'The timing couldn't be worse': Jimmy Barnes forced to cancel ...

“I’m sorry to let you know that I’ve been receiving intravenous antibiotics over the last 36 hours to treat bacterial pneumonia,” Barnes wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, this has stopped me travelling to Noumea to join Rock The Boat 2023 as planned. My band will still perform on board, together with my daughter Mahalia and other special guests.”

Jimmy Barnes hospitalisation Cold Chisel and solo Australian music legend Jimmy Barnes has cancelled his Rock The Boats appearance His band, featuring Mahalia, will still play despite his hospitalisation after developing bacterial pneumonia He’s expected to make a full recovery in time for By The C in Torquay

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Barnes confirmed that he expects to make a full recovery and still intends to perform at the upcoming By The C festival in Torquay.

“I’d like to apologise sincerely to everyone for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused, but the doctors have confined me to bed for 2 days. The timing couldn’t be worse. I’m expected to make a full recovery in time to perform live at By The C in Torquay.”

Barnes’ rise to Australian music stardom

James Dixon Barnes AO, better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer who has made a significant impact on the music industry. Born on 28 April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, Barnes relocated to Australia with his family when he was just six years old. His career, both as a solo performer and as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel, has established him as one of the most popular and best-selling Australian music artists of all time.

Barnes was born James Dixon Swan in the Cowcaddens area of Glasgow. He is the son of Dorothy and Jim Swan, a prizefighter. His older brother, John, also later became a singer under the name Swanee. John encouraged and taught Barnes how to sing, as he was not initially interested. He and his family moved to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1961 as part of the “Ten Pound Poms” immigration scheme.

How Barnes overcame a history of personal struggles

Barnes’ career took off in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel. The band achieved significant success in Australia with their pub rock style. They released several hit albums, including “East” and “Circus Animals”, and had a string of successful singles like “Khe Sanh” and “Flame Trees”.

After Cold Chisel disbanded in 1983, Barnes embarked on a solo career and released his debut album “Bodyswerve” in September 1984, which topped the Australian Album charts. He continued to enjoy success throughout the 1980s and 1990s with hit albums like “For the Working Class Man” and “Freight Train Heart”.

Barnes has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health. He has published several autobiographies, including “Working Class Boy” and “Working Class Man”, where he candidly discusses these issues. He is married to Jane Mahoney, and they have four children, all of whom have followed their father into the music industry.

Barnes’ contribution to the Australian music scene has been significant. His powerful, distinctive voice and energetic performances have endeared him to fans across generations. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005, both as a solo artist and as a member of Cold Chisel. Today, he continues to perform and record new music, cementing his place as a true icon of Australian rock and roll.

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