After overwhelming demand, Jimmy Barnes will perform a second and final Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs show at Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal on Monday 7 May 2018.

Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs will be the sequel to the acclaimed and hugely successful live show Jimmy performed alongside his first bestselling memoir - Working Class Boy. Like that previous production, this new tour will see Jimmy telling his life story and singing stripped back versions of songs that have shaped his journey. However, unlike its predecessor, this live show - and book - will cover the Oz rock icon's entire adult life, revealing the successes and excesses of Australia's greatest rock ’n roll story.

In Working Class Boy, Jimmy revealed the previously untold details of a profoundly troubled childhood. That memoir - which he wrote entirely on his own - won the ABIA Award as the Best Biography of 2016. It was also Australia's#1 selling non-fiction title last year with sales now topping 150,000 copies. The harrowing companion piece Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs was performed over 40 Times in Australia and New Zealand and its staging at the Sydney Opera House won him both a Sydney Theatre Award and a Helpmann Award nomination.

The new Working Class Man live show and book - again both written by Jimmy - 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. It’s a spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction.

Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs is presented by The Sound and Sunday Star Times. The tour will also help promote the good work of Lifeline (www.lifeline.org.nz) as Jimmy will be drawing further attention to the issues of addiction and mental health in both his new book and live show. As he says in the preface to Working Class Man:

“In book one I faced the damage that a broken home and a broken heart can bring. In book two I face the impact that a childhood like mine can have on a man. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming anyone for any of this. We all do the best with what we have. But in book two the blame rests squarely on my shoulders, and until I work a lot of things out I carry a lot of baggage around with me ...

I have done a lot of great things. I have a beautiful family and wonderful friends. But there were many times, dark times, that I almost let it all slip through my fingers. In the end I asked for help. I used to think that if someone asked for help they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal."

To coincide with the soon-to-be bestselling book of the same name, Bloodlines/Mushroom will release a limited edition, commemorative version of one of the greatest Australian rock albums of all time, For The Working Class Man on 3 November 2017. This deluxe, double-disc package includes:

Disc 1 - CD
The original 1985 recordings totally re-mastered by Don Bartley, who undertook an exhaustive analogue process including the use of 1/2” tape to keep dynamics and clarity intact, maintain the punch of the original mixes and create some natural harmonics while still allowing for competitive levels.

Disc 2 - DVD
This 1984 performance from the legendary Playroom in Queensland captures the raw energy and musical potency of that period. It has never been commercially released.

The CD booklet has also been expanded to include previously unseen photos from the original shoot by Patrick Jones, exclusive liner notes and a track-by-track commentary from Jimmy recapturing the stories behind these classic songs. And all in a slipcase tying the album artwork directly to the cover of the book.

Jimmy’s longtime friend and label owner, Michael Gudinski, said, “I’m so proud of everything Jimmy has achieved, both solo and with Cold Chisel. He’s had more number one albums than any other Australian artist. He’s actually sold more albums solo than with Chisel, which is a remarkable stat. He’s a two-time ARIA Hall of Famer. Hell, he’s even a best-selling author. But Jimmy has never forgotten his working-class roots. The things he still values most are honesty, loyalty, friendship and family”

Tickets to Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs go on sale to the general public at midday, on Tuesday, 24 October, 2017.

Jimmy Barnes

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES

Thursday 15 March
Anita’s Theatre | Thirroul NSW
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Friday 16 March
Anita’s Theatre | Thirroul NSW
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Saturday 17 March59a
Canberra Theatre | Canberra ACT
canberratheatrecentre.com.au | Ph: 02 6275 2700

Wednesday 21 March
Devonport Entertainment Centre | Devonport TAS
decc.net.au | Ph: 03 6420 2900

Thursday 22 March
Country Club Showroom | Launceston TAS
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Friday 23 March
Country Club Showroom | Launceston TAS
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Saturday 24 March
Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre | Hobart TAS
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Thursday 5 April
Parklands Resort & Conference Centre | Mudgee NSW
parklandresort.com.au | Ph: 02 6372 4500

Friday 6 April
Civic Centre | Newcastle NSW
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849

Saturday 7 April
Bathurst Entertainment Centre | Bathurst NSW
bmec.com.au | Ph: 02 6333 6161

Thursday 12 April
Brisbane City Hall | Brisbane Qld
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Friday 13 April
Empire Theatre | Toowoomba QLD
empiretheatre.com.au | Ph: 07 4698 9900

Saturday 14 April
The Star Theatre | Gold Coast QLD
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849

Wednesday 18 April
Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre | Bunbury WA
bunburyentertainment.com | Ph: 08 9792 3111

Thursday 19 April
Perth Concert Hall | Perth WA
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Saturday 21 April
Keith Mitchell Theatre | Port Pirie SA
countryarts.org.au | Ph: 08 8633 8500

Sunday 22 April
Thebarton Theatre | Adelaide SA
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Thursday 26 April
Frankston Arts Centre Theatre | Frankston VIC
thefac.com.au | Ph: 03 9784 1060

Friday 27 April
Costa Hall, Geelong Performing Arts Centre | Geelong VIC
gpac.org.au | Ph: 03 5225 1200

Saturday 28 April
The Palais Theatre | St Kilda VIC
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Sunday 29 April
Ulumbarra Theatre | Bendigo VIC
gotix.com.au | Ph: 03 5434 6100

Thursday 3 May
Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall | Sydney NSW
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Sunday 20 May
Darwin Entertainment Centre | Darwin NT
yourcentre.com.au | Ph: 08 8980 3333

Tuesday 22 May
Tank Arts Centre | Cairns, QLD
ticketlink.com.au | Ph: 1300 855 835

Wednesday 23 May
Tank Arts Centre | Cairns QLD
ticketlink.com.au | Ph: 1300 855 835

Friday 25 May
Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre | Townsville QLD
tecc.net.au | Ph: 07 4771 4000

Saturday 26 May
Plenary Halls, Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre | Mackay QLD
themecc.com.au | Ph: 07 4961 9777

Sunday 27 May
Pilbeam Theatre | Rockhampton QLD
seeitlive.com.au | Ph: 07 4927 4111

Tuesday 29 May
Caloundra Events Centre | Caloundra QLD
theeventscentre.com.au | Ph: 07 5491 4240

Wednesday 30 May
Saraton Theatre | Grafton NSW
saraton.com | Ph: 02 6642 1633

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