Jimmy Barnes’ highly anticipated new memoir “Working Class Man” will be accompanied by a special national tour it was announced today. With a show set for Newcastle’s Civic Theatre on Friday, April 5th, 2018.
Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs will be the sequel to the acclaimed and hugely successful live show Jimmy performed alongside his first bestselling memoir – “Working Class Boy”. Like that previous production, this new tour will see Jimmy telling his life story and singing stripped back versions of songs that have shaped his journey. However, unlike its predecessor, this live show – and book – will cover the Oz rock icon’s entire adult life, revealing the successes and excesses of Australia’s greatest rock ’n roll story.
In “Working Class Boy”, Jimmy revealed the previously untold details of a profoundly troubled childhood. That memoir – which he wrote entirely on his own – won the ABIA Award as the Best Biography of 2016. It was also the country’s #1 selling non-fiction title last year with sales now topping 150,000 copies. The harrowing companion piece Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs was performed over 40 Times in Australia and New Zealand and its staging at the Sydney Opera House won him both a Sydney Theatre Award and a Helpmann Award nomination.
The new Working Class Man live show and book – again both written by Jimmy – begin in 1974 as he leaves Adelaide in the back of an old bread truck with a then unknown rock group called Cold Chisel. They trace the legendary band’s long climb to the top and their subsequent implosion. The story then picks up as Jimmy carves out a new solo career for himself. He becomes the country’s biggest rock star before drugs and alcohol bring him to his knees and he eventually rebuilds his life thanks to the love of his wife and his family. It’s a spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction.
“In book one I faced the damage that a broken home and a broken heart can bring. In book two I face the impact that a childhood like mine can have on a man. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming anyone for any of this. We all do the best with what we have. But in book two the blame rests squarely on my shoulders, and until I work a lot of things out I carry a lot of baggage around with me …
Jimmy Barnes
… I have done a lot of great things. I have a beautiful family and wonderful friends. But there were many times, dark times, that I almost let it all slip through my fingers. In the end I asked for help. I used to think that if someone asked for help they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.”
To coincide with the soon-to-be bestselling book of the same name, Bloodlines/Mushroom will release a limited edition, commemorative version of one of the greatest Australian rock albums of all time, For The Working Class Man on 20 October 2017. This deluxe, double-disc package includes:
Disc 1 – CD
The original 1985 recordings totally re-mastered by Don Bartley, who undertook an exhaustive analogue process including the use of 1/2” tape to keep dynamics and clarity intact, maintain the punch of the original mixes and create some natural harmonics while still allowing for competitive levels.
Disc 2 – DVD
This 1984 performance from the legendary Playroom in Queensland captures the raw energy and musical potency of that period. It has never been commercially released.
The CD booklet has also been expanded to include previously unseen photos from the original shoot by Patrick Jones, exclusive liner notes and a track-by-track commentary from Jimmy recapturing the stories behind these classic songs. And all in a slipcase tying the album artwork directly to the cover of the book.
Tickets to Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs go on sale to the general public at 10.00am local times, on Monday, 23 October 2017. Pre-sale details are:
Fan Club and Frontier Touring pre-sale: Members of Jimmy’s mailing list and Frontier Touring Members will have the opportunity to access pre-sale tickets from 2.00pm on Thursday, 19 October until 2.00pm on Friday, 20 October.
Venue pre-sales: Friday, 20 October from 2.00pm until Monday, 23 October at 9.00am (all local times) or earlier if pre-sale allocations are exhausted
The limited edition, commemorative release of For The Working Class Man will be released on Friday, 20 October through Bloodlines/Mushroom.
TOUR DATES
- Thursday, 15 March 2018 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Friday, 16 March 2018 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Saturday, 17 March 2018 – Canberra Theatre, Canberra ACT – www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au | 02 6275 2700
- Wednesday, 21 March 2018 – Devonport Entertainment Centre, Devonport TAS – www.decc.net.au | 03 6420 2900
- Thursday, 22 March 2018 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Friday, 23 March 2018 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston TAS – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Saturday, 24 March 2018 – Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre, Hobart TAS – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Thursday, 5 April 2018 – Parklands Resort & Conference Centre, Mudgee NSW – www.parklandsresort.com.au | 02 6372 4500
- Friday, 6 April 2018 – Civic Centre, Newcastle NSW – www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849
- Saturday, 7 April 2018 – Bathurst Entertainment Centre, Bathurst NSW – www.bmec.com.au | 02 6333 6161
- Thursday, 12 April 2018 – Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane Qld – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Friday, 13 April 2018 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba QLD – www.empiretheatre.com.au | 07 4698 9900
- Saturday, 14 April 2018 – The Star Theatre, Gold Coast QLD – www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849
- Wednesday, 18 April 2018 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury WA – www.bunburyentertainment.com | 08 9792 3111
- Thursday, 19 April 2018 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth WA – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Saturday, 21 April 2018 – Keith Mitchell Theatre, Port Pirie SA – www.countryarts.org.au | 08 8633 8500
- Sunday, 22 April 2018 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Thursday, 26 April 2018 – Frankston Arts Centre Theatre, Frankston VIC – www.thefac.com.au | 03 9784 1060
- Friday, 27 April 2018 – Costa Hall, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong VIC – www.gpac.org.au | 03 5225 1200
- Saturday, 28 April 2018 – The Palais Theatre, St Kilda VIC – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Sunday, 29 April 2018 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo VIC – www.gotix.com.au | 03 5434 6100
- Thursday, 3 May 2018 – Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney NSW – www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
- Sunday, 20 May 2018 – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT – www.yourcentre.com.au | 08 8980 3333
- Tuesday, 22 May 2018 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns, QLD – www.ticketlink.com.au | 1300 855 835
- Wednesday, 23 May 2018 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns QLD – www.ticketlink.com.au | 1300 855 835
- Friday, 25 May 2018 – Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville QLD – www.tecc.net.au | 07 4771 4000
- Saturday, 26 May 2018 – Plenary Halls, Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre, Mackay QLD – www.themecc.com.au | 07 4961 9777
- Sunday, 27 May 2018 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD – www.seeitlive.com.au | 07 4927 4111
- Tuesday, 29 May 2018 – Caloundra Events Centre, Caloundra QLD – www.theeventscentre.com.au | 07 5491 4240
- Wednesday, 30 May 2018 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton NSW – www.saraton.com | 02 6642 1633