Jimmy Barnes reveals he was forced to cancel upcoming tour due to urgent surgery

Music legend Jimmy Barnes cancelled his summer tour this week in order to receive urgent back and hip surgery to relieve chronic pain.

And the 66-year-old rocker now says he won’t be taking it too easy during his recovery period, which could take up to five months.

Interviewed on Channel 10’s The Project on Tuesday, Jimmy told co-host Carrie Bickmore he wants to write a new album of songs and finish a book during his down time.

Showing no signs of pain during his on-air chat, Jimmy put on a brave face as he told how he hated to ‘let people down’ for taking the difficult step of cancelling his tour.

He explained to viewers that his back pain is now so bad, he finds it hard to walk.

Jimmy only cancelled the gigs, he said, because he feared that he would not be able to deliver a high-quality show the fans expect.

The Working Class Man hitmaker added he could not pass up the opportunity to finally get his health problems fixed after suffering back pain for eight years.

Interviewed on Channel 10’s The Project on Tuesday, Jimmy (pictured) told co-host Carrie Bickmore he wants to write a new album of songs and finish a book during his recovery

Meanwhile, Jimmy still plans to take the stage at the VALO Adelaide 500 on Saturday, which will be his last show before his upcoming surgery.

The Cold Chisel founder, famous for his howling vocal style, said he was taking it easy to prepare for the show.

‘Adelaide is my home town,’ he said, sounding excited. ‘And I think the adrenaline of playing in my hometown is going to carry me through it.

Showing no signs of pain during his on-air chat, Jimmy put on a brave face as he told how he hated to let fans down for taking the difficult step of cancelling his tour (pictured)

‘And let’s face it,’ he continued, joking, ‘if I’m in a lot of pain there might be a bit more screaming than usual, but whose going to know?’  

Asked about whether he was confident that he will be able to be fit ready to complete the re-scheduled tour Jimmy sounded confident.

‘The hardest part will be keeping me still for three months,’ he said laughing.

The music legend told The Project viewers on Tuesday that was ‘fine’ but was feeling a lot of pain Pictured: Jimmy on stage in Auckland New Zealand in July, 2022

He then joked that his plans to write a rock and roll album and finish a book would keep him busy ‘for the first two weeks’ of his recovery.

It follows after Jimmy posted a video to his YouTube account explaining his plans that will leave him off-stage until the second half of 2023.

‘I’ve been jumping off PAs and stomping around stages for nearly 50 years, but it’s finally caught up with me,’ Jimmy said in his video while he sat at his desk. 

Asked about whether he was confident that he will be able to be fit ready to complete the re-scheduled tour Jimmy sounded confident Pictured: Jimmy and his wife, Jane Barnes on the red carpet at the 2021 APRA Music Awards 

‘I’ve had niggling back and hip issues for years, but things suddenly got a lot worse over the last few weeks and I’m now in constant and severe pain.’ 

He continued: ‘As everybody knows, it’s against my religion to cancel shows but the doctors tell me I need to get an operation as soon as possible and it will really limit my movement for the next few months.’

Jimmy went on to say it ‘kills’ him to ‘inconvenience everyone’ but explained it’s important he goes through the surgery and recovery as soon as possible so he can ‘jump around onstage for another 50 years’. 

Jimmy jokingly told viewers of The Project that his plans to write a rock and roll album and finish a book would keep him busy ‘for the first two weeks’ of his recovery