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Working Class Boy #2
Working Class Man
THE SEQUEL TO THE NUMBER 1 BESTSELLER WORKING CLASS BOY It's a life too big and a story too extraordinary for just one book. Jimmy Barnes has lived many lives - from Glaswegian migrant kid to iconic front man, from solo superstar to proud father of his own musical clan. In this hugely anticipated sequel to his critically acclaimed bestseller, Working Class Boy, Jimmy picks up the story of his life as he leaves Adelaide in the back of an old truck with a then unknown band called Cold Chisel. A spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction; this self-penned memoir reveals how Jimmy Barnes used the fuel of childhood trauma to ignite and propel Australia's greatest rock'n'roll story. But beyond the combustible merry-go-round of fame, drugs and rehab, across the Cold Chisel, solo and soul years - this is a story about how it's never too late to try and put things right.
505 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
June 28, 2021
Working Class Man is the second volume of Jimmy Barnes' autobiography. The first volume covered off Jimmy's childhood, up until the age of 16 when he started to find his way into the music industry.
This time we take up Jimmy's story as he starts out in the legendary Australian band, Cold Chisel. The book follows Jimmy's path through Chisel, into his solo career, and then back with Chisel again. He introduces us to his family as it grows, his wife Jane always by his side. As for his music career, there is not really anything that isn't already known. It is his personal life, away from the band, the music, his family, and the spotlight where this book really hits home.
Anybody who has seen a Cold Chisel show, especially those of the late 70s and early 80s, would know that Jimmy was a heavy drinker. Standing up there screaming his heart out, usually with a bottle of vodka either in his hand or on Don Walker's keyboard. Jimmy knocked off the bottle during the show but there was more downed before and after. But it is the story of the drugs that are really eye-opening. Along with his alcohol addiction, Jim smashed down many drugs over many years to the point where he almost died one day in a gutter in Sydney. In fact, pretty much this whole book surrounds Jim's open confessions to his hard-living lifestyle and his deep shame that it and his poor childhood have brought him.
Jim doesn't skirt the issue, he lays it out there. His life was one of a partying rock star that took no shit, listened to very few people, never sought help and fought with many. A very sad read in parts, Jim's shame and pain is laid bare but then there are also so many friends that he has lost over the journey and you can see the way it hit him. Steve Prestwich from Cold Chisel, Michael Hutchence of INXS, roadies, Bon Scott of AC/DC, family members, managers and lately Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Records.
This bio is so much more than an inflated egotistical "look at me, I'm a God" type read that are common within this field. Actually, it glorifies nothing. Jim speaks candidly about how smashed and pissed off he was even at the height of both his solo career and his career with Cold Chisel.
This time we take up Jimmy's story as he starts out in the legendary Australian band, Cold Chisel. The book follows Jimmy's path through Chisel, into his solo career, and then back with Chisel again. He introduces us to his family as it grows, his wife Jane always by his side. As for his music career, there is not really anything that isn't already known. It is his personal life, away from the band, the music, his family, and the spotlight where this book really hits home.
Anybody who has seen a Cold Chisel show, especially those of the late 70s and early 80s, would know that Jimmy was a heavy drinker. Standing up there screaming his heart out, usually with a bottle of vodka either in his hand or on Don Walker's keyboard. Jimmy knocked off the bottle during the show but there was more downed before and after. But it is the story of the drugs that are really eye-opening. Along with his alcohol addiction, Jim smashed down many drugs over many years to the point where he almost died one day in a gutter in Sydney. In fact, pretty much this whole book surrounds Jim's open confessions to his hard-living lifestyle and his deep shame that it and his poor childhood have brought him.
Jim doesn't skirt the issue, he lays it out there. His life was one of a partying rock star that took no shit, listened to very few people, never sought help and fought with many. A very sad read in parts, Jim's shame and pain is laid bare but then there are also so many friends that he has lost over the journey and you can see the way it hit him. Steve Prestwich from Cold Chisel, Michael Hutchence of INXS, roadies, Bon Scott of AC/DC, family members, managers and lately Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Records.
This bio is so much more than an inflated egotistical "look at me, I'm a God" type read that are common within this field. Actually, it glorifies nothing. Jim speaks candidly about how smashed and pissed off he was even at the height of both his solo career and his career with Cold Chisel.
October 10, 2020
Oh Jimmy, how are you still alive? That rock n roll lifestyle 😲 This book was fascinating and entertaining. The love for his family is beautiful. Looking forward to reading the new one
April 21, 2018
“It doesn’t matter if the house is empty or packed, you play every show like it is your last.”
When you’ve lived a life as wild and self-destructive as Jimmy Barnes, that’s a good motto to live by. Jimmy is definitely a survivor and Working Class Man is as much a survival story, as it is typical rock memoir. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy read when it began with hotel room suicide-contemplation.
I enjoyed Working Class Man more than Jimmy’s first memoir, Working Class Boy - I think having the music backdrop helped hold my interest. Despite this, there were still many aspects of the book I found tiresome.
Working Class Boy felt really soul-baring and brutally heartfelt, while Working Class Man often feels like it just skims the surface. There’s a little too much: “…eventually I walked out of Cold Chisel, for a number of reasons. Some I’ll tell you about and some, well, they just aren’t anybody else’s business.” People didn’t pay $35 to have you mention you have a juicy bit of goss or integral part of a story, only to then cruelly deny it to them! Jimmy is also incredibly vague or leaves people’s names out altogether: “I spent my time between the hospital and the hotel, supposedly writing songs with the American songwriter.” He’ll also refer to band members not by name, but “the guitarist” etc. Was this due to legal issues? Drug-fuelled amnesia?
“Recording seemed to be a lot about sitting around waiting for shit to happen.”
The first part of the book seemed a lot like that too. An endless cycle of drink, drink, drunk, fight, blood, “I’m an animal”. A bit too much “I will tell you about that later. I don’t think you’re ready for it yet.” – yes I was Jimmy! Because for such an energetic and live band, the first half of the book was incredibly slow!
Jimmy does know how to write a good story though – after all, he’s drank in enough pubs around the world to learn how to tell a good yarn. Occasional short chapters give the feeling that you’re sitting at a bar with Jimmy as he randomly spouts off wild tales from the past. The book grows on you despite its slow start – even if I wasn’t loving it at times, I had difficulty putting it down.
An element of Working Class Boy that was tiring was all the violence and fighting – it’s heavily saturated throughout Working Class Man too. It’s the way Jimmy writes about it which gets tiresome; like a bogan bragging about fights, ‘toughness’ and violence. It’s an element that perfectly fits with all the stories my old drum teacher told me as a kid (he played with Jimmy and said he would regularly bash up all the band members). Another thing which echoed my drum teacher’s stories was the recurring theme of Jimmy yelling abuse at his bands: “Faster! Louder!"
“I would go out for a drink and not come home for days.”
2-3 bottles of vodka and over 10 grams of cocaine daily. Jimmy’s drug use, ‘morning routine’ and ‘breakfast’ as described in Chapter 41 was incredible and dramatically stands out even among the dozens of drug-fuelled rock memoirs I’ve read. His fall from grace was astounding, especially around 2000 – I had no idea it got so bad he apologised one night and walked off in disgrace, unable to sing anymore.
Revelations that he was very high and drunk during his Sydney Olympics performance were not surprising given other book details, but nevertheless an amazing story – sharing a dressing room with old Slim Dusty definitely provided a few laughs! Those laughs were much needed in a book that revolved around addiction and depression. The disastrous US tour was another hilarious chapter; “Every town felt like we were in Butt Fuck, Idaho”. It often sounded like something straight of Spinal Tap! The irritating American label reps even provided the inspiration for “You Got Nothing I Want”!
For a ‘rock memoir’ it was often light-on in regards to songwriting details and inspiration (something I often enjoy reading); I had no idea “Working Class Man”, an Australian anthem, was just handed to Jimmy while in the US, having been written by the bloke out of Journey. It became evident that once Jimmy went solo, he turned into a slightly manufactured pop star.
Jane (Jimmy’s wife) deserves a medal for putting up with Jimmy over the years and reading about the life-changing moment they met was really sweet and heartfelt. Other welcome heartfelt moments were: the ‘Aboriginal Angel’ who saved Jimmy’s life from a heroin overdose in Kings Cross, Jimmy helping feed a broke Aussie guy while busking in France and my favourite, the chapter solely dedicated to Jimmy’s love for dogs!
Working Class Man finishes strongly, with not only numerous ‘paternity tests’ and comebacks, but Jimmy’s ultimate redemption and sobriety. I couldn’t put the book down. The final chapter was quite unexpectedly emotional, involving a lot of closure for Jimmy (his family) and those childhood demons – which rounded out the two books well.
Jimmy has certainly endured a wild journey – and overcame his demons along the way. The result is 2 bestselling memoirs. For an abused kid from a rough neighbourhood, that’s a bloody great effort. Well done Jimmy and thanks for sharing your life with us!
When you’ve lived a life as wild and self-destructive as Jimmy Barnes, that’s a good motto to live by. Jimmy is definitely a survivor and Working Class Man is as much a survival story, as it is typical rock memoir. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy read when it began with hotel room suicide-contemplation.
I enjoyed Working Class Man more than Jimmy’s first memoir, Working Class Boy - I think having the music backdrop helped hold my interest. Despite this, there were still many aspects of the book I found tiresome.
Working Class Boy felt really soul-baring and brutally heartfelt, while Working Class Man often feels like it just skims the surface. There’s a little too much: “…eventually I walked out of Cold Chisel, for a number of reasons. Some I’ll tell you about and some, well, they just aren’t anybody else’s business.” People didn’t pay $35 to have you mention you have a juicy bit of goss or integral part of a story, only to then cruelly deny it to them! Jimmy is also incredibly vague or leaves people’s names out altogether: “I spent my time between the hospital and the hotel, supposedly writing songs with the American songwriter.” He’ll also refer to band members not by name, but “the guitarist” etc. Was this due to legal issues? Drug-fuelled amnesia?
“Recording seemed to be a lot about sitting around waiting for shit to happen.”
The first part of the book seemed a lot like that too. An endless cycle of drink, drink, drunk, fight, blood, “I’m an animal”. A bit too much “I will tell you about that later. I don’t think you’re ready for it yet.” – yes I was Jimmy! Because for such an energetic and live band, the first half of the book was incredibly slow!
Jimmy does know how to write a good story though – after all, he’s drank in enough pubs around the world to learn how to tell a good yarn. Occasional short chapters give the feeling that you’re sitting at a bar with Jimmy as he randomly spouts off wild tales from the past. The book grows on you despite its slow start – even if I wasn’t loving it at times, I had difficulty putting it down.
An element of Working Class Boy that was tiring was all the violence and fighting – it’s heavily saturated throughout Working Class Man too. It’s the way Jimmy writes about it which gets tiresome; like a bogan bragging about fights, ‘toughness’ and violence. It’s an element that perfectly fits with all the stories my old drum teacher told me as a kid (he played with Jimmy and said he would regularly bash up all the band members). Another thing which echoed my drum teacher’s stories was the recurring theme of Jimmy yelling abuse at his bands: “Faster! Louder!"
“I would go out for a drink and not come home for days.”
2-3 bottles of vodka and over 10 grams of cocaine daily. Jimmy’s drug use, ‘morning routine’ and ‘breakfast’ as described in Chapter 41 was incredible and dramatically stands out even among the dozens of drug-fuelled rock memoirs I’ve read. His fall from grace was astounding, especially around 2000 – I had no idea it got so bad he apologised one night and walked off in disgrace, unable to sing anymore.
Revelations that he was very high and drunk during his Sydney Olympics performance were not surprising given other book details, but nevertheless an amazing story – sharing a dressing room with old Slim Dusty definitely provided a few laughs! Those laughs were much needed in a book that revolved around addiction and depression. The disastrous US tour was another hilarious chapter; “Every town felt like we were in Butt Fuck, Idaho”. It often sounded like something straight of Spinal Tap! The irritating American label reps even provided the inspiration for “You Got Nothing I Want”!
For a ‘rock memoir’ it was often light-on in regards to songwriting details and inspiration (something I often enjoy reading); I had no idea “Working Class Man”, an Australian anthem, was just handed to Jimmy while in the US, having been written by the bloke out of Journey. It became evident that once Jimmy went solo, he turned into a slightly manufactured pop star.
Jane (Jimmy’s wife) deserves a medal for putting up with Jimmy over the years and reading about the life-changing moment they met was really sweet and heartfelt. Other welcome heartfelt moments were: the ‘Aboriginal Angel’ who saved Jimmy’s life from a heroin overdose in Kings Cross, Jimmy helping feed a broke Aussie guy while busking in France and my favourite, the chapter solely dedicated to Jimmy’s love for dogs!
Working Class Man finishes strongly, with not only numerous ‘paternity tests’ and comebacks, but Jimmy’s ultimate redemption and sobriety. I couldn’t put the book down. The final chapter was quite unexpectedly emotional, involving a lot of closure for Jimmy (his family) and those childhood demons – which rounded out the two books well.
Jimmy has certainly endured a wild journey – and overcame his demons along the way. The result is 2 bestselling memoirs. For an abused kid from a rough neighbourhood, that’s a bloody great effort. Well done Jimmy and thanks for sharing your life with us!
February 3, 2018
There are a lot of drugs in this book. Also lots of gig anecdotes, and many characters introduced with a quick positive description and genuine warmth. Unfortunately, there is less insight, and well, point. I'm probably being a little hard on the book here, given the expectations set by the rawness and power of Barnes' first instalment. In retrospect, the second instalment is a much harder proposition. Barnes can see the child he was a victim now, and it is socially acceptable for him to tell that story. But in this sequel - the one where the price of that childhood is exacted on Barnes, on people around him, on all of us - Barnes can't quite forgive himself. This biography looks squarely in the face of what his life has been (in much-repeated detail) but it can't look at what that means (although it also skims over how Barnes cooperated with biographers and writers who told a different version of his life at the time). Barnes is desperate not to write a memoir that denies his personal responsibility (and if he did, he'd probably have been lynched) but neither can you explain this as just personal failing, so the book is stuck in recollection without constructed meaning. The emotion that fuelled Working Class Boy is tied in agonised knots. And unless you are a Chisel or Barnes fan, or after recording industry anecdotes, it is pretty hard going.
For me, perhaps the most interesting part is simply how much Barnes' story challenges our usual narrative of drug use. Clearly, Barnes has had a very unhappy life, and clearly his drug use created problems for those around him. Nevertheless, it would be hard to argue he hasn't been enormously productive for decades despite carrying horrendous levels of drug abuse. He built and maintained strong and loving relationships while getting blasted. If only we were prepared to admit that drug users, in general, are not criminals or even necessarily an economic drain, we might achieve a saner, more sensible approach to reducing the harm caused by drug abuse, and get decent psychological help to those who need it.
For me, perhaps the most interesting part is simply how much Barnes' story challenges our usual narrative of drug use. Clearly, Barnes has had a very unhappy life, and clearly his drug use created problems for those around him. Nevertheless, it would be hard to argue he hasn't been enormously productive for decades despite carrying horrendous levels of drug abuse. He built and maintained strong and loving relationships while getting blasted. If only we were prepared to admit that drug users, in general, are not criminals or even necessarily an economic drain, we might achieve a saner, more sensible approach to reducing the harm caused by drug abuse, and get decent psychological help to those who need it.
December 11, 2017
When I saw that Jimmy Barnes was coming to Bathurst to promote his new book, the sequel to 'Working Class Boy' I was overjoyed- and then I looked at the times 5.30PM-7PM. I worked until at least 6.15- would I make it? Would I wait in line forever only to be disappointed? But I wasn't! The staff at Booksplus spotted me waiting and came for a chat, the line moved smoothly and before I knew it I was standing in front of the man himself. I always get tonguetied when I'm nervous, so all I could do was nod and squeak while he signed my books, and then finally blurted 'DO YOU MIND IF I PUT THIS PICTURE ON GOODREADS' and of course he and his team said go for it, the more publicity the better and here we are.
Yes, I look like a complete goober. But still. JIMMY BARNES.
So then, the book? Well of course I loved it! I loved the first book, so much so that I bought the audio book of it that night so my BF could listen to it too. This book continues on with Jimmy's controversial life, and his battles with substance abuse and perhaps depression, although the word is never actually used. I found the rock scene fascinating, and the glimpse into his life enthralling. Like it's predecessor, this book is deeply moving and personal. At just under 500 pages it's no slouch, and I freely admit to locking myself in my bedroom with a cup of tea to concentrate and finish this in one go- otherwise I may have been scared off, or not appreciated the story all the way through.
I did hear that Jimmy has finished his book tour and is taking a family holiday, but plenty of shops still have signed copies, or just plain copies too. This set was a great undertaking, but I'm glad Jimmy shared with us so much because the books are brilliant. Five stars? You know it!
Yes, I look like a complete goober. But still. JIMMY BARNES.
So then, the book? Well of course I loved it! I loved the first book, so much so that I bought the audio book of it that night so my BF could listen to it too. This book continues on with Jimmy's controversial life, and his battles with substance abuse and perhaps depression, although the word is never actually used. I found the rock scene fascinating, and the glimpse into his life enthralling. Like it's predecessor, this book is deeply moving and personal. At just under 500 pages it's no slouch, and I freely admit to locking myself in my bedroom with a cup of tea to concentrate and finish this in one go- otherwise I may have been scared off, or not appreciated the story all the way through.
I did hear that Jimmy has finished his book tour and is taking a family holiday, but plenty of shops still have signed copies, or just plain copies too. This set was a great undertaking, but I'm glad Jimmy shared with us so much because the books are brilliant. Five stars? You know it!
October 31, 2017
I like your old stuff better than your new stuff.
Reading Working Class Boy was like a ride on a dt 250 through the scrub, flat chat no helmet. Harrowing, haunting and heroic. I loved it.
The Man book was going to get two stars from me until I got three quarters through. It reads like many rock autobiographies; ‘Up and down like the Assyrian empire’ sums it up. What saves it is the insight in the last section of the book. It’s a bit of a slog to get there but it’s worth it in the end.
Reading Working Class Boy was like a ride on a dt 250 through the scrub, flat chat no helmet. Harrowing, haunting and heroic. I loved it.
The Man book was going to get two stars from me until I got three quarters through. It reads like many rock autobiographies; ‘Up and down like the Assyrian empire’ sums it up. What saves it is the insight in the last section of the book. It’s a bit of a slog to get there but it’s worth it in the end.
April 27, 2021
I really loved this raw and honest version of Jimmy Barnes life. I listened to the audio version narrated by Jimmy himself which I’m sure made me love it so much more. It’s hard to believe that he’s still alive after all he has put himself through. This was entertaining from start to finish and I loved the whole thing. I’m just so glad that he’s still here to tell his story.
May 18, 2019
I listened to the audiobook and I’m so glad I did, I think listening to Jimmy narrate his own memoir made it so much more fun and more memorable. I have always been a fan of Cold Chisel/Jimmy Barnes. You rock, Jimmy!
June 10, 2018
“I was drinking two, three bottles of vodka every day. The booze would stop me stressing out about the amount of cocaine I was consuming. I would buy ten grams of coke a day, sometimes more.”
So says Barnes summing up the extent of excess during one of his lowest points, and not only that on top of this he would shovel ecstasy, ketamine, cannabis and LSD into the mix, and he was no young man either, he was doing this whilst deep into his forties, so it was no wonder he eventually had to undergo open heart surgery and incredible that he came out of the other side too.
So let’s be honest when you enjoy the level of sustained success that Jimmy Barnes has throughout Australia and New Zealand, when you eventually get round to writing your autobiography it’s gonna sell, which is why the publishers have managed to squeeze out two volumes so far... I thought “Working Class Boy” was an enjoyable read, but this seems to fall a little flat in comparison.
With this being Barnes there is no lack of drama or near misses, like narrowly avoiding being blown up by a bomb in Bangkok. He has many random stories, particularly from the bloated American music scene that involve a whole cast of two faced, back stabbing, disingenuous, ignorant and obnoxious people, but good on him for sticking up for himself repeatedly when facing up to their BS, racism and other forms of abuse hidden under the banner of ‘the record industry’.
He tells of some surreal encounters like getting a visit from Eddie Van Halen, who wanted him to audition for his new band. We hear about his many personal struggles, from his absent father and trying to please his almost impossible mum, to his premature babies. We hear how he suffered for his incredibly naïve trust in others dealing with his money, being let down and betrayed, so that in spite of his phenomenal commercial success in the Antipodes he went bankrupt and had to sell his house and possessions and had to relocate to the south of France for a number of years.
It’s interesting when he talks about the monopolies held by a few, select agencies who had a virtual stranglehold over almost all live venues throughout Australia in the early days. “It wasn’t unusual for a band to sell $5000 worth of tickets and fill a pub with drinkers but still only get paid $750. That fee had to cover PA/lighting costs, crew wages, travel and commissions before the musicians received their first dollar.”
This book was a mixed bag, I soon got tired of the relentless feed of drinking, drug taking, and macho posturing. It just gets boring and descends into a self-parody worthy of Spinal Tap. It’s not as if the content is saved by the writing, but then I understand that most people are not picking up a Jimmy Barnes bio and expecting great writing, but this is where the editorial process should have taken more prominence. You wouldn’t get an inexperienced copy editor or literary agent going into a recording studio to record an album with minimal input and supervision from professional musicians and expect a positive outcome?...So why would any sane thinking person think it would be any different to do it the other way round?...
Barnes and more importantly his publishers know his audience and most of them will be happy enough with this, there is a lot of cringe worthy humour that you can see coming a long way off, and after a while that gets tiresome and often it can feel like being trapped by the pub bore. But there are strong and moving movements scattered throughout the book, but overall it seems that the quality control aspect has been thrown to the wind. This had its interesting moments, but I found it to be a disappointing and fairly mediocre biography.
January 19, 2018
Thanx, it’s all I can say.
Parallels that scare me, but for the fact you’re talented Jimmy & I am a mere fan.
We say: “but for the grace of god, go I “
Your story hits home with its truth and honesty - and because I can feel it
Parallels that scare me, but for the fact you’re talented Jimmy & I am a mere fan.
We say: “but for the grace of god, go I “
Your story hits home with its truth and honesty - and because I can feel it
January 24, 2018
What a fantastic story. Thankyou Jimmy for sharing with us. It would not have been easy but the love of your beautiful family got you through it.
February 15, 2021
Not exactly a review but man I hated this one so much, sorry Jimmy 🤣
March 6, 2020
Having thoroughly enjoyed (if that’s the right word) Barnes first book of his childhood , I was captivated to see how the rest of his life panned out. As an Australian and fan of his music I witnessed his adult/music life in the spotlight but this book goes into the reality behind the star rockers life. The story doesn’t have the same emotion as his first book. There are a lot more anecdotes shared around the music producing process, lots of names and lots of drugs. It’s all quite repetitive and probably only of great interest to true music historians. There wasn’t enough depth to the anecdotes for me. Nothing really on why he continually turned to alcohol and drugs at such an extreme level - I know his childhood was horrific and set the scene for how his life panned out - but I still couldn’t quite understand the level of delinquency...and maybe that’s just because I’m not really an addict... but I wished the writing could of given me an answer. What is truly amazing about this book is the transformation that Barnes makes - and the incredible enduring love he has for his wife who stuck with him when most people wouldn’t of. An incredible love story! And of course he acknowledges the sheer luck he had to survive a drug fueled life. I couldn’t believe that luck either !
October 4, 2021
A well told, easy to read, memoir of famous hard rock singer, Jimmy Barnes's eventful life from age seventeen to the year 2016, aged 60. Jimmy Barnes writes about his music career, as leader singer with the hard rock band, Cold Chisel, his successful solo career, how he worked too hard, drank too much alcohol, took too many drugs, was in too many fights, had sex with too many young women and spent too much money. Fortunately he was lucky in meeting and marrying his wife, Jane. He writes about how much he loves and is grateful for his wife, children and his dogs. Even though he was very successful for a long time, he got into financial difficulties and had to sell his huge house in Australia. He moved to France with his wife and children for some time. He was able to quit alcohol and drugs for some years but unfortunately not forever. He had a heart operation. The writing of his first memoir, 'Working Class Boy' was very therapeutic for Jimmy and helped him quit his drug habits.
A very interesting, worthwhile reading experience. This book was first published in 2017.
A very interesting, worthwhile reading experience. This book was first published in 2017.
August 5, 2018
How is Jimmy still alive? Another cracking read from Barnsie. Starting where Working Class Boy left off, here is more familiar territory - Cold Chisel, solo success, hard times and health woes. Chisel was - and remains - one of my favourite Aussie bands so I thoroughly enjoyed reading about those days. And, like a lot of Chisel fans, we followed Barnsie into solo land. And it’s many ups and downs. It was great reading about all the moments behind the scenes but again, how is he alive!!! That floors me. The other thing to add after reading this: Jane Barnes is a legend. How did she do it? My hat off to her and the whole Barnes clan. If you love your Aussie music and want to read about those that made it great, read this book!
February 3, 2018
Working Class Boy becomes a Man – Jimmy Barnes
A review of two books
Extreme bibliotherapy from a man always on the outside.
I gave the first volume of Jimmy’s biography 3 stars. I appreciated the raw honesty of the book but did not enjoy it. I remember such frustration that Jimmy, with intelligent self-awareness amongst his many talents, continually made so many mistakes with behavior and people – and seemed to revel in them!
With the second volume I recognised that the discernment shown in the first only came with realization born from the pain that we read about in the second. In his back page blurb Neil Finn describes what happens in Jimmies life better than I can, as “mind blowing excesses and emotional extremes”.
In this book the 18 year-old refugee from Glasgow via Elizabeth South Australia, runs as far as he can from his traumatic family, headlong into the arms of Rock and Roll -and it proves to be no easy landing. His talent and his charm, so evident in these pages, means that he is accepted – Cold Chisel becomes more family than his biological one has ever been. However Jimmy is still running away from himself and it’s a race he can’t win. Jimmy doesn’t feel worthless – he knows he is. He hates mirrors and smashes plenty of them because they reveal what he is. He spends the next thirty years using alcohol, every drug concoction imaginable and the extremes of music and stagecraft to hide away from his own self-loathing.
He gets help in rehab to overcome alcohol and drugs. He loves his wife Jane passionately (and she certainly deserves a medal) but chemicals are not his true demons, but the trauma of his upbringing and he repeatedly retreats into attempted amnesia. He thinks he is strong enough, proudly claiming to be “homicidal not suicidal” until he wakes one morning with a rope around his neck, realizing that he hoped not to wake. A therapist produced a change that Jimmy can’t explain except “One day I woke up and I knew it was over. I had turned a corner – I had to stop making the same mistakes over and over again. It was not a miracle it was an act of love.” He goes on to recount the many reasons he has to live, starting with his family, reasons to stick around.
Jimmy’s penultimate chapter is titled “I can feel the change”. He describes Cold Chisel’s One Night Stand tour that commenced at the start of the National Rugby League Grand Final and climaxed in the Australian final performance before they demolished the Sydney Entertainment Centre . Jimmy remembers his friends who died and says “We had torn this hall apart so many times in the past – we wanted to tear it down again for everyone who had left us. The encore kept going and going. We just kept playing. We didn’t want to say goodbye. It was too final. We played for ourselves, for the audience, for our old mates who couldn’t be there”. They finished:
There’s a cold winter coming
I can feel the change
It’s the last wave of summer
We’ll ever see again
Let’s ride
Postscript
Facing page 123 is a photograph of Cold Chisel “Taking our final bows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre’s Last Stand on 18 Dec 2015. If it wasn’t for Jimmy being in the way you would see my mate Ken and I cheering ourselves as hoarse as Jimmy!
A review of two books
Extreme bibliotherapy from a man always on the outside.
I gave the first volume of Jimmy’s biography 3 stars. I appreciated the raw honesty of the book but did not enjoy it. I remember such frustration that Jimmy, with intelligent self-awareness amongst his many talents, continually made so many mistakes with behavior and people – and seemed to revel in them!
With the second volume I recognised that the discernment shown in the first only came with realization born from the pain that we read about in the second. In his back page blurb Neil Finn describes what happens in Jimmies life better than I can, as “mind blowing excesses and emotional extremes”.
In this book the 18 year-old refugee from Glasgow via Elizabeth South Australia, runs as far as he can from his traumatic family, headlong into the arms of Rock and Roll -and it proves to be no easy landing. His talent and his charm, so evident in these pages, means that he is accepted – Cold Chisel becomes more family than his biological one has ever been. However Jimmy is still running away from himself and it’s a race he can’t win. Jimmy doesn’t feel worthless – he knows he is. He hates mirrors and smashes plenty of them because they reveal what he is. He spends the next thirty years using alcohol, every drug concoction imaginable and the extremes of music and stagecraft to hide away from his own self-loathing.
He gets help in rehab to overcome alcohol and drugs. He loves his wife Jane passionately (and she certainly deserves a medal) but chemicals are not his true demons, but the trauma of his upbringing and he repeatedly retreats into attempted amnesia. He thinks he is strong enough, proudly claiming to be “homicidal not suicidal” until he wakes one morning with a rope around his neck, realizing that he hoped not to wake. A therapist produced a change that Jimmy can’t explain except “One day I woke up and I knew it was over. I had turned a corner – I had to stop making the same mistakes over and over again. It was not a miracle it was an act of love.” He goes on to recount the many reasons he has to live, starting with his family, reasons to stick around.
Jimmy’s penultimate chapter is titled “I can feel the change”. He describes Cold Chisel’s One Night Stand tour that commenced at the start of the National Rugby League Grand Final and climaxed in the Australian final performance before they demolished the Sydney Entertainment Centre . Jimmy remembers his friends who died and says “We had torn this hall apart so many times in the past – we wanted to tear it down again for everyone who had left us. The encore kept going and going. We just kept playing. We didn’t want to say goodbye. It was too final. We played for ourselves, for the audience, for our old mates who couldn’t be there”. They finished:
There’s a cold winter coming
I can feel the change
It’s the last wave of summer
We’ll ever see again
Let’s ride
Postscript
Facing page 123 is a photograph of Cold Chisel “Taking our final bows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre’s Last Stand on 18 Dec 2015. If it wasn’t for Jimmy being in the way you would see my mate Ken and I cheering ourselves as hoarse as Jimmy!
June 1, 2019
Relatable and fantastic read
September 6, 2021
Having already read Working Class Boy, I decided to read the next installment of Jimmy Barnes memoir, and this didn't disappoint. Now I will admit that I'm not a great lover of Barnesy and Cold Chisel's music, but I was blown away by the life of this amazing individual. Jimmy, by his own admission should have died dozens of times over, and the fact that he's still going strong says a lot about the man. This is a warts and all biography, and Jimmy proves that you can overcome whatever trials and tribulations life may throw at you. Jimmy is a great man and a wonderful human being.
December 14, 2017
Boy a much better book in which Jimmy’s voice comes through. Man tails off in second half and even more in the last few chapters which are typically only a couple of pages long. Can’t help thinking that a later publication date and more editorial input could have really improved this book. Still worth a read but pales in comparison to the brilliance of Boy.
January 9, 2018
jimmy jimmy jimmy... love your honesty could not put it down.
March 10, 2021
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first memoir which I could not put down. Die hard fans of Chisel will love it
April 3, 2018
I’ve been thinking about this book since I finished it, and have been waiting to write my review until I had my thoughts in order. What’s been weighing on my mind most heavily is the way this story made me reexamine my own memories of Jimmy Barnes, and also how much it reveals about the ways in which young boys and men have been wronged by the culture of toxic masculinity that was very much pervasive in the 70s and onward (and of course still has a choke hold on society, but I don’t want this to become a diatribe on that, so let’s focus on the book itself).
This isn’t merely a rock star memoir, although there are sections that detail how certain songs were conceived that very much interested me as a creative person. Possibly, if you’re not a fan of the music of Jimmy or Cold Chisel, you may find these parts do drag. I’ve always been a huge fan so these details added a lot to my overall appreciation of the book. However, what this book is really about is Jimmy’s personal journey through the hell of self-loathing that was born in his poverty-stricken, abusive upbringing (detailed so heartbreakingly in Working Class Boy) and only worsened as his emotional wounds were not addressed, but merely numbed by an increasingly destructive relationship with alcohol and drugs. I was shocked to realise that a man who had helped create some of the most memorable musical moments in Australian rock history—who provided so much of the background music of my childhood and adolescence—could have been dealing with such ugly demons throughout his entire career and managed to hide it (mostly) from the view of his fans. That a man beloved by so many, could hate himself to this extent seems an extraordinary revelation in some ways.
His exploits are legendary, as is so often true of successful rock musicians, but this book makes no attempt to glorify any of it. Jimmy freely admits he was unfaithful to his wife, over and over. That he had to take speed in order to go on stage most nights because he was way too drunk to stand up. He was undoubtedly difficult to work with, prone to emotional outbursts during negotiations with band members and record companies. Always on the lookout for trouble—or oblivion. Despite all this the band and Jimmy as a solo artist enjoyed much success, but he’s also frank about how he managed to lose it all because he’d never learned how to handle money. He couldn’t trust his success because in his heart of hearts he felt unworthy of it, so inevitably the spoils slipped through his fingers. And the whole time there were the drugs, the drinking and the wild nights. This book digs deep into the dark side of what to many looks like a dream lifestyle, the ‘party’ lifestyle, and leaves the reader devastated and enlightened at the same time.
Running from the past. Covering up sadness with anger. Abusing drugs and alcohol. Committing violent acts because despite all this, the pain still beats beneath the surface, forcing its way out. This is how many men are left to deal with deep emotional wounds because reaching out for help is seen as weakness. This is changing, slowly, but the attitude is still there and in the 70s-80s, ‘man up’ was pretty much all that was available to men in terms of advice. This is the memoir of a high profile rock star, but it could be any man’s story (any woman’s too, but it’s oft been documented that men have a particularly hard time seeking help for mental health issues, are more likely to commit suicide etc.). I think we need more books like this, more men (more ‘man’s men’ like Jimmy Barnes) to open up and be honest about their struggles. Because it was only when he finally opened up to mental health professionals and his family and friends, that Jimmy seems to have found a measure of peace. That surely says something about the value of admitting ‘weakness’ and seeking help.
One more thing I want to say about Working Class Man is this—it is also a love story that astounded me time and again. Somehow, Jane Barnes stuck with Jimmy through all this and in between the lines of the book it’s clear that she was the only solid thing Jimmy had to hold onto a lot of the time. The details of the beginning of their relationship are full of sweetness and vulnerability that made me smile despite knowing Jane was in for some serious trouble if she married this guy! She was his One Good Thing and despite his every attempt to destroy it, the love was always there. I’m not going to say that’s romantic, because she put up with a lot and any friend of mine in that situation I would have told to get out, but there is undeniably a mutual love and respect that, despite Jimmy’s efforts, couldn’t be extinguished. He says himself he owes his life to Jane, and his children. After reading this book I honestly think he does.
I thoroughly recommend this book and it’s predecessor Working Class Boy for fans in particular, but also for anyone who has struggled with self image or addiction. It’s no-holds-barred honesty is the kind of thing we need more of, from men in particular.
This isn’t merely a rock star memoir, although there are sections that detail how certain songs were conceived that very much interested me as a creative person. Possibly, if you’re not a fan of the music of Jimmy or Cold Chisel, you may find these parts do drag. I’ve always been a huge fan so these details added a lot to my overall appreciation of the book. However, what this book is really about is Jimmy’s personal journey through the hell of self-loathing that was born in his poverty-stricken, abusive upbringing (detailed so heartbreakingly in Working Class Boy) and only worsened as his emotional wounds were not addressed, but merely numbed by an increasingly destructive relationship with alcohol and drugs. I was shocked to realise that a man who had helped create some of the most memorable musical moments in Australian rock history—who provided so much of the background music of my childhood and adolescence—could have been dealing with such ugly demons throughout his entire career and managed to hide it (mostly) from the view of his fans. That a man beloved by so many, could hate himself to this extent seems an extraordinary revelation in some ways.
His exploits are legendary, as is so often true of successful rock musicians, but this book makes no attempt to glorify any of it. Jimmy freely admits he was unfaithful to his wife, over and over. That he had to take speed in order to go on stage most nights because he was way too drunk to stand up. He was undoubtedly difficult to work with, prone to emotional outbursts during negotiations with band members and record companies. Always on the lookout for trouble—or oblivion. Despite all this the band and Jimmy as a solo artist enjoyed much success, but he’s also frank about how he managed to lose it all because he’d never learned how to handle money. He couldn’t trust his success because in his heart of hearts he felt unworthy of it, so inevitably the spoils slipped through his fingers. And the whole time there were the drugs, the drinking and the wild nights. This book digs deep into the dark side of what to many looks like a dream lifestyle, the ‘party’ lifestyle, and leaves the reader devastated and enlightened at the same time.
Running from the past. Covering up sadness with anger. Abusing drugs and alcohol. Committing violent acts because despite all this, the pain still beats beneath the surface, forcing its way out. This is how many men are left to deal with deep emotional wounds because reaching out for help is seen as weakness. This is changing, slowly, but the attitude is still there and in the 70s-80s, ‘man up’ was pretty much all that was available to men in terms of advice. This is the memoir of a high profile rock star, but it could be any man’s story (any woman’s too, but it’s oft been documented that men have a particularly hard time seeking help for mental health issues, are more likely to commit suicide etc.). I think we need more books like this, more men (more ‘man’s men’ like Jimmy Barnes) to open up and be honest about their struggles. Because it was only when he finally opened up to mental health professionals and his family and friends, that Jimmy seems to have found a measure of peace. That surely says something about the value of admitting ‘weakness’ and seeking help.
One more thing I want to say about Working Class Man is this—it is also a love story that astounded me time and again. Somehow, Jane Barnes stuck with Jimmy through all this and in between the lines of the book it’s clear that she was the only solid thing Jimmy had to hold onto a lot of the time. The details of the beginning of their relationship are full of sweetness and vulnerability that made me smile despite knowing Jane was in for some serious trouble if she married this guy! She was his One Good Thing and despite his every attempt to destroy it, the love was always there. I’m not going to say that’s romantic, because she put up with a lot and any friend of mine in that situation I would have told to get out, but there is undeniably a mutual love and respect that, despite Jimmy’s efforts, couldn’t be extinguished. He says himself he owes his life to Jane, and his children. After reading this book I honestly think he does.
I thoroughly recommend this book and it’s predecessor Working Class Boy for fans in particular, but also for anyone who has struggled with self image or addiction. It’s no-holds-barred honesty is the kind of thing we need more of, from men in particular.
January 16, 2019
OK so I’m a self-confessed Barnsey tragic which might lead you to expect I’d give it five stars regardless. I was very critical of his first book. Found it shallow, boring and unsatisfactorily lacking in insight into such a horrendous upbringing. I’m not sure whether he had a ghostwriter or not and if so was it a different (or better) ghostwriter or editor this time around but the first half of this book was an absolute ball-tearer. From the early Cold Chisel years of pub gig circuits through to the latter years of fame (and infamy) there was tale after tale offering glimpses into a crazy, drug and alcohol fueled rock-n-roll existence that couldn’t be further from the routine life I have lived. As a child of the Countdown era, I relished his encounters involving the likes of Bon Scott, Rose Tattoo, Sherbert and Molly. The second half of the book was different but still interesting as he moved into his solo career and life as a family man. His deep love for his wife Jane and all of his kids contrasts very starkly with his ridiculous stage persona and frankly he’s bloody lucky they all stuck by him given his years of self indulgent antics. I was left with the impression of an intense and driven individual who never does anything by halves and never gives anything other than 120%, has lived the majority of his life on the edge, knows he’s star struck for having survived it, incredibly modest about his talent and whilst tough as nails and suffering no fools (his description of the time he went into detox in the US for a month was hilarious) has a heart of gold that clearly endears him to folk who probably shouldn’t give him the time of day. Four stars for the writing and an extra gold star for the suite of legendary photos down the back of the book.
February 10, 2018
Working Class Man is the second instalment in the memoirs of Cold Chisel frontman, Jimmy Barnes. It takes off from where Working Class Boy finished, with Jimmy heading off with the band that would become Cold Chisel.
See, I know (and like) Cold Chisel. And Jimmy's solo work. But to be perfectly honest, I didn't know much about how the band was formed, how they got their start, the full details of their careers, and this was a fascinating read from that point of view. The camaraderie and the fights. The drugs and the alcohol. The other players in the music industry.
However, I can't help but feel Working Class Man lacked the emotion and punch that Working Class Boy had. The highs and low in this book where told in a much more factual way, without the depth previously shown. Because of that fact, I found it was easy to put this book down and get on with life. It didn't make me want to live and breath the novel (although it did make the record player get a work out, as when reading about the albums I was inspired to listen to them).
See, I know (and like) Cold Chisel. And Jimmy's solo work. But to be perfectly honest, I didn't know much about how the band was formed, how they got their start, the full details of their careers, and this was a fascinating read from that point of view. The camaraderie and the fights. The drugs and the alcohol. The other players in the music industry.
However, I can't help but feel Working Class Man lacked the emotion and punch that Working Class Boy had. The highs and low in this book where told in a much more factual way, without the depth previously shown. Because of that fact, I found it was easy to put this book down and get on with life. It didn't make me want to live and breath the novel (although it did make the record player get a work out, as when reading about the albums I was inspired to listen to them).
December 28, 2020
I was looking forward to this sequel to Working Class Boy, another instalment of this fascinating autobiography that also contains much about Australian music history. It took me back to my fandom of Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes in the late 1980s and to reflect on how my high school friends helped shape my taste in music, and my interest in music that has endured until today. It got me re-connected to music again, as well as to think deeply about the impact of poverty on so many working class children in Australia, the so-called Lucky Country. As well, it led me to reflect on how our lack of acceptance of ourselves, of the mistakes we made in the past can lead to enormous crosses to bear, some not of our own making. In both volumes, perhaps because I was such a fan, I found it a painful experience to read of his deprived, violence-filled childhood and the consequences of this childhood later on in his adult life.
April 2, 2019
I've listened to this on audio and the energy in Barnes' voice gives insight into how frantic his life has been. The intensity of the abuse he put himself through with drugs and drink is evident in the way he speaks.
It's quite frightening to think he put himself through all that and is actually still here to tell the tale. He has been one lucky guy surviving that.
The story of his life as a man is fascinating and worth hearing. I'm very pleased he seems to have found some kind of equilibrium in his world and I wish him a healthy, peaceful and happy life.
It's quite frightening to think he put himself through all that and is actually still here to tell the tale. He has been one lucky guy surviving that.
The story of his life as a man is fascinating and worth hearing. I'm very pleased he seems to have found some kind of equilibrium in his world and I wish him a healthy, peaceful and happy life.
June 11, 2019
A classic tale of the not too surprising rock and role lifestyle, with one unexpected twist: one of the biggest, though not very global, rock bands never made any money and US fame always remained one step, one drug, one fight out of reach.
That, and Jane must be a saint.
That, and Jane must be a saint.
September 26, 2018
I listened to the audiobook. Jimmy narrates his own story and adds heart and soul to the continuing tale of his life. If the book doesn’t rip you to shreds then the epilogue will. Thank you Jimmy for sharing your story.
March 8, 2020
Alternate possible title could have been ‘I’m still standing’ as it’s remarkable that Jimmy is! Having Jimmy read his memoir imparts something special.
April 23, 2021
What the ... how is this man still alive. I’ve always been a big fan. The Chisel days, The Barnes days. A great trip down memory lane, the songs, the pubs, being front of stage at the Ent Cent for the Last Stand concert in 83. It was hard to read in places, the impact the drugs, alcohol and his childhood had on his career. Kudos to Jane for surviving this and also great to see Jimmy on the other side as the man he is today.
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