The Enduring Spirit of a Rock Legend: Rob Hirst's Musical Battle with Pancreatic Cancer
The renowned musician Rob Hirst, a founding member of the iconic Midnight Oil, has released a poignant and defiant EP, 'A Hundred Years Or More', which features his daughters Gabriella and Lex on vocals. This EP is a testament to Hirst's resilience and artistic spirit as he continues his battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hirst, alongside his Midnight Oil bandmate Jim Moginie and drummer Hamish Stuart, composed the four 'existential' songs for the EP during moments of well-being, allowing him to sing and play his guitar. The song titles, 'First Do No Harm' and 'Are We There Yet?', draw inspiration from the Hippocratic Oath and the frequent medical appointments Hirst endures.
Despite his illness, Hirst remains a proud father, capturing his daughters' voices on the EP. Gabriella, an artist and writer based in Berlin, and Lex, a book publisher, grew up listening to their father's music and songwriting, often standing beside the stage as he pounded the drums for Midnight Oil and his various side projects.
The EP's title, 'A Hundred Years Or More', reflects Hirst's situation, as he was diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer in April 2023, just six months after Midnight Oil's final gig. Despite the odds, Hirst has defied them, living with the disease for two and a half years.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase 'May you live to be a hundred years or more', with Hirst adding a personal touch, singing 'May you take another turn around the sun'. This lyric was inspired by his daughter Ella, who sang it beautifully, adding a layer of optimism to the melancholy tone of the songs.
Gabriella, who initially found her father's guitar experiments annoying as a teenager, now appreciates his songwriting mastery. She tears up when listening to the EP's 'beautiful' song, despite feeling slightly 'cringe' at her own singing voice. The music has been a constant in the Hirst household, and Gabriella finds comfort in the studio, where she can process the emotional complexities of her father's lyrics.
Lex, Gabriella's sister, provides backing vocals on the opening track, 'First Do No Harm'. Their mother, Lesley Holland, is also involved in the EP, though not vocally. Hirst's lyrics explore the challenges of expressing complex emotions, and the family's current struggles, making the songs a powerful means of processing these difficult times.
Despite his illness, Hirst remains grateful for his collaborations with Moginie, Stuart, and Rick Grossman, a friend and bassist for the Hoodoo Gurus. The band members celebrated Grossman's 70th birthday, reflecting on their good fortune and the impact of the music industry's early conditions on their careers. Hirst acknowledges the luck of being surrounded by great collaborators and the timing of their band's success in the 70s and 80s.
'A Hundred Years Or More' by Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, and Hamish Stuart is set for release on November 14, offering a glimpse into the rock legend's enduring spirit and the power of music in the face of adversity.
