Jimmy Barnes Age, Height, Wife & Biography

Jimmy Barnes is an Australian singer known as the lead singer of Cold Chisel and for the solo hits Working Class Man, Too Much Ain’t Enough Love and When Something Is Wrong with My Baby with John Farnham. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1956, he has 15 number-one albums in Australia, more than any other artist, and he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017.

Quick Facts

Who Is Jimmy Barnes?

Jimmy Barnes is an Australian singer known as the lead singer of the rock band Cold Chisel and for his solo hits Working Class Man, Too Much Ain’t Enough Love and When Something Is Wrong with My Baby with John Farnham. He is one of Australia’s best-selling artists, with 15 number-one albums in Australia, more than any other artist.

Barnes was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017, and he is the author of the best-selling memoirs Working Class Boy and Working Class Man. He is married to Jane Barnes, and they have four children. He continues to record and tour, both as a solo artist and with Cold Chisel.

Early Life & Background

James Dixon Barnes was born on 28 April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and he emigrated to Australia with his family in 1962, settling in Adelaide, South Australia. He grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth, and he began singing in local bands as a teenager, joining the band Fraternity.

In December 1973 Barnes joined the Australian rock band Cold Chisel as their lead singer, and he remained with the band until they broke up in 1983. The band became one of Australia’s most successful rock bands, with the hit singles Khe Sanh, Flame Trees, Cheap Wine and Bow River.

Career

Barnes became the lead singer of Cold Chisel in 1973, and the band released their debut album in 1978, featuring the hit single Khe Sanh. The band went on to release the albums Breakfast at Sweethearts, East, Circus Animals and Twentieth Century, featuring the singles Cheap Wine, Bow River, You Got Nothing I Want and Flame Trees. Cold Chisel were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1993.

After Cold Chisel broke up in 1983, Barnes began a solo career with the album Bodyswerve in 1984, featuring No Second Prize and Daylight. His second solo album, For the Working Class Man, was released in 1985 and featured the hit single Working Class Man, which became his signature song. His third album, Freight Train Heart, was released in 1987 and featured the number one single Too Much Ain’t Enough Love.

Barnes followed Freight Train Heart with Two Fires in 1990, featuring Lay Down Your Guns, and Soul Deep in 1991, an album of soul covers featuring his duet with John Farnham, When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, which reached number three in Australia. His later albums include Flesh and Wood, Psyclone, Love and Fear, Double Happiness, Out in the Blue, The Rhythm and the Blues, Rage and Ruin, 30:30 Hindsight, Soul Searchin’, My Criminal Record and Flesh and Blood in 2021. He is also the author of the best-selling memoirs Working Class Boy and Working Class Man.

Facts About Jimmy Barnes

• He has 15 number-one albums in Australia, more than any other artist.
• Working Class Man is his signature song.
• Too Much Ain’t Enough Love topped the chart in Australia.
• He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017.
• Cold Chisel were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1993.

Frequently Asked Questions