The Little Guide to Jimmy Barnes

Electronic book text

Working Class Man

The big life of one of Australia's best loved larrikins.

Born James Swan to a prize-fighting father and stoic mother we follow his journey from Glasgow to Adelaide, to a new name, and a calling to sing... that became the soundtrack to a nation's lives.

Jimmy Barnes is a creative powerhouse, iconic live performer and legendary hell-raiser. With the most number No.1 albums in Australia; it's been hit after hit for 40 years, and he's still somehow alive to tell the tale.

In his own words Jimmy Barnes charts his course through growing up, the Cold Chisel years, his solo career, writing, marriage, family and the peace he has made with it all. An inspiring collection of quotes from a natural storyteller.

"The first show we did was the Polish club in Adelaide. We had about 6 songs. We needed 10 or 12... so, we repeated the set twice."

Jimmy Barnes, in an interview with Bernard Zuel in 2015

"I lived for two years in Sydney with a kit bag with my leather jacket, some T-shirts and a couple of cassettes... Chisel didn't make any money: I got tired of the battle. We were fighting... I thought, fuck it, I'll start my own band."

Jimmy Barnes, talking to Rolling Stone in 2016, about the decision to go solo