Australian Rock and Roll Icon; Singer-Songwriter, Musician & Bestselling Author; Known for His Memoir, "Working Class Boy"

Australia
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Jimmy Barnes Biography

Jimmy Barnes is an Australian rock and roll singer-songwriter and musician. He is considered the heart and the soul of Australian rock and roll. His name evokes the sound of ear-splitting rock classics plus signature readings of soul standards. He has enjoyed nineteen #1 albums here – more than The Beatles – and sold more records in this country than any other local artist. For well over 40 years, he has delivered some of our most intense and iconic live performances and sung unforgettable hits like “Working Class Man,” “Flame Trees,” “No Second Prize,” “Khe Sanh” and “Shutting Down Our Town.” From a wild youth fronting the legendary Cold Chisel to his more recent years as a beloved family man, Barnes has been through it all and literally lived to tell the tales. He is truly in a league of his own, having been inducted into the ARIA Hall of fame … twice.

In 2016, Barnes’ self-penned childhood memoir, “Working Class Boy,” was a #1 bestseller and won the Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA). His 2017 sequel, “Working Class Man,” also topped the charts and won the ABIA, making him the first person to ever win “Biography Of The Year” twice. The two books have sold over 500,000 copies so far, making them the most successful biographical series in local publishing history. HisStories & Songslive production based on these memoirs sold out over 100 shows and attracted unanimous critical as did the related documentary film “Working Class Boy” which topped the box office in late 2018. Clearly Barnes’s life story holds a unique fascination for Australians of all ages.

In June 2019, Barnes released “My Criminal Record” – his first new, original album in almost decade. It picked up on many of the themes in his books and was written by Barnes, with significant collaboration from his lifelong sparring partner, Cold Chisel’s Don Walker. It topped the chart and was followed by another #1 album over the summer of 2019/20 when Cold Chisel released “Blood Moon” and toured outdoor venues across Australia.

Barnes’ book of short stories, “Killing Time,” was released in late 2020. Written largely during the Covid19 shutdown, the book featured tall tales, out-takes and B-sides from one of Australia’s finest storytellers. Never one to slow down, Barnes unveiled two more books in 2021 – a children’s title, “Rosie the Rhinoceros,” and a cookbook with his wife, Jane, titled “Where The River Bends.”

“Flesh And Blood,” Barnes twentieth studio album, was released in July 2021. Borne out of the live-from-home performances that comforted millions via social media during their pandemic isolation, these ten brand new recordings featured multiple contributions from Barnes’s extended family. The title track was debuted at the State Memorial Service for Barnes’s close mate, Michael Gudinski and went on to be nominated for an APRA Award as Australia’s “Most Performed Rock Work.”

Adding to Barnes’ record-breaking cache of #1 Albums, in June 2022 his reimagined and remastered “Soul Deep 30” debuted at the top spot on the ARIA chart, taking his career total to 14 solo number ones plus five with Cold Chisel. The accompanying “Soul Deep 30” arena tour received glowing reviews.

Barnes has also been made an Officer of the Order Of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the performing arts as a musician, singer and songwriter, and through support for not-for-profit organisations, particularly to children with a disability.”

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/04/2025.

Jimmy Barnes Videos

Jimmy Barnes awarded Honorary Doctorate

Jimmy Barnes awarded Honorary Doctorate

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has taken to the stage in the city that launched his career – not to belt out one of his famous tunes.

Jimmy Barnes - New Day (Official Video)

Jimmy Barnes - New Day (Official Video)

The official video for Jimmy Barnes - New Day. Taken from the album 'DEFIANT.'

Jimmy Barnes comes on the show

Jimmy Barnes comes on the show

Because Jimmy Barnes is such a humble man you can almost forget that he's one of the most successful rock singers of all time.

  • How do I book Jimmy Barnes to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jimmy Barnes for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jimmy Barnes, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jimmy Barnes or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Jimmy Barnes

    Speaking fees for Jimmy Barnes, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jimmy Barnes are $100,000 - $200,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jimmy Barnes, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Jimmy Barnes speak about?

    Jimmy Barnes is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Celebrity, Motivational, Music, Non-Fiction Authors
  • Where does Jimmy Barnes travel from?

    Jimmy Barnes generally travels from Australia, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Jimmy Barnes’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jimmy Barnes for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jimmy Barnes for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jimmy Barnes or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Jimmy Barnes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jimmy Barnes for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. Jimmy Barnes generally travels from Australia and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Pete Wentz, Tommy Emmanuel, Ed Sheeran, John Tesh and Willie Nelson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jimmy Barnes for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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