Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes is an Australian rock singer and songwriter, known as the frontman of Cold Chisel. He is associated with hard rock, rock and soul, and has also been part of Fraternity, INXS, Living Loud and The Barnestormers.

Early life and Cold Chisel

Born James Dixon Swan in Glasgow in 1956, Barnes moves to Australia with his family when he is six years old. He joins Cold Chisel in 1973 and records seven albums with the band between 1978 and 1983. He first comes to public attention through the group’s Australian pub-rock profile.

Solo career

After Cold Chisel splits in 1983, Barnes begins a solo career almost immediately. His first solo album, Bodyswerve, reaches number one in Australia. This starts a run in which each of his first six solo albums enters the Australian charts at number one. His album Double Happiness also reaches number one, making it his seventh album to do so.

Work with INXS

In 1986 Barnes records two singles with INXS: a cover of The Easybeats’ “Good Times”, on which he sings with Michael Hutchence, and “Laying Down the Law”, which he co-writes with Andrew Farriss and Hutchence. “Good Times” is used as the theme song for the Australia Made concert series, and both tracks later appear on the soundtrack of The Lost Boys. After Hutchence’s death, Barnes appears live with INXS at shows around Australia between 1999 and 2001.

Recognition

Barnes is inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 for his solo work. Together with Cold Chisel’s earlier induction, he becomes the only artist to be inducted into the Hall of Fame twice.

Family

He is the father of singer David Campbell, who performs with him on Double Happiness on the duet “Wichita Lineman”.