Jimmy Barnes says he was often 'incapacitated' writing his new album Defiant

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has revealed he was often in a state of "incapacitation" while creating his latest album. After more than five decades of performing and touring, the 68-year-old Barnes has suffered a series of health problems in recent years, making the creation of this album even more remarkable.

The Cold Chisel frontman underwent open-heart surgery after being hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia in late 2023 and had emergency surgery in August 2024 due to a recurrence of a hip infection. Barnes endured severe pain, received a temporary joint replacement, and miraculously returned to the stage seven weeks later. This month, Barnes underwent surgery again after being cleared to have his hip replaced with a permanent joint, showcasing his resilience.

In an interview with ABC News Breakfast, Barnes described himself as "fighting fit." He stated, "I've just had a big check-up from the heart surgery, and they all say everything's working fine, and I'm as fit as a Mallee bull." His new album, "Defiant," is set to be released this year, with the first single, "New Day," already released on Monday. Barnes indicated that his health issues undoubtedly influenced the creation of his new music, adding a layer of depth to the project.

"I think it's actually made the album better, considering all the difficulties," he said on News Breakfast. "Because I was writing these songs, a lot of the time I was incapacitated, but I just thought, I want to get on stage, and I want to play some rock and roll. It's what I do best." Barnes said he often wrote new lyrics in his hospital bed while recovering from surgery. "I think I could foresee that my health was getting better, and I could see that this album was taking shape, and that actually kept me sane through it all."

The name of Barnes' new album is no accident. He said his health challenges have helped him become a "very defiant person." "Life throws all sorts of things at you," he said. "And, you know, you get knocked down a lot. You've got to pick yourself up. You've got to learn from the things that you've been through. You've got to know what you've done wrong, and then move forward again, you know, be careful. I've always done that. I think you've got to be a bit defiant. You've got to be resilient and strong in everything in life, whether it's relationships, whether it's bringing up your kids, whether it's making yourself a better person."

Barnes said he can't wait to kick off his newly announced national tour in June and play his new music to live audiences. "I'm going to go to theaters," he said. "I want to be able to see the whites of people's eyes. So better to keep it in an area where I can really control the sound and the production. I'm really looking forward to getting out and sharing these songs with my kids and Jane and playing them live."

Barnes' performances are increasingly becoming a family affair. His daughter, Mahalia, provides backing vocals on the new album, while his son, Jackie, plays drums. "Of course, when we play live, they're all in the band," he said. "I jokingly said recently, I used to have a band. Now I'm in their band! I don't try and manage the band in a 'I want to do it this way' kind of way. They all know what I want because they're my family. We work very well together as a unit."

However, Barnes admitted that having family on the road "presents certain challenges." "They're all stubborn," he said. "They're all very defiant, like me. You know what, I like that because everybody's entitled to have an opinion on what we do, and most of the time I keep a very open mind because they have a lot of great ideas." Jimmy Barnes' new album, "Defiant," will be released on June 6, and a six-date national tour will see Barnes perform at theaters in Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.