Jimmy Barnes Australian musician Date of Birth: 28.04.1956 Country: Australia

Biography of Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes, whose real name is James Dixon Swan, was born in 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. When Jimmy was only four years old, his parents moved to Adelaide, Australia. However, their marriage did not last, and Jimmy and his siblings were raised by their mother and her second husband, Reg Barnes. Despite not being particularly religious, Jimmy discovered his Jewish heritage in 2009.

After finishing high school, Jimmy briefly worked for a railway company but always dreamed of a career in music. Eventually, he realized that he was in control of his own destiny and decided to pursue his passion for music. He joined his brother's band, 'Fraternity,' after their vocalist Bon Scott left. Jimmy impressed the other band members with his deep and beautiful voice and became the lead vocalist.

Jimmy later joined the rock band 'Orange,' which changed its name to 'Cold Chisel' after his arrival. 'Cold Chisel' gained popularity not only in Australia but also worldwide. The band consisted of Jimmy Barnes as the vocalist, Ian Moss on guitar, Steve Prestwich on drums, and Les Kaczmarek on bass. They released their first self-titled album in 1978.

However, tensions between the band members began to rise due to Jimmy's rude and selfish behavior. He often neglected the interests of his bandmates and would sometimes not show up for rehearsals. There were rumors that Jimmy was leaving the band to join his brother's group, 'Feather,' but he changed his mind when 'Cold Chisel' was offered a record deal with Warner Music Group.

In 1981, Jimmy married Jane Mahoney, the daughter of a prominent Australian politician and diplomat. They had a daughter named Mahalia, but their marriage faced challenges due to Jimmy's alcoholism and constant touring. Despite 'Cold Chisel's' growing popularity, they struggled financially. After a European tour, the band did not receive a promised advance payment from their record label, leading to their eventual breakup.

After 'Cold Chisel' disbanded, Jimmy pursued a successful solo career. His debut album, 'Bodyswerve,' reached the top of the charts and was followed by several hit albums. His hard-partying lifestyle often attracted media attention. Jimmy also helped introduce talented musicians like Johnny Diesel to the world.

In 2009, 'Cold Chisel' announced their reunion and began touring again. They released a new album in 2011, which Jimmy worked on with bandmate Ian Moss. In 2010, Jimmy released another solo album titled 'Rage and Ruin.'

In August 2010, it was revealed that Jimmy had two adult daughters he didn't know about. The results of the DNA tests were not publicly disclosed.