The messages coming from the stage were, in part, crafted by Hirst. While I have played in bands where my role was strictly to play the drums, my favorite situations were ones where those in which I could write lyrics, help craft the songs, and have a voice in arranging them. Hirst was doing all of that in a band that had found worldwide success singing about politics from an unabashedly left"'wing perspective.
A Voice Beyond the Kit
The place where we diverged was in Hirst's ability to sing. While there are times when I have stepped out from behind my kit to take my turn at the vocal mic, my delivery was more spoken-word than melodic. Hirst could sing and was the lead vocalist on some songs, including "When the Generals Talk."
More important was the way Hirst's backing vocals influenced the sound of the band. Much like how Michael Anthony's voice gave Van Halen its vocal identity, Hirst's voice laid the foundation for Garrett. Midnight Oil would not have sounded like Midnight Oil without him.
The Last Time I Heard Him Live
Looking back on that night at the Palladium in Hollywood, it is hard to believe that it will be the last time I will ever hear Hirst's voice live. It was powerful, conviction-driven, and alive, and now it has fallen silent. I am grateful that we took the chance to hear it one last time, even if it ended with me contracting COVID.
Though Hirst is gone, the message he lived by continues. That night, as with every Midnight Oil show, was a call to action. With the title of their final album, Hirst and his bandmates left us with one last command: "Resist."
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections at TheDifrntDrmr.
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