Dom Turner. With Rob on drums, the Backsliders have released six studio albums, one EP, and a live DVD.

More Musical Adventures

Rob Hirst and Dom Turner from Backsliders formed another band in 2002 called The Angry Tradesmen. They wanted to mix the guitar and drum sounds of North Mississippi blues with modern drum and bass music. Their only album, Beat the House, came out in 2008. It even featured Midnight Oil's Martin Rotsey. Rob and Martin also played on a song called "All Around the World" on Jim Moginie's solo album Alas Folkloric.

Rob has also worked on music for special events. He collaborated with Australian Olympic athletes on a record for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He also worked with former Olympic athlete Paul Greene. Rob and Paul, known as Hirst and Greene, released an album called In the Stealth of Summer and a live DVD.

In 2010, Rob, Jim Moginie, and Martin Rotsey from Midnight Oil formed a new surf rock band called The Break. They were joined by Violent Femmes bass player Brian Ritchie and Hunters & Collectors trumpet player Jack Howard. Their first album, Church of the Open Sky, was released in 2010, followed by an Australian tour. Their second album, "Space Farm", came out in 2013, also with a tour.

In 2015, Rob worked on music with his oldest daughter, Jay O'Shea, who is part of the band O'Shea. Rob had given Jay up for adoption when she was young. They reconnected through Jay's birth mother and Rob's Midnight Oil bandmate, Bones Hillman. The song The Truth Walks Slowly is the second time Rob has made music with his children. His two younger daughters sang backing vocals on his solo album before this.

Rob's Family Life

Rob Hirst has three daughters. He has two daughters with his wife, Leslie Holland. One of his daughters, Gabriella Hirst, is an artist. His other daughter, Jay O'Shea, was born to a different mother and was adopted when she was young. Rob and Jay reunited in 2010 and have since worked together on music.

Rob's Music Releases

Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

See also

• Midnight Oil
• Ghostwriters
• Backsliders

Awards and Nominations

APRA Awards

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) gives out these awards every year. They celebrate the best songwriters and music composers in Australia.

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia are held every January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They celebrate great music in the Australian country music industry.