power & passion: Vale Rob hirst

I grew up with music all around me from my family. For reasons I don’t really recall, I gravitated towards the drums, and played them for about ten years. I think it may have been the physicality that they required, as well as the more overt technicality with having so many pieces of kit to utilise. Or maybe I just wanted to hit stuff? Perhaps all this fed into my ensuing passion for skating, with the technical progressive aspect, mixed with a dash of public nuisance by marking up public property, but ultimately leading to bashing myself up as well in pursuit of the aforementioned progression aspect! I guess some masochistic tendencies started to surface aside my sadistic ones..! 😅

Courtesy of my brother & sister, an early favourite band were Midnight Oil, whom I made my mum take me to see at the Hordern Pavilion when I was around 11, even though she wasn't into them at all, despite the fact that she had actually worked with their lead singer, Peter Garret, on some environmental projects. We had seats, but I couldn't help but get up and move and fist pump the air, the vibe was just so raw and visceral.

I first remember seeing the water tank in his set up at a gig in Selina’s, in the Coogee Bay Hotel. I loved how he integrated it as a piece of his kit. This was an epic gig due to the more intimate size of the venue, and definitely a favourite one for me.

I saw them numerous times since, and every show was on point. Their tunes became a soundtrack to so many moments of my life, including many a skate session. I loved the whole package - the grittiness, encompassing a true punk ethos (particularly in the sound on the earlier albums), yet all the while maintaining solid musical perfection, the unique sounds unlike any other (Aussie) rock band, the wild and giant bald guy lurching around while hammering home thought provoking and heartfelt lyrics - peppered with vivid passages of distinct Australiana, and then of course the lynch-pin of the band keeping it all in time while belting the skins and cymbals of his kit with epic rhythms and breakout solos - Mr Rob Hirst.

So many albums with so many epic tracks among most all of them, all backed up with creative yet uniquely appropriate drumming to suit each & every tune, with so many songs vocals written by Rob also, which moulded some of the formation of how I viewed and interacted with the world up til this day.

Rob was super energetic, as most any drummer needs to be. He always put that energy on display front & centre.

From most all reports, Rob was seemingly a solid human and a good guy to boot, and much like MCA aka Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, the group could never be the same without his individual Midas touch that he laid upon each and every song he wrote or played on.

Although 70 is at least a decent innings allowing many experiences in this amazing yet crazy world, and also for such a person to touch so many lives - even if simply by causing a fevered dance, the Big C took him too early.

Vale Rob Hirst, your memory will live on in the ears of millions.

Rest in Power, and Passion

This old ghetto blaster of mine most definitely blared many a Midnight Oil tune at Bondi Bowl sessions!

The last time I saw Midnight Oil perform was at the Domain in Sydney, on Armistice Day 2017. Here they’re playing one of my old go-to fave’s, Section 5 - Bus To Bondi (which I also used in an old Juice video part).

Article authored by Ti Coleing, lifelong skateboarder, industry guy, and head coach & fun-provider at Flow:Skate.
We offer coaching for all levels, however our main focus is intermediate to advanced skaters looking to take their skills & mental fortitude to the next level.