Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes was born April, 28 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. His original name was 'James Dixon Swan' and his father was a featherweight boxing champion in Glasgow. In 1961/62 his family moved to Australia. After playing in a school band ( 'Orange') he replaced Bon Scott (who joined AC/DC) as lead vocalist in the band Fraternity.

Then, aged 16 and a half, he joined Cold Chisel in 1973. First they played the pubs of Adelaide, then they played the pubs of Australia and finally they got a record contract in 1976. Now, Cold Chisel are Australian history. One of the best bands Australia ever had. They split up in 1983 because they thought they weren´t playing good music anymore and they didn´t want to rip their fans off with another album. Can you imagine the Rolling Stones splitting up on the peak of their success and telling their fans "Sorry, folks, we´re to bad for you" ??? And I´d say they were playing damn good! Anyway, Jimmy started his solo career and his first album 'Bodyswerve', produced by Mark Opitz, was published in 1984. It included the hit singles 'No Second Price' and 'Daylight' and went straight to number one of the Australian album chart. In 1985 Jimmy recorded a few new songs and recut some of the tracks from 'Bodyswerve' for his American debut 'For The Working Class Man'.

The title track was used for Ron Howard´s movie 'Gung Ho', the album was mixed for American audience and recorded with American musicians. It sold very good in Australia (several times platinum, one of the biggest selling albums down under). In America it didn´t sell at all. In 1987 Jimmy recorded 'Freight Train Heart' and Australia loved it. America, well, maybe the managers of Jimmy´s American record lable were right. If you want to be a rockstar in America, you have to demolish the furniture of every motel you vistit, you have to fuck every groupie you see and you´ve got to beat up a journatist once in a while. And last but not least you´ve got to be nice to Mister Important and tell him that you´ve waited you´re whole life to meet him. What Jimmy did was absolutly wrong. He toured with his family, didn´t break anything in his motel rooms and told Mister Important that he doesn´t know him and that there was no reason for him to changethis fact.

Jimmy left his wild years behind when he left Chisel and married Jane Mahoney (he says she saved his life). He became a responsible family man and in his life was no place for such rockstar nonsense. In other words: 'Freight Train Heart' was a flop in the US. He recorded two songs ('Good Times', 'Laying Down The Law') together with INXS for the 'Lost Boys' soundtrack and in 1988 his first live album 'Barnestorming' was published (and it sold several times platinum down under). Then, in 1990, he recorded 'Two Fires', his fourth studio album. I guess I don´t need to mention that it was a big success down under, do I? In 1991 he recorded a cover album containing his favourite soul classics ('Soul Deep') and in 1992 he went into a studio together with Tina Turner and Diesel to record a great new version of 'The Best'.

In 1993 'Heat' was another brilliant Barnes album that went straight to the number one of the Australian album chart. An acoustic album, called 'Flesh And Wood', was recorded in the same year. On this record Barnes was supported by The Badloves, Joe Cocker, Ross Wilson, Tommy Emmanuel, Diesel , Don Walker, Deborah Conway and Archie Roach. His last album, 'Psyclone', was published in 1995. It contains the song 'Come Undone' that was written by Diesel , Jimmy´s brother in law (he married Janes sister Jep Mahoney). Jimmy recorded a different version of this song with the Dutch band 'The Pilgrims', the new version was published in the Netherlands a few weeks ago.

In 1996  ‘Hits’ was released.

In 1998 Jimmy reunited with his old mates in Cold Chisel to release the highly successful album ‘The Last Wave of Summer’. This was followed by a massive national tour to record breaking crowds.

In 1999 ‘Love and Fear’ with top ten single’???’ was released.

In 2000 Jimmy revisited his soul roots again with ‘Soul Deeper’.

2001 say album ‘Raw’ and ‘Double Jeopardy” released.

An unplugged album ‘Live at the Chapel’ was released in 2002.

In 2003 Jimmy got together Cold Chisel to do a run of shows at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion in June. The shows were filmed and recorded and subsequently an album and DVD were released, followed by an extensive Cold Chisel national concert tour. Also that year Jimmy released a live album recorded at Sydney’s Basement, entitled, ‘Live at the Basement’.

2005 saw Jimmy perform with Cold Chisel at the Tsunami benefit at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. 

2005 also saw the highly successful release of ‘Double Happiness’.
This was a double album of duets with artists such as Roachford, Mica Paris, Dallas Crane, Tina Turner, John Farnham, Joe Cocker, Diesel, The Living End and INXS, amongst others.

For more information on Jimmy, please see the Barnestormers website.

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