On January 20, 2026, Robert George Hirst died aged 70. He was musician (drums, percussion, guitar, keyboards), singer, song-writer and producer. Hirst was member of the bands Farm, Ghostwriters, Backsliders, the Angry Tradesmen, and the Break, but was best known as founding member and drummer of Midnight Oil.
Tag Archives: Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil: Resist
On February 18, 2022, “Sony Music Australia” label released “Resist”, the thirteenth Midnight Oil studio album. It was recorded in 2021, and was produced by Warne Livesey.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals
- Jim Moginie – vocals, guitars, keyboards, additional engineering
- Martin Rotsey – guitars
- Bones Hillman – vocals, bass
- Robert Hirst – vocals, drums
- Andy Bickers – saxophones
- Evelyn Finnerty – violin
- Julian Thompson – cello
- Kamahl – speech
- Warne Livesey – additional keyboards, mixing
- Jim Moginie – additional engineering
- Chris Allgood, Emily Lazar – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Jim Moginie, except where noted.
- Rising Seas
- The Barka-Darling River – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Tarkine
- At the Time of Writing – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Nobody’s Child – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- To the Ends of the Earth
- Reef
- We Resist
- Lost at Sea – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Undercover – Peter Garrett
- We Are Not Afraid – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Last Frontier
Midnight Oil: Species Deceases
On November 26, 1985 “CBS” label released “Species Deceases”, the second Midnight Oil EP. It was recorded in September 1985, at “Paradise Studios” in Darlinghurst, Australia, and was produced by Francois Kevorkian, Peter Garrett, Peter Gifford, Rob Hirst, Jim Mogine and Martin Rotsey. “Species Deceases” was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, first time on December 14, 1985, only two weeks after its release.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals, harmonica, mixing, artwork concept
- Jim Moginie – lead guitar, keyboards, mixing, artwork concept
- Martin Rotsey – lead guitar, mixing, artwork concept
- Peter Gifford – bass guitar, backing vocals, mixing, artwork concept
- Rob Hirst – drums, backing vocals, mixing, artwork concept
- David Price – engineer, mixing
- Tom Colley – assistant
- Philip Ellett – artwork concept
Track listing:
- Progress – Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett
- Hercules – Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst
- Blossom and Blood – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Pictures – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Peter Gifford
Bone Hillman
On November 7, 2020, Wayne Stevens aka Bone Hillman, died aged 62. He was musician (bass guitar, double bass), member of The Swingers, recorded with Anne McCue, Elizabeth Cook, Shery Crow, Matthew Good, nut was best known as member and bass player of Midnight Oil.
Midnight Oil: The Makarrata Project
On October 30, 2020, “Sony Music Australia” label released “The Makarrata Project”, the twelfth Midnight Oil studio album. It was recorded in 2020, at “Rancom Street Studios”, “Oceanic Studios” in Sydney, and was produced by Warne Livesey.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals
- Jim Moginie – vocals, guitars, keyboards, additional engineering
- Martin Rotsey – guitars
- Bones Hillman – vocals, bass guitar
- Rob Hirst – vocals, drums, percussion
- Troy Cassar-Daley – lead vocals, spoken word, guitar
- Jessica Mauboy – lead vocals
- Tasman Keith – lead vocals
- Dan Sultan – lead vocals, guitar
- Joel Davison – lead vocals
- Kaleena Briggs – lead and backing vocals
- Bunna Lawrie – lead vocals
- Gurrumul Yunupingu – lead vocals
- Alice Skye – lead vocals
- Frank Yamma – lead vocals
- Kev Carmody – lead vocals
- Sammy Butcher – lead vocals
- Pat Anderson – spoken word
- Stan Grant – spoken word
- Adam Goodes – spoken word
- Ursula Yovich – spoken word, backing vocals
- Leah Flanagan – backing vocals
- Warne Livesey – mixing, recording engineer
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- James Bellesini – artwork
Track listing:
- First Nation – Robert Hirst, Tasman Keith Jarrett
- Gadigal Land – Robert Hirst, Davidson, Bunna Lawrie
- Change the Date – James Moginie, Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Terror Australia – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman
- Desert Man, Desert Woman – Peter Garrett, Frank Yamma
- Wind in My Head – James Mogonie, Kev Carmody, N Murray, Sammy Butcher
- Uluru Statemant from the Heart / Come on Down – Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich, Troy Cassar-Daley, James Moginie
Midnight Oil: Place Without a Postcard
In November 1981, “Sprint Music” and “Columbia Records” label released “Place Without a Postcard”, the third Midnight Oil studio album. It was recorded June – July 1981, in Sussex, and was produced by Glyn Johns.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals
- Jim Moginie – guitars, keyboards
- Martin Rotsey – guitars
- Peter Gifford – vocals, bass
- Rob Hirst – vocals, drums
- Glyn Johns – engineer
- Sean Fullen – engineer assistant
- Robert Butcher – design, photography
Track listing:
- Don’t Wanna Be the One – Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Brave Faces – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Armistice Day – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Someone Else to Blame – Gifford, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Baemant Flat – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Written in the Heart – Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Burnie – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Quinella Holiday – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Loves on Sale – Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey
- If Ned Kelly Was King – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Lucky Country – Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
Midnight Oil: Breathe
On October 15, 1996, “Columbia” label released “Breathe”, the ninth Midnight Oil studio album. It was recorded in 1996, in Sydney and New Orleans, and was produced by Malcolm Burn.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett- lead vocals
- Jim Moginie – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Martin Rotsey– guitars
- Bones Hillman – vocals, bass
- Rob Hirst- vocals, drums
- Malcolm Burn- guitars, organ, bass
- Buddy Miller– guitars
- Ethan Allan – piano
- Daryl Johnson – djembe
- Emmylou Harris– vocals
Track listing:
- Underwater – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Surf’s Up Tonight – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Common Ground – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Time to Heal – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Sins of Omission – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey, Malcolm Burn
- One Too Many Times – Jim Moginie
- Star of Hope – Jim Moginie
- In the Rain – Peter Garrett
- Bring on the Change – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Home – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- E-Beat – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Barest Degree – Bones Hillman, Rob Hirst
- Gravelrash – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
The Midnight Oil: Diesel And Dust
In August 1987, “Spirit Music” label released “Diesel and Dust”, the sixth Midnight Oil (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1987, at “Albert Studios” in Sydney, Australia, and was produced by Peter Garrett, Peter Gilford, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Wame Livesey. In 1989, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it No. 13 on its list of the “100 Best Albums of the 1980s”. In October 2010 it was listed at No. 1 in the book “100 Best Australian Albums”.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett– vocals
- Jim Moginie– guitars, keyboards
- Martin Rotsey– guitars
- Peter Gifford– vocals, bass
- Robert Hirst– vocals, drums
Track listing:
- .Beds Are Burning – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Put Down the Weapon – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Dreamworld – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Arctic World – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Warakurna – Jim Moginie
- The Dead Heart – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Whoah – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Bullroare – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Sell My Soul – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- Sometimes – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Gunbarrel Highway – Peter Garrett, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Peter Gifford, Martin Rotsey
Midnight Oil: Earth And Sun And Moon
On April 20, 1993, “Columbia” label released “Earth and Sun and Moon”, the eight Midnight Oil album. It was recorded in 1993, at “Megaphon Studios” in Sydney, and was produced by Nick Launay, Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Rob Hirsy, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett– lead vocals, harmonica, design
- Jim Moginie – vocals, guitar, keyboards, design
- Martin Rotsey– guitar, design
- Bones Hillman– vocals, bass guitar, design
- Rob Hirst – vocals, drums, design
- Brent Clark, Nick Launay – engineer
- Nick Launay – mixing
- Tony Cousins – mastering
- Kevin Wilkins, Craig Simmons – design
Track listing:
- Feeding Frenzy – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- My Country – Rob Hirst
- Renaissance Man – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Earth and Sun and Moon – Jim Moiginie
- Truganini – Rob Hirst, Jim Moiginie
- Bushfire – Peter Garrett, Jim Moiginie
- Drums of Heaven – Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moiginie
- Outbreak of Love – Rob Hirst
- In the Valley – Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moiginie
- Tell Me the Truth – Peter Garrett, Jim Moiginie
- Now or Never Land – Peter Garrett, Jim Moiginie
Midnight Oil: Blue Sky Mining
On February 25, 1990, “Columbia” label released “Blue Sky Mining”, the seventh Midnight Oil album. It was recorded in 1989, at “Rhino” in Sydney, and was produced by Warne Livesey, Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Warne Livesey . At the “ARIA Music Awards” in 1991, “Blue Sky Mining” won “Best Group”, “Outstanding Achievement Award”, “Best Cover Art”, “Best Video” and “Album of the Year”. The album was awarded 5× Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”.
Personnel:
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals
- Jim Moginie – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Martin Rotsey- vocals, guitars
- Warne Livesey- keyboards
- Bones Hillman – vocals, bass
- Robert Hirst – vocals, drums
- Jeremy Smith – French horn
- Phillip Hartl – string leader
- Glad and Carl – Horn Swells
Track listing:
- Blue Sky Mine – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- Stars of Warburton – Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey
- Bedlam Bridge – Robert Hirst
- Forgeotten Years – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Mountains of Burma – Robert Hirst
- King of the Mountain – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- River Runs Red – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
- Shakers and Movers – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
- One Country – Peter Garret, Jim Moginie
- Antartica – Peter Garret, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
- You May Not Be released – Jim Moginie
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