Rock legend Jimmy Barnes has confirmed the release of his sixth book, Highways And Byways: Tall Tales And Short Stories From The Long Way Round, following time off recovering from recent surgery.
The former Cold Chisel frontman cancelled two months’ worth of shows in August due to “unbearable pain,” with doctors advising urgent surgery.
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Now back home with his family and recovering, he is set to share more of his life experiences with readers.
In Highways And Byways, Barnes shares stories ranging from a 1970s Texas concert featuring an iconic line-up of US musicians to heart-pounding escapades in a Hawaiian high-rise.
He also explores family secrets uncovered in Glasgow and encounters with a colourful cast of characters, including both endearing and not-so-pleasant superstars.
As he navigates these tales, Barnes confronts his own mortality and reflects on the lighter side of hospital medication.
“I started writing in 2016 to share my story and make sense of things,” Barnes said.
“I can hardly believe I’m now publishing my sixth book. Each memory that resurfaces helps me learn and grow, shining a light on the darker times in my life.”
The book will be available across Australia from Wednesday, October 16, at a cost of $45.
It comes more than a month after the Working Class Man singer required surgery after noticing a pain in his hip during a trip to perform in New Zealand.
“I’ve got some bad news, unfortunately,” Barnes said in a Facebook post on August 3.
“I had a twinge in my hip when I was leaving Dunedin on Thursday morning and by late last night the pain was unbearable so I went off to hospital.
“The doctors have recommended a remedial medical procedure ASAP followed by some physio to address the issue. These doctors don’t muck around!
“Providing all goes to plan, I’m expected to make a full recovery in six weeks.
“However, as a result of this unexpected surgery, my August and September solo shows will all be impacted.
“Ticket-holders will be contacted with further info in the coming days once we have new plans in place.
“As you know, I hate to let anyone down but I’m also never going to compromise the quality of my gigs. I apologise for the inconvenience this will cause everyone — I HATE moving shows! — but thank you for understanding.”
Before the surprise surgery, Barnes appeared to be back to his besthealth — posting regular exercise images and videos — following open-heart surgery in 2023 when, in December, he revealed a bacterial infection he’d been fighting had spread to his heart.
“Despite everyone’s best efforts, the bacterial infection I’ve been battling over the last fortnight has apparently now spread to my heart,” Barnes said at the time.
“It’s infected an otherwise healthy valve that was replaced some years ago due to a congenital defect, so I’ll be getting open-heart surgery over the next few hours to clear out this infection and put in a clean valve.
“Obviously, this is going to take me out of action for a while. I know lots of other people are battling even worse things, but it still feels hugely frustrating.”