Midnight OilRob Hirst’s legacy doesn’t just live on through Midnight Oil’s incredible music; it extends to books.
In 2003, Hirst’s book Willie’s Bar & Grill was published, in which he recounted his experience touring the US following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and he was also a magazine contributor.
Now, Midnight Oil have confirmed that a final book by their beloved drummer, World is Almost at Peace, where he opens up about “a lifetime of songwriting” for the band and other projects, will be released this year.
“From the driving beat of Midnight Oil to his final written words,” the band wrote in a social media post this morning (19 June). “Pantera Press and Hardie Grant Books are thrilled to announce the publication of legendary Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst’s final book, World is Almost at Peace: A Lifetime of Songwriting for Midnight Oil and More.”
For nearly five decades, Hirst wrote and co-wrote some of Midnight Oil’s best-known songs, including Beds Are Burning, The Dead Heart, Read About It, Best of Both Worlds, Forgotten Years, King of the Mountain, and Kosciusko, to name a few.
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And in the soon-to-be-released book, Hirst opens up about his songwriting process with bandmates Peter Garrett and Jim Moginie for the first time. He breaks down the songs, line by line, providing unique insight into how some of the most loved songs in Australian music history were made.
Additionally, the book includes Hirst’s entire lyric catalogue from his many musical collaborations. It features early scribbles and unseen photos, as well as behind-the-scenes stories about the songs.
The synopsis concludes, “From activist anthems through to the intimacy of his later works, Rob Hirst was one of our greatest wordsmiths, the singing drummer whose lyrics helped shape the soundtrack to this nation.”
World is Almost at Peace will be released on Monday, 26 June, via Hardie Grant Books and Pantera Press. You can pre-order your copy here.
Rob Hirst passed away in January at age 70.
His bandmates confirmed the news, three years after the legendary drummer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “After fighting heroically for almost three years, Rob is now free of pain - ‘a glimmer of tiny light in the wilderness’,” the band said.
“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.”
Artists including Powderfinger, Regurgitator, Dallas Frasca, Jimmy Barnes, Tasman Keith, The Living End’s Chris Cheney, and Hirst’s daughter and singer Jay O’Shea all left touching tributes following his passing.
