A recent health scare brought a beloved Australian icon face to face with his own mortality—and what he shares now may surprise you.
He’s a voice many have belted out in pubs and car rides, a name woven into the soundtrack of the nation. But behind the anthems and accolades lies a story that came dangerously close to a final curtain.
Now, opening up with striking honesty, this rock legend shares his latest brush with mortality—a story that resonates deeply with us all.
A brutal wake-up call
At 69, Jimmy Barnes has lived a life that would leave most of us gasping for breath.
He’s survived the wild ride of rock stardom, years of substance use and more health scares than most hospital dramas could script.
But his most recent ordeal—a severe bacterial infection of the heart following hip replacement surgery—nearly brought the curtain down for good.
‘If we have nine lives, I’ve used up at least seven,’ Barnes quipped in a recent backstage interview, his trademark humour shining through even as he reflected on the ordeal.
‘I’ve confronted death a few times. But normally it’s sort of self-inflicted.’
This time, though, it was not excess or lifestyle choices. It was a silent, insidious infection that almost claimed him.
After hip surgery, complications set in, and before he knew it, he was fighting for his life in a hospital bed, staring down the possibility that his luck had finally run out.
‘I literally turned to Jane and said, “I think this might be it. I think it might have caught me finally”,’ he recalled, referencing his wife and steadfast companion, Jane.
The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on him—or his family. He even began preparing for the worst, writing songs that carried the weight of a possible farewell.
A comeback against the odds
But if there’s one thing Australians know about Jimmy Barnes, it’s that he never backs down from a fight.
Thanks to the skill and dedication of the medical team at St Vincent’s Hospital, Barnes pulled through.
In a touching twist, those very doctors and nurses were in the audience at his recent Sydney show, watching the man they saved do what he does best—pour his heart and soul into every note.
‘They’re coming along to see how their little handiwork went,’ he laughed. ‘They saved my life. So, you know, I’m forever grateful.’
And so are his fans. His latest album, Defiant, shot straight to the top of the ARIA charts, marking his 16th Number One—a feat that puts him ahead of The Beatles and Taylor Swift in the Australian record books.
Not bad for a bloke who once wondered if he’d ever make a living from music.
A life lived with purpose
Reflecting on his journey from a 16-year-old joining Cold Chisel to a septuagenarian still packing out venues, Barnes remains humble.
‘It’s extraordinary, isn’t it? I don’t take it for granted,’ he said. ‘To be doing this this long afterwards, and we’re still having people turn up. It’s a blessed life.’
But this brush with death has left a lasting mark. ‘Well, I’m healthier,’ he adds, with a new sense of clarity.
‘If I want to enjoy my family and the life that I’ve built and I want to continue to make music and be relevant and bring joy to people, I’ve got to stay fit, I’ve got to be healthy, I’ve got to be focused.’
A timely reminder for all Australians
Barnes’s story is a powerful reminder for all of us—especially those in the over 50s club—that life is precious and health cannot be taken for granted.
Infections after surgery, particularly in older adults, can be life-threatening. It’s a timely nudge to stay vigilant about our health, listen to our bodies and never ignore warning signs.
He’s not slowing down, either. ‘It’s like having primal therapy every night. Your pain, your fears, your love, your anger—all in an hour and a half on stage—and you can walk away and say, “I’m okay now”.’
That catharsis, that connection, is what keeps him going. With his 70th birthday on the horizon, Barnes has sage advice: ‘I think you can always get better. The more focused I am, the more I look after myself, the more I open up to the people around me and listen to them, the better I get.’
A legacy of grit and gratitude
He’s determined to keep performing, keep loving and keep living—defiantly. ‘I think I’ll be performing until I drop. Defiant. I am defiant.’
Jimmy’s journey is a testament to resilience, gratitude and the power of music to heal and inspire.
It’s also a wake-up call: no matter how many lives you think you have, it’s never too late to start looking after the one you’ve got left.
Have you or someone close to you faced a health scare that shifted your outlook on life? How do you stay ‘defiant’ in the face of life’s challenges?
We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your story in the comments below and let’s support each other in living fully.
Also read: Defiant and determined: Jimmy Barnes’ comeback tour is here
