Backsliders are a three-piece Australian blues-based band. The most recent lineup consisted of guitarist/vocalist Dom Turner and drummer/percussionist Rob Hirst joined on alternating nights by either Ian Collard or Joe Glover on harmonica.. Following the death of Rob Hirst on 20 January 2026, the line-up changed to include 2 drummers, Rosscoe Clark and Hamish Stuart.

History 1986–2010: Formation In the early 1980s, Dom Turner and harmonica player Rex Hill began gigging around Sydney as an acoustic blues duo. After returning from the United States in 1986, enthused by the idea of blurring the lines between rural and urban blues, Dom began rehearsing a new rural blues band concept with drummer Peter Burgess in duo mode, which moved to the inclusion of Rex Hill on harmonica. The sound drew inspiration from the Mississippi Fred McDowell records where Fred was accompanied by a drummer, or a rural blues version of the sound Beausoleil achieved without bass guitar.

After a short stint of rehearsals, and a run of early local gigs, the newly formed band was offered a live performance at the Sydney Town Hall for radio station 2MBS FM (host to the Stormy Monday blues program) by blues DJ Austin Harrison scheduled for August 1987. The band played in duo mode (Dom and Peter) and directly after the performance was approached by the station label manager with an offer of an album release to be the first blues album on the 2MBS FM music label. The debut album Preaching Blues was released in 1988. The band continued to gig locally in Sydney, particularly around the Balmain/Rozelle area of Sydney including a residency at the Bridge Hotel, Rozelle. In 1989 Rex Hill resigned from the band.

As both Dom and Pete were fans of Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Jim Conway was contacted as replacement for Rex. Jim agreed to join on harmonica (Jim had filled in for a Rex at a number of gigs in late 1988). A follow-up album Sitting on a Million was recorded and released in 1989 and the band quickly moved onto the Australian music festival circuit beginning with the Port Fairy Folk Festival, The East Coast Blues Festival and the Woodford Folk Festival as well as touring Australia, in particular travelling to Melbourne and regional Victoria as a strong live blues music circuit had developed in that region of Australia.

Throughout the 1990s the band continued on the touring circuit as well as playing a number of residency gigs in Sydney, including the Rose Shamrock and Thistle Hotel in Rozelle. The band also took advantage of the various television opportunities available to independent music acts in the 1990s, performing live on a variety of daytime and evening news and variety programs.

After meeting at a 1996 recording session for band The Ghostwriters, Dom became friends with drummer Rob Hirst, who was asked to join Backsliders. A very brief rehearsal followed and Rob and Dom agreed, officially joining in 2000, with the understanding that there were to be some upcoming Midnight Oil commitments. Drummers Angus Diggs and Ashley Davies filled the drum role during Rob's occasional absences. However, with the disbandment of Midnight Oil in 2002, Rob was able to focus on touring, writing and playing with Backsliders. In 2000, drummer Peter Burgess resigned.

In 2006, Jim Conway resigned from the group. Broderick Smith (Dingoes, Big Combo) and Ian Collard (Collard Greens and Gravy) took the harmonica role at alternate gigs. In 2010, Joe Glover (Shelley's Murder Boys) was added to the harmonica team.. Broderick Smith died on 20 April 2023.

2011–present At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, the band was nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album

Their 2020 album, Bonecrunch, was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as "in the hands of these vets the blues element isn’t staid, but is led down different, swampy paths to create something new and, indeed, hopeful."

Hirst died of pancreatic cancer on 20 January 2026."Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil drummer and founding member, dies aged 70", The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2026.

Discography Studio albums Title Details Preaching Blues Released: 1988 Label: MBS Records (BLUES 1) Format: LP, Cassette Sitting on a Million Released: 1989 Label: Sanstock (SSM 038) Format: LP, Cassette Hellhound Released: 1991 Label: Sanstock (SSM 044) Format: LP, CD Hellhound Released: 1995 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS1) Format: CD Poverty Deluxe Released: 1999 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS3) Format: CD Hanoi Released: 2002 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS4) Format: CD Left Field Holler Released: 2007 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS6) Format: CD Starvation Box Released: 2011 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS10) Format: CD, LP, DD Dark Side Released: 2014 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS11) Format: CD, LP, DD Heathen Songbook Released: 2016 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS12) Format: CD, LP, DD Bonecrunch Released: 2020 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS13) Format: CD, LP, DD

Live albums Title Details Live at The Royal Released: 1992 Label: Blues Club Records (bcr 103 cd) Format: CD Live Released: 2005 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS5) Format: CD

Compilation albums Title Details Downtime (A Ten Year Collection) Released: 1998 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS2) Format: CD

Extended plays and singles Title Details Throwbacks Released: 2009 Label: Backsiders, Shock (BS57) Format: CD, DDTaxpayer Blues Released: 2025 Label: Backsiders Format: Digital download, streaming

Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

! |- | 1999 | Poverty Deluxe | Best Blues and Roots Album | | rowspan="3"| ARIA Award previous winners. |- | 2002 | Hanoi | Best Blues and Roots Album

| 2011 | Starvation Box | Best Blues and Roots Album

2002 Rhythms Magazine Readers' Poll 'Blues Album of the Year' 1998 Rhythms Magazine 'Blues Album of the Year' 1995 Blues on Air Magazine 'Best Live Australian Blues Act' 1994 Rolling Stone/Australian Blues Music Awards 'Band of the Year' 1994 Blues on Air Magazine 'Album of the Year' 1994 Rhythms Magazine 'Blues Album of the Year'

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