Percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter and producer, born 3 September 1955 in Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
He started drumming when he was 7, and got his first kit at 15. He and Jim Moginie began playing together, and formed the band known as
Schwampy Moose. In 1972 he formed
Farm, with Jim Moginie, Andrew Bear James. In 1976, with the addition of Martin Rotsey and Peter Garrett,
Farm was renamed into
Midnight Oil.
His other side projects include
Ghostwriters, who have released three albums and a number of singles. Other projects include
Hirst & Greene (with Peter Greene),
Angry Tradesmen (with Dom Turner) and
Backsliders (with Dom Turner and Jim Conway)
He has also worked with Charlie McMahon (Didgeridoo player) on the
Gondwanaland Project, and co-wrote the Australian Olympic song for 1988.
Father of
Lex Hirst,
Gabriella Hirst and Jay O'Shea