Australian music legend reveals heartbreaking cancer diagnosis: ‘It is quite a shock’

By JIMMY BRIGGS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 01:25 BST, 15 April 2025 | Updated: 01:25 BST, 15 April 2025

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Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has revealed he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The Australian rock legend, 69, shared the heartbreaking news over the weekend and discussed why he has finally gone public despite being diagnosed two years ago.

‘I wanted to get the story of pancreatic cancer out there, because it’s one of those cancers that most people don’t really register,’ Hirst told The Australian.

‘It hasn’t really attracted the attention, for example, of skin cancers or breast cancers or others – but it’s really on the rise.’

The Sydney-born musician added he was currently receiving treatment for the disease and was taking things day by day.

‘It’s ongoing. I’ve had pretty much every treatment known to man – every scan, ultrasound, MRI. I’ve kind of had “the works”. Today I’m feeling really good.’

Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has revealed he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pictured with lead singer Peter Garrett 

Pancreatic cancer is particularly deadly due to aggressive growth and limited effective treatment options. 

The survival rate is very low compared to other cancers, with only about 10 per cent  of patients surviving five years or more after diagnosis.

Hirst then said the shock diagnosis had put things into perspective and he urged people to get tested if they felt unwell.

‘Coming up to two years, I thought I just need to get this, literally, off my chest,’ he said.

‘I think the lesson for me is if you do have any of that kind of symptom, where there’s something you feel is wrong, just go and get a simple blood test. It could be life-changing and life-extending.’

The veteran drummer has been performing alongside front man Peter Garrett in Midnight Oil since 1972.

He co-wrote some of their most beloved songs, including Beds are Burning, Blue Sky Mine and Power and the Passion.

Hirst has two daughters, Lex and Gabriella, from his marriage to his wife Lesley Holland. 

The Australian rock legend shared the heartbreaking news over the weekend and discussed why he has finally gone public after being diagnosed two years ago 

The veteran drummer has been performing alongside front man Peter Garrett in Midnight Oil since 1972

It comes after front man Peter Garrett revealed the bizarre names the iconic Aussie rock band were nearly called.

Appearing on The Project in June, the 71-year-old revealed ‘Schwampy Moose’, ‘Sparta’ and ‘Television’ were all considered.

‘Schwampy Moose… we’re very pleased that didn’t get up,’ Garrett joked.

The band eventually settled on Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat in 1976.

The name was reportedly inspired by the Jimi Hendrix song Burning of Midnight Lamp.

When Hirst and guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie, 67 formed the group in Sydney in 1972, they originally went by the name Farm.

Garrett was on the program to discuss the bands new film that looks back at their astonishing career.

The two-hour documentary, called The Hardest Line had its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

Made by Australian filmmaker Paul Clarke, the title of the film is taken from the chorus of the 1982 song Power and the Passion, one of Midnight Oil’s biggest hits.

Midnight Oil went on sell over 20 million albums since releasing their first record in 1978.

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Australian music legend reveals heartbreaking cancer diagnosis: ‘It is quite a shock’

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