He wrote about his traumatic childhood scarred by violence and domestic abuse in his 2016 biography, Working Class Boy.
And now Jimmy Barnes has revealed that his new documentary of the same name has opened up old wounds about his tragic upbringing.
‘I actually broke down afterwards,’ the 62-year-old singer said of the confronting film to Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, adding he ‘still needs therapy’.
‘I still need therapy’: Jimmy Barnes ‘broke down’ after watching Working Class Boy documentary which details the ‘violence and abuse’ he was subject to during childhood
Having written about his harrowing childhood in searing autobiography Working Class Boy – adapted into the documentary – Jimmy had tragically exposed how he and his brothers and sisters were systematically abused by his late father.
He explained that the footage made him ‘uneasy’ and on reflection was ‘f***ing angry’ with his late mother deserting he and his siblings as children and leaving them as adults with many questions unanswered.
‘I have a problem with how our parents could have treated us like that. No matter how much poverty you grow up with, you shouldn’t be subjected to violence and abuse.’
Tragic: Having written about his harrowing childhood in searing autobiography Working Class Boy – adapted into the documentary – Jimmy had tragically exposed how he and his brothers and sisters were systematically abused by his late father
‘You shouldn’t be subjected to violence and abuse’: He explained that the footage made him ‘uneasy’ and on reflection was ‘f***ing angry’ with his late mother (PICTURED) deserting he and his siblings as children
Two weeks ago, Jimmy told the Daily Telegraph that he still blamed his late mum, Dorothy, for failing to protect him and his five siblings from the horror upbringing at the hands of his alcoholic father.
Jimmy revealed his mother, who also suffered at the hands of his dad, couldn’t cope with the violence and often deserted her children for days on end.
‘[I know] how it was tough for her,’ he said, ‘but I never would have left my children. And she did, more than twice.’
Jimmy’s mother died just before Working Class Boy was released in October 2016.
Out now: Jimmy’s documentary will appear in selective cinemas for a selective run from August 24 to 29
With his traumatic upbringing resulting his battle with alcoholism and drug addiction, Jimmy has previously admitted he attempted suicide in his hotel room in Auckland in 2012.
Jimmy believes his suicide attempt was a ‘subconscious thing’ and came after years of battling trauma from his childhood to his addictions.
The Scottish-born star, whose son is Today Extra host David Campbell, said he soon found a therapist in 2012 to help him cope with his demons.
Long road to recovery: The Scottish-born star, whose son is Today Extra host David Campbell(L), said he soon found a therapist in 2012 to help him cope with his demons