Rob Hirst
Encyclopedia
Robert George "Rob" Hirst (born in 1955) is an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales
. He is a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil
on drums, percussion and backing vocals from the 1970s until the band's break up in 2002. He also wrote a book, Willie's Bar & Grill, recounting the experiences on the tour Midnight Oil embarked on shortly after the 11 September terrorist attacks in 2001.
along with friend Andrew "Bear" James played their first public performance in a school hall in Sydney’s leafy northern suburbs under the name Schwampy Moose playing mainly Beatles covers. By 1976 the band had changed their name to Farm and Hirst, now a student at University of Sydney
(BA/LLB), placed an advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald
for a singer to join the trio. The new line up of Peter Garrett
(lead vocals), Hirst (drums and vocals), Moginie (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and James (bass guitar) was joined soon after by Martin Rotsey
on guitar and their manager and 6th member Gary Morris. The band changed their name to Midnight Oil
.
With a blistering intensity to their live performances, the band’s early music was a unique brand of surf
, punk. However by the early 1980s the key songwriters in the band, Hirst, Moginie, and Garrett, had become increasingly interested in the political issues of the day. This hugely influenced their song writing and soon spilled over into their live performances as the dynamic and outspoken Garrett used the stage as a platform for the band’s views on issues including Aboriginal rights, nuclear disarmament and social justice.
In 1979, James left to be replaced by Peter Gifford
. In 1987 after touring the outback and recording the band’s best known album Diesel and Dust
, Gifford suffered ill health and resigned. New bass player Bones Hillman
(formerly of New Zealand band The Swingers
) brought a new vocal dimension to the band. Midnight Oil continued to record and tour internationally for a further 15 years, chalking up a final tally of 14 albums and two extended plays before lead singer Garrett quit the group in December 2002, taking up a career in politics.
bass guitarist Rick Grossman
to form a side project, Ghostwriters. So far, the band has released four albums, Ghostwriters (Virgin Records
, 1991), Second Skin (Mercury Records
, 1996), Fibromoon (self-released, 2000), and Political Animal (SonyBMG Australia, 2007).
, an Australian Blues group formed in 1986 whose members included long time friend and founding member Dom Turner. The line-up with Hirst have released three albums, Hanoi (2002), Live (2005) and Left Field Holler (2007) as well as a DVD, Live at the Basement (2003).
Turner and Hirst formed another band in 2002, The Angry Tradesmen, with the idea of taking the guitar, drum music of North Mississippi and blending it with drum, bass music of the 1990s and experimental post-punk rock. Their album Beat the House was released in 2008 and featured studio performances by Midnight Oil's Martin Rotsey. Hirst and Rotsey also play on the track "All Around the world" on Jim Moginie's 2006 solo album Alas Folkloric.
Other musical collaborations have included working with Australia's Olympic athletes on a record commissioned by SOCOG for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and although unrelated, a collaboration with former Olympic athlete Paul Greene. Hirst and Greene have released an album In the Stealth of Summer and a DVD, Hirst & Greene Live at the Basement.
In 2010, Rob Hirst announced that he and two other former members of Midnight Oil, Moginie and Rotsey, had teamed up with Violent Femmes
bass player Brian Ritchie
to form a new surf rock band, The Break. Their debut album Church of the Open Sky was released on 16 April 2010 on the independent label Bombora
, distributed by MGM. A tour of Australia followed.
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
. He is a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
on drums, percussion and backing vocals from the 1970s until the band's break up in 2002. He also wrote a book, Willie's Bar & Grill, recounting the experiences on the tour Midnight Oil embarked on shortly after the 11 September terrorist attacks in 2001.
The Midnight Oil Years (1976–2002)
In the early 1970s, schoolboys Rob Hirst and Jim MoginieJim Moginie
James "Jim" Moginie is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he was a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter...
along with friend Andrew "Bear" James played their first public performance in a school hall in Sydney’s leafy northern suburbs under the name Schwampy Moose playing mainly Beatles covers. By 1976 the band had changed their name to Farm and Hirst, now a student at University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
(BA/LLB), placed an advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
for a singer to join the trio. The new line up of Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett
Peter Robert Garrett, AM, MP , is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and politician.Garrett was lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil from 1973 until its disbanding in 2002...
(lead vocals), Hirst (drums and vocals), Moginie (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and James (bass guitar) was joined soon after by Martin Rotsey
Martin Rotsey
Martin Rotsey is an Australian guitarist, and was a member of the rock band Midnight Oil from 1977 until the band's dissolution in 2002.In 2006, he joined fellow Midnight Oil member Rob Hirst's projects Ghostwriters and The Angry Tradesmen...
on guitar and their manager and 6th member Gary Morris. The band changed their name to Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
.
With a blistering intensity to their live performances, the band’s early music was a unique brand of surf
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
, punk. However by the early 1980s the key songwriters in the band, Hirst, Moginie, and Garrett, had become increasingly interested in the political issues of the day. This hugely influenced their song writing and soon spilled over into their live performances as the dynamic and outspoken Garrett used the stage as a platform for the band’s views on issues including Aboriginal rights, nuclear disarmament and social justice.
In 1979, James left to be replaced by Peter Gifford
Peter Gifford
Peter Gifford , sometimes known as "Giffo," is an Australian musician. From 1980 until 1987 he played bass guitar for Australian rock band Midnight Oil.-Midnight Oil:...
. In 1987 after touring the outback and recording the band’s best known album Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1987 under the CBS record label.The album is a concept album about the struggles of the Australian Aborigines and environmental causes, issues both near and dear to the band, and drew inspiration from the Black Fella White Fella tour...
, Gifford suffered ill health and resigned. New bass player Bones Hillman
Bones Hillman
Bones Hillman is a New Zealand musician. He played bass guitar in his first band The Masochists, an early New Zealand punk act, formed with friends from the Auckland suburb of Avondale . In late 1977 he joined the Suburban Reptiles and appeared on their first single, "Megaton"...
(formerly of New Zealand band The Swingers
The Swingers
The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...
) brought a new vocal dimension to the band. Midnight Oil continued to record and tour internationally for a further 15 years, chalking up a final tally of 14 albums and two extended plays before lead singer Garrett quit the group in December 2002, taking up a career in politics.
Ghostwriters
In the mid-1990s, while Midnight Oil were taking a break, Hirst joined up with guitarist Andrew Dickson and Hoodoo GurusHoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman , Mark Kingsmill , and Brad Shepherd...
bass guitarist Rick Grossman
Richard Grossman (musician)
Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame...
to form a side project, Ghostwriters. So far, the band has released four albums, Ghostwriters (Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, 1991), Second Skin (Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, 1996), Fibromoon (self-released, 2000), and Political Animal (SonyBMG Australia, 2007).
Other musical projects
In 2000, Hirst joined The BackslidersBacksliders
The Backsliders are a three piece Australian band; self described as playing "Delta blues wall of sound". The current line up consists of Guitarist/Vocalist Dom Turner and drummer/percusionist Rob Hirst joined...
, an Australian Blues group formed in 1986 whose members included long time friend and founding member Dom Turner. The line-up with Hirst have released three albums, Hanoi (2002), Live (2005) and Left Field Holler (2007) as well as a DVD, Live at the Basement (2003).
Turner and Hirst formed another band in 2002, The Angry Tradesmen, with the idea of taking the guitar, drum music of North Mississippi and blending it with drum, bass music of the 1990s and experimental post-punk rock. Their album Beat the House was released in 2008 and featured studio performances by Midnight Oil's Martin Rotsey. Hirst and Rotsey also play on the track "All Around the world" on Jim Moginie's 2006 solo album Alas Folkloric.
Other musical collaborations have included working with Australia's Olympic athletes on a record commissioned by SOCOG for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and although unrelated, a collaboration with former Olympic athlete Paul Greene. Hirst and Greene have released an album In the Stealth of Summer and a DVD, Hirst & Greene Live at the Basement.
In 2010, Rob Hirst announced that he and two other former members of Midnight Oil, Moginie and Rotsey, had teamed up with Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
bass player Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie
Brian Ritchie was the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Violent Femmes.In addition to his bass playing, Ritchie is proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute...
to form a new surf rock band, The Break. Their debut album Church of the Open Sky was released on 16 April 2010 on the independent label Bombora
Bombora
Bombora is an indigenous Australian term for an area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow area such as a submerged rock shelf, reef, or sand bank that is located some distance from the shoreline and beach surf break....
, distributed by MGM. A tour of Australia followed.