JIMMY BARNES’ Working Class Man book debuts at No. 1 with more Stories & Songs shows announced!

Jimmy Barnes’ new memoir – Working Class Man
is the #1 book in Australia! 

Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs shows across the country selling out 

New shows announced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, 
Adelaide, Newcastle and Canberra

Jimmy Barnes’ critically acclaimed new memoir “Working Class Man” has gone straight to #1 on the Neilsen Bookscan chart today, knocking “Da Vinci Code” author Dan Brown from the top spot nationally.

“Working Class Man”, which details Jimmy’s rock ‘n roll excesses, sold over 20,000 books and eBooks in its first week. This is more than any memoir/ autobiography/biography – local or international – since records have been kept in Australia.

Its predecessor, “Working Class Boy”, has also returned to the Top 10 of the Neilsen Bookscan Non-Fiction chart.

The Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs tour has also struck a deep chord around Australia with shows in Thirroul, Canberra, Cairns, Newcastle, Bathurst, Frankston, Sydney and Melbourne all selling out already.

As a result, a second and final date at the Canberra Theatre Centre has already been added on Sunday, 18 March.  New shows have also been announced at the Brisbane City Hall (10 April), Sydney Town Hall (2 May), Newcastle Civic Theatre (6 June), Melbourne’s Palais Theatre (9 June) and the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide (10 June) with tickets for those dates going on sale at 9.00am local times today.

“It’s not often I’m lost for words but this is about as close as I get”, said Jimmy Barnes. “I spent decades trying to keep all this stuff hidden from people but it turns out that talking about it is the best thing I’ve ever done. On behalf of my liver I just wish it had occurred to me to do it a bit sooner!”

Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs and the brand-new book – both written entirely by Jimmy – each 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. Critics agree it’s a spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction.

“It’s a fascinating insider’s view of the Australian music industry and the highs and lows of fame … He constantly flirts with self destruction and death (but) this is not just a tale of doom and gloom. It has passages that are uproariously funny.  But in the end Working Class Man is a torch song to the healing power of mateship, love and family” – Herald Sun

Tickets for all remaining dates are selling fast. Fans are reminded to only buy tickets by following the direct ticket links here. People who choose to ignore this clear advice and who instead use search engines like Google to find tickets typically get steered to unofficial reselling sites like Viagogo that often lead to rip offs.

Tickets for all new shows will go onsale at 9.00am local times today – Thursday, 2 November.  

Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs is presented by Triple M and MAX. The tour will also help promote the good work of Lifeline (www.lifeline.org.au) as Jimmy will be drawing further attention to the issues of addiction and mental health in both his new book and live show.

To coincide with the release of “Working Class Man“, Bloodlines/Mushroom have released a limited edition, commemorative version of one of the greatest Australian rock albums of all time, For The Working Class Man, which includes a never before released DVD from the legendary Playroom in Queensland in 1984.

The updated, remastered video for Working Class Man can be viewed and embedded from here.  Hi res images can be downloaded from here.