Hirst also performed with other groups, including Ghostwriters and Backsliders, and continued working on music during his illness.

In 2025, he released solo material and made the decision to auction his iconic 1979 Ludwig drum kit.

The instrument ultimately raised $90,000 for Australian music charities, turning something deeply personal to Hirst into an opportunity to help others.

His Midnight Oil bandmates were devastated by his death.

For them, Hirst wasn’t simply the band’s drummer.

He was an essential part of its identity and the sound that had brought them together for decades.

The group described themselves as shattered by the loss, acknowledging that there were no easy words for such grief.

But there was one thing that remained.

The songs.

Hirst’s influence lives on through the music he helped create, the causes he supported, and the countless musicians and listeners who were inspired by his work.

His drums gave Midnight Oil its unmistakable energy and helped turn its music into something much larger than entertainment.

A life can end.

But sometimes, the rhythm someone leaves behind continues long after the final beat.

There will always be songs.

READ MORE BELOW…