SYDNEY—Jimmy Barnes has announced his first major theatre tour in over a decade, saying he's going to focus on quality not quantity following his heart surgery last year.
The 52-year-old rocker had successful open heart surgery in early 2007 to fix a condition that had been with him since birth.
But he found himself back in hospital a few months later after pushing himself too hard on tour.
This time around the former Cold Chisel frontman said he was going to do fewer shows but give the audience more.
"I love playing pubs, but after heart surgery particularly, I wanted to start thinking about doing more quality gigs and less quantity," Barnes said.
"In a pub if you do more than two ballads in a set you hear (the audience) starting ... a fight or arguing with their wife, so you've got to keep their attention all the time.
"I think it's going to allow me a lot more scope for how I construct the set - I'll still be doing big slamming hits and lots of Chisel stuff, but at the same time I'll get to do some of the new album, and maybe some new songs that I'll write in the meantime."
The tour kicks off on June 25 in Canberra, and takes in Mildura, Adelaide, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Maryborough, Caloundra, Melbourne, Wollongong, Newcastle and Sydney.
Today Barnes allowed himself to get a bit nostalgic at the launch of a book dedicated to his career, Icons Of Australian Music: Jimmy Barnes.
Glasgow-born Barnes was introduced by long-time friend, actor Bryan Brown, who paid tribute to the singer.
"I could go on about Jimmy's amazing career, about him being one of the most popular Australian recording artists of all time ... but I think it's enough to say that he's done pretty good - for an immigrant," Brown said.
"Because that's what Jimmy Barnes is. An immigrant. He's one of those incredible people who leave their friends and their family and go to the other side of the world in search of a better life.
"We Aussies are pretty glad Jimmy got on that big ship and came over here, because he's given us all a lot."
Joined on stage by his children Mahalia, Jackie and Elly May Barnes, and David Campbell, as well as brother-in-law Mark Lizotte, Barnes performed a handful of songs from across his career.
On Flame Trees Barnes sang "who needs that sentimental anyway", but the former wild man of Australian rock showed he has softened over the years.
"If nothing else this book has brought all these people together," Barnes said, indicating to the family, friends, fans, industry representatives and media who gathered at Sydney's Hilton Hotel for the launch.
"So many people I've smoked with, drank with, laughed with - and that's just the press."
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