Country music star Jay O’Shea is mourning the loss of her beloved Dad—Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst, who died at age 70 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His band announced his passing on social media. His death marks the loss of a towering figure in Australian music and a deeply personal heartbreak for his daughter.
GettyO’Shea took to Instagram to share a moving tribute, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into her grief as she processed the loss of both a parent and a close companion.
A Daughter’s Heartbreaking Goodbye
Her words reflected the depth of their bond and the quiet devastation left behind.
“There are no words right now to describe the feeling of losing this great friend and Father. We are all just…. heartbroken. Love you so much, Dad, J💙”
The message resonated widely, drawing an outpouring of support from fans and fellow artists who recognized not only Hirst’s musical legacy but also the love shared between father and daughter.
Singer-songwriter Sinéad Burgess was among those offering support, sharing a heartfelt message in the comments. “Jay, I am so sorry to hear this… sending all the love & strength in the world.❤️🙏🏻”
A comment read: “Sending you guys all our love and prayers. What a legend & legacy that will live forever that he leaves behind. 💔”
Another fan shared: “So sorry, Jay. What a gorgeous photo. Sending so much love & prayer 🙏🏽❤️”
Another comforting comment read: “I hope to give you a big hug soon because right now there are no words. Xo”
A Father & Daughter Reconnected Through Music
In 2020, Hirst released a collaborative album with O’Shea, a project that followed their later-life reunion. O’Shea previously shared details of their relationship in a candid Instagram post.
“For those who don’t know, I was adopted as a baby, and 10 years ago, I found my birth parents.
The story of how we all came together sounds like bad fiction writing as it’s quite unbelievable,” she wrote.
She explained that the album became a way for them to build a bond through creativity.
“We really made this music as a way of getting to know each other better, and after much laughing, drinking some good wines, and eating too much cheese, these songs were born,” she added.
“There were no parameters, guidelines, or pressures of what a reunited Father/Daughter collaboration should sound like. Each song is a snapshot. Each song has its own space and story.”
Midnight Oil Confirms the Death of a Founding Member In A Heartbreaking Statement
Hirst’s band, Midnight Oil, confirmed his death in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, January 20, shared alongside a photo of the group.
“We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob,” the band wrote. “For now, there are no words, but there will always be songs. Love Always from Jim, Martin & Pete.”
In a separate statement shared on Facebook, the band added, “After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain.”
The message continued, “‘A glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness.’ He died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. The family asks that anyone wanting to honour Rob donate to Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia, or Support Act.”
Hirst was a founding member of Midnight Oil, which formed in Sydney in 1972. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1978 and went on to become one of Australia’s most influential rock acts.
According to Variety, over the course of their career, Midnight Oil won 11 ARIA Awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.
As the band’s drummer and a key creative force, Hirst co-wrote many of their most popular songs, including “Beds Are Burning,” “The Dead Heart,” “Blue Sky Mine,” “Forgotten Years,” and “King of the Mountain.”
The band went on hiatus in 2002 before reuniting in 2016. Their final album, “Resist,” was released in 2022 and followed by a farewell tour that marked the close of a defining chapter.
Outside of Midnight Oil, Hirst began pursuing solo work in 2005. His final solo EP, “A Hundred Years or More,” was released last November.
As tributes continue to pour in, O’Shea’s words stand out for their simplicity and raw emotion. For her, Hirst was not only a rock legend but also a father and a friend, a loss that leaves a lasting silence behind the music.
