July 7, 2024 • 8 mins
Tracey caught up with Jimmy Barnes of Cold Chisel ahead of the Greenstone Summer Concert Tour 2025. They chat about celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band, Jimmy's memories of his first NZ show, and even some stories from playing with Rod Stewart!
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Gold a sides podcast The Stories behind Just Great Rock.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Jimmy, congratulations on the huge success of the fifty anniversary
tour announcement the Big Five. Oh, what a response you've had.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I know, it's been crazy. I mean, it's been wild
in Australia. We're so happy that we've announced New Zealand though,
because I've had all my friends from New Zealand sending
me messages going.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Come on when you play in New Zealand. But I
couldn't really say much because it's a big surprise.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So we're really really, we're really over the moon by
the response here and getting your opportunity to bring the
tour to New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Two and of course playing with your old maids ice
House Everclear, and what a summer lineup that is going
to be.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
A very cool lineup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I mean, I I've been we've been friends forever with
dear friends and uh and you know I love I
love Ivor shows. He's, you know, very talented man Big
Roong has you know, just she's a legend in New Zealand.
You know, I've seen her these fantastic shows. I'm really
looking forward to seeing her on this tour and ever Clear.
I've only ever seen Everclear once and that was, you know,
quite a few years ago. They're opened up for our
Silver Chair and they were just a great.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Dirty rock and roll back and a three piece, and
I really love their records.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So, you know, I think I think from the people
time people walk in the door or walk in the gates,
they're gonna be they're gonna have the best show.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
So you know, we're celebrating.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I mean, it really is a lifetime ago, isn't it.
Chisel's first gig, the Armadale town Hall seventy four. Can
you remember how much you guys were paid for that show?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We I don't know if we were paid.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Actually, I think, you know, I think we were doing
door deals and uh, you know in in Armadale when
we when we moved up there, we did two shows
Natalie and we got like fifty bucks a show, and
then we moved to Armadale and uh, and then we
were still running our own show. So I think the
first Armadale tone Hall, first time we played, you know,
it was probably empty and uh and and we had
(01:50):
to sort of you know, a couple of the cleaners
heard us playing, told a few people and a few
people turned up next time, so we didn't make any
money really, But you know, when you're a young rock
and roll band, you just want to play and uh
and and the best way to get people to come
and see you is to play live and and if
they like.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It, they'll come back and bring their friends.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know. I had a look at the Armadale town
Well it is still standing. It only holds two hundred
and eighty people. And I know you're starting the tour
there in Armadale. Did you guys entertain the thought of
going back there for like a little low key intimate
gig at any time?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, well, well we're actually doing one of them just
outside Sydnety. But but yeah, because it's sort of mid rehearsals.
But you know, listen, were just the fact that we're
going back to Armadale or was really special to us
because it was a place where you know, the band
coach is or the reason we went to Armadale.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's a long story.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
But Don Walker, who was the principal songwriter right, he
was studying quantum physics.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
At the time and he and he had to go.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
We formed in October seventy three and by December he
had to go back to Armadale to start, you know,
the final term of year of UNI for his master's degree.
So so you know, Don said, I've got to go
and do this, you know, because I you know, I
promised my folks and I wanted to wanted to study
and wanted to do it. So we said we'll come
with you, and we all moved to Armadale and literally,
(03:08):
while Don studied, we went and played as a four
piece band, and we just played all these little clubs
and pubs and town halls and and all these surrounding
towns and a lot of country pubs up there, really
tough pubs, you know, while you know, cowboys up there
and uh and literally it was it was a really
great sort of training grown for us.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
We played that, we played, you know, three or four
nights a.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Week and U and and none of the big city's
seen us. So by the time Don finished his degree
and we moved back to Adelaide, we were really sharp bands.
So Armadale was was sort of responsible for helping us
really find our feet as a rock and roll band.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
So it's really great to go back there and play
for them.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, you were definitely in fine form by the time
you guys came to New zealanderd your first show in
seventy nine, you opened for Rod Stewart. What was it
like playing to a crowd that massive at Western Springs?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
That's incredible. I mean I've played a few gigs there.
I played there was easy top as well. Unbelievable. You
know that Rod Stewart too. I've got some very funny
memories and crow shirts particularly.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
There was there was a.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Time at the the the hotel We're all staying at
the same hotel as Rodney's band, and Rodney's band decided
they were going to try and throw the piano off,
the grand piano off of the mezzanine floor in the
entrance of the hotel and they got half over the
rails before the police came. So so but but it
was just sort of great because Rod's band was so
(04:30):
slick and so so pro and and we were so
raw and so young. But the audience sort of gave
us I go as well, you know, And you know,
I think and Rod really liked the fact that we
were a raw rock and roll band, and you know,
because he's he's a bit of a rock and roll
rod and and uh, and we've been friends ever since,
so as as you know, since since that tour, you know,
Rod and I've stayed in contact, and you know, and
(04:51):
I've sang with him many times.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
You know, he must have felt like he was looking
at a younger him when he saw you. You know,
those great Scottish pipes.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
That you got. He's Celtic support.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I'm a Ranger supporter, but yeah, he's but he's but
he's a He's a great singer.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
We want, we want.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He is one one of the great rock singers of
our time. You know who are stylists, you know, when
he took all that stuff you learned from, you know,
from Artis Raiding and Sam Cook and all that and
and brought it to rock and roll music, which is
like you know, basically we're singers and like myself, you know,
going to start listening to people like him.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Well, you're looking incredibly well. I mean, you've been through
a hell of a time. I followed your progress your
recovery closely on Facebook page.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I got to say you were really good at.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Keeping your fans up to date with your recovery. I imagine
a lot of people with a huge profile like you
would go very quiet, but you got.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
People were sort of you know, really you know, because
we've done a lot of stuff on social media over over.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
You know, lockdown and all that sort of stuff, COVID and.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So people were really invested in what we were doing
and they were all really genuinely concerned.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
So we just all we did was just keep them
up to date so.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
They knew that, you know, because people were worried I
was going to die because I was pretty close to
death for a while there. But uh, you know, I
can't take all the glory for that. My wife sort of,
you know, while I was recovering in hospital and stuff
would I'd be there sort of sitting in the area,
half dead, and Jane would take a photo and post
it up and let people know that I was still alive,
which was really good just because just you know, because
(06:13):
you know, I've been I've been singing, you know for
fifty years or more here and uh, and so people
you know, just wanted to stay connected.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, well we appreciate you keeping the fans close.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
It was really good of you.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So you feel small Ian Master Morka obviously, Charlie Drayton
and for Steve Prestwitch rest is sold Ian Moss about
this tour. There are a minimum of fifteen songs that
our audience demanded. Here will be playing all of them
and a few surprises. Can you give us a clue
on what some of the surprises.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Well, you know there's there's I mean, there's all the hits,
Aquire Girls, Cheap Boy, you know, all that sort of stuff,
and you know, flame Trees in Case and and they're
the ones that are like they're like staples.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
We have to play them and because people really love them.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
But there's also all these songs that are really you know,
songs like Letter to Allen, you know, Hondog, Taipan, you
know that that are really a big part of.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
The growth of the band.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
You know, there's soul like Taipan off of Circus Animals.
We're really that song sort.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Of really shaped the way the band played for the
next few years.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
We learned a lot about about you know, power and
delivery by by writing and performing that song. So the
songs that we like to put in just to show
people an insight to how the band developed. And there's
also songs that there's a few songs we haven't played
much that we want to try there's a big, big
catalog of songs, of great songs. We're lucky enough to have,
you know, a bunch of great writings in the band,
So there's a lot of really great songs that we
(07:34):
don't always get the chance to play, so we try
to rotate them in and and out of the set.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And then of course just before you.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Get here to New Zealand, you're doing the viright supercars
and laid awesome Chisel and the supercars. I mean, you
guys got together like Jack Daniels and Coke, don't you.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean fast cars, fast women, fast fast
music is all good, but you know it really is.
I mean, plus you know, you know we play that
loud though, Heroes over the cars anyway, So that's good.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Jimmy. It is such a treat to talk to you
as always, the Big five O all the Beast for
the Australian dates starting in October. We cannot wait to
see you here in New Zealand this January. The summer
concert tour tickets on sale on Monday, and we'll see
you in New Zealand solo in a few weeks.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
We'll be there soon, Trace. I look forward to to
bring the family out. We're gonna have a great time.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Gold Asides podcast the stories behind Just Great Rock. If
you enjoyed this podcast, click to share with family or friends.
For just Great Rock, listen to gold FM anytime anywhere
on iHeartRadio.
Gold a sides podcast The Stories behind Just Great Rock.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Jimmy, congratulations on the huge success of the fifty anniversary
tour announcement the Big Five. Oh, what a response you've had.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I know, it's been crazy. I mean, it's been wild
in Australia. We're so happy that we've announced New Zealand though,
because I've had all my friends from New Zealand sending
me messages going.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Come on when you play in New Zealand. But I
couldn't really say much because it's a big surprise.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So we're really really, we're really over the moon by
the response here and getting your opportunity to bring the
tour to New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Two and of course playing with your old maids ice
House Everclear, and what a summer lineup that is going
to be.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
A very cool lineup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I mean, I I've been we've been friends forever with
dear friends and uh and you know I love I
love Ivor shows. He's, you know, very talented man Big
Roong has you know, just she's a legend in New Zealand.
You know, I've seen her these fantastic shows. I'm really
looking forward to seeing her on this tour and ever Clear.
I've only ever seen Everclear once and that was, you know,
quite a few years ago. They're opened up for our
Silver Chair and they were just a great.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Dirty rock and roll back and a three piece, and
I really love their records.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So, you know, I think I think from the people
time people walk in the door or walk in the gates,
they're gonna be they're gonna have the best show.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
So you know, we're celebrating.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I mean, it really is a lifetime ago, isn't it.
Chisel's first gig, the Armadale town Hall seventy four. Can
you remember how much you guys were paid for that show?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We I don't know if we were paid.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Actually, I think, you know, I think we were doing
door deals and uh, you know in in Armadale when
we when we moved up there, we did two shows
Natalie and we got like fifty bucks a show, and
then we moved to Armadale and uh, and then we
were still running our own show. So I think the
first Armadale tone Hall, first time we played, you know,
it was probably empty and uh and and we had
(01:50):
to sort of you know, a couple of the cleaners
heard us playing, told a few people and a few
people turned up next time, so we didn't make any
money really, But you know, when you're a young rock
and roll band, you just want to play and uh
and and the best way to get people to come
and see you is to play live and and if
they like.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It, they'll come back and bring their friends.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know. I had a look at the Armadale town
Well it is still standing. It only holds two hundred
and eighty people. And I know you're starting the tour
there in Armadale. Did you guys entertain the thought of
going back there for like a little low key intimate
gig at any time?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, well, well we're actually doing one of them just
outside Sydnety. But but yeah, because it's sort of mid rehearsals.
But you know, listen, were just the fact that we're
going back to Armadale or was really special to us
because it was a place where you know, the band
coach is or the reason we went to Armadale.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's a long story.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
But Don Walker, who was the principal songwriter right, he
was studying quantum physics.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
At the time and he and he had to go.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
We formed in October seventy three and by December he
had to go back to Armadale to start, you know,
the final term of year of UNI for his master's degree.
So so you know, Don said, I've got to go
and do this, you know, because I you know, I
promised my folks and I wanted to wanted to study
and wanted to do it. So we said we'll come
with you, and we all moved to Armadale and literally,
(03:08):
while Don studied, we went and played as a four
piece band, and we just played all these little clubs
and pubs and town halls and and all these surrounding
towns and a lot of country pubs up there, really
tough pubs, you know, while you know, cowboys up there
and uh and literally it was it was a really
great sort of training grown for us.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
We played that, we played, you know, three or four
nights a.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Week and U and and none of the big city's
seen us. So by the time Don finished his degree
and we moved back to Adelaide, we were really sharp bands.
So Armadale was was sort of responsible for helping us
really find our feet as a rock and roll band.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
So it's really great to go back there and play
for them.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, you were definitely in fine form by the time
you guys came to New zealanderd your first show in
seventy nine, you opened for Rod Stewart. What was it
like playing to a crowd that massive at Western Springs?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
That's incredible. I mean I've played a few gigs there.
I played there was easy top as well. Unbelievable. You
know that Rod Stewart too. I've got some very funny
memories and crow shirts particularly.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
There was there was a.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Time at the the the hotel We're all staying at
the same hotel as Rodney's band, and Rodney's band decided
they were going to try and throw the piano off,
the grand piano off of the mezzanine floor in the
entrance of the hotel and they got half over the
rails before the police came. So so but but it
was just sort of great because Rod's band was so
(04:30):
slick and so so pro and and we were so
raw and so young. But the audience sort of gave
us I go as well, you know, And you know,
I think and Rod really liked the fact that we
were a raw rock and roll band, and you know,
because he's he's a bit of a rock and roll
rod and and uh, and we've been friends ever since,
so as as you know, since since that tour, you know,
Rod and I've stayed in contact, and you know, and
(04:51):
I've sang with him many times.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
You know, he must have felt like he was looking
at a younger him when he saw you. You know,
those great Scottish pipes.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
That you got. He's Celtic support.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I'm a Ranger supporter, but yeah, he's but he's but
he's a He's a great singer.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
We want, we want.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He is one one of the great rock singers of
our time. You know who are stylists, you know, when
he took all that stuff you learned from, you know,
from Artis Raiding and Sam Cook and all that and
and brought it to rock and roll music, which is
like you know, basically we're singers and like myself, you know,
going to start listening to people like him.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Well, you're looking incredibly well. I mean, you've been through
a hell of a time. I followed your progress your
recovery closely on Facebook page.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I got to say you were really good at.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Keeping your fans up to date with your recovery. I imagine
a lot of people with a huge profile like you
would go very quiet, but you got.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
People were sort of you know, really you know, because
we've done a lot of stuff on social media over over.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
You know, lockdown and all that sort of stuff, COVID and.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So people were really invested in what we were doing
and they were all really genuinely concerned.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
So we just all we did was just keep them
up to date so.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
They knew that, you know, because people were worried I
was going to die because I was pretty close to
death for a while there. But uh, you know, I
can't take all the glory for that. My wife sort of,
you know, while I was recovering in hospital and stuff
would I'd be there sort of sitting in the area,
half dead, and Jane would take a photo and post
it up and let people know that I was still alive,
which was really good just because just you know, because
(06:13):
you know, I've been I've been singing, you know for
fifty years or more here and uh, and so people
you know, just wanted to stay connected.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, well we appreciate you keeping the fans close.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
It was really good of you.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So you feel small Ian Master Morka obviously, Charlie Drayton
and for Steve Prestwitch rest is sold Ian Moss about
this tour. There are a minimum of fifteen songs that
our audience demanded. Here will be playing all of them
and a few surprises. Can you give us a clue
on what some of the surprises.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Well, you know there's there's I mean, there's all the hits,
Aquire Girls, Cheap Boy, you know, all that sort of stuff,
and you know, flame Trees in Case and and they're
the ones that are like they're like staples.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
We have to play them and because people really love them.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
But there's also all these songs that are really you know,
songs like Letter to Allen, you know, Hondog, Taipan, you
know that that are really a big part of.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
The growth of the band.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
You know, there's soul like Taipan off of Circus Animals.
We're really that song sort.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Of really shaped the way the band played for the
next few years.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
We learned a lot about about you know, power and
delivery by by writing and performing that song. So the
songs that we like to put in just to show
people an insight to how the band developed. And there's
also songs that there's a few songs we haven't played
much that we want to try there's a big, big
catalog of songs, of great songs. We're lucky enough to have,
you know, a bunch of great writings in the band,
So there's a lot of really great songs that we
(07:34):
don't always get the chance to play, so we try
to rotate them in and and out of the set.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
And then of course just before you.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Get here to New Zealand, you're doing the viright supercars
and laid awesome Chisel and the supercars. I mean, you
guys got together like Jack Daniels and Coke, don't you.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean fast cars, fast women, fast fast
music is all good, but you know it really is.
I mean, plus you know, you know we play that
loud though, Heroes over the cars anyway, So that's good.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Jimmy. It is such a treat to talk to you
as always, the Big five O all the Beast for
the Australian dates starting in October. We cannot wait to
see you here in New Zealand this January. The summer
concert tour tickets on sale on Monday, and we'll see
you in New Zealand solo in a few weeks.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
We'll be there soon, Trace. I look forward to to
bring the family out. We're gonna have a great time.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Gold Asides podcast the stories behind Just Great Rock. If
you enjoyed this podcast, click to share with family or friends.
For just Great Rock, listen to gold FM anytime anywhere
on iHeartRadio.
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