Working Class Man

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 and across the Cold Chisel, solo and soul years, this is a story about how it’s never too late to try to put things right.

'... riveting storytelling.' -- The Sydney Morning Herald
'Rare is the man who has lived this hard, this fast and this dangerously – only to survive and chronicle it all so superbly.' -- Lisa Wilkinson, author of It Wasn't Meant to Be Like
'Working Class Man is a gripping account of a rock’n’roll life that could have ended in disaster. The fact it didn’t is proof of Jimmy’s extraordinary strength of will and physical endurance. You think you know a man and then you read this. All the mind-boggling excesses and the emotional extremes are revealed here, with brutal honesty and sparkling wit. Jimmy has found his real voice; it’s great writing, imbued with a spirit of generosity that knows no bounds – just like the man himself.' -- Neil Finn
'What a brave writer. Jimmy is no saint. His two-volume autobiography openly explores the anger, fear and addictions that have beset him. The legend who strides the stage with so much power and charisma reveals the boy who hid in a cupboard then found salvation in song, the rock star who had it all and spent it all, and the man who loves his family and his music.' -- Lindy Morrison
'Jimmy has always been a force of nature, living on the edge, giving high-octane performances that make you look and listen in awe. Yet, as this book shows, his wrestle with his hidden demons was taking a huge toll. Something had to give, and this compelling, must-read account lays it out in spades.' -- Peter Garrett

Jimmy Barnes is a Scottish-born rock singer songwriter who grew up in Adelaide. His career, both as a solo performer and as the lead vocalist of the legendary band Cold Chisel, has made him one of the most successful and distinctive artists in Australian music history. He has amassed more number-one albums in Australia than The Beatles and he has been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame twice. Jimmy’s childhood memoir, Working Class Boy, became a bestseller and won the ABIA Biography of the Year in 2017. His sequel, Working Class Man, won him a second ABIA in 2018. These were followed by a bestselling collection of short stories, Killing Time. Having sold more than 600,000 copies, the books have become Australian classics and established Jimmy as one of our finest storytellers. Jimmy Barnes is the heart and the soul of Australian rock & roll. After 40 years on stages of all kinds, Jimmy is an icon – his nickname ‘Barnesy’ conjures up thoughts of rock music at an ear-splitting volume, and of soul standards given a unique reading. Jimmy has been through it all, and lived to tell the tale and that has earned him a place in Australia’s heart and heartland. Along the way he has sold more records in Australia than any other domestic rock & roll artist. Jimmy’s live shows are legendary for their intensity.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.