Jimmy Barnes reveals staph infection has ‘hit his hip’ as he shares health update and reveals whether he will continue tour
Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has given an update on his health following his recent surgery and confirmed that he plans to return to the stage with Cold Chisel.
The 68-year-old singer, who struggled with both a hip replacement and open-heart surgery, shared his progress after facing renewed health issues in August.
The Cold Chisel frontman revealed that a persistent staph infection that previously affected his heart had returned, this time in his hip.
‘Staphylococcal infections like to hide in places like scar tissue or prosthetics,’ Barnes told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.
βLast year it decided to throw a party in my back and heart, and now it’s hit my hip.β
The rock icon was forced to postpone his solo tour Hell of a Time in August after being hospitalized in New Zealand in excruciating pain following a series of performances.
Despite the setback, Cold Chisel’s 50th anniversary tour scheduled for October remains unchanged and fans will soon see him back on stage with the iconic band.
In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Barnes explained that the surgery was unexpectedly necessary at the time and apologized to his fans.
Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has updated fans on his health following recent surgery and confirmed his plans to return to the stage with Cold Chisel
‘I had a stitch in my hip when I left Dunedin and by evening the pain was unbearable. The doctors are moving quickly but I expect to be fully recovered within six weeks.’
The post was accompanied by a photo of Jimmy in a hospital bed, giving a thumbs up and his wife Jane standing next to him.
Fans showed massive support for him and the rocker assured them that his postponed shows, including concerts in Wyong, Toowoomba, Thirroul and Sydney, would be rescheduled soon.
Despite his health issues, Barnes is optimistic, saying his love of music was a motivator in his recovery.
βI do physical therapy every day, walk miles while lifting weights, and I’ve also started singing while I’m doing that,β he said.
“It’s just going to be a joy to get back out there and play music. That’s what helped me recover so quickly.”
Staph infections are bacterial infections that can be fatal if the bacteria penetrate deeper into the body or enter the bloodstream.
βI do physiotherapy every day, walk miles while lifting weights, and I’ve started singing while I do it,β he told The Daily Telegraph this week
Earlier this year, Barnes posted a playful photo from his vacation in Thailand, showing him in a boxing ring.
“This is the first hotel gym I’ve found with a Thai boxing ring. I see another hip replacement… Maybe not,” he joked, displaying his trademark humor and resilience.
Despite the recent challenges, Barnes remains focused on returning to his passion.
βIt’s a joy to be making music again,β he said, looking forward to returning to the stage later this year.
Cold Chisel’s 50th anniversary tour, also known as ‘The Big Five-0’, has already sold over 150,000 tickets for 16 shows, making it one of the most anticipated tours of the year.
Late last year Jimmy was struck by a life-threatening infection that affected his heart and underwent successful open-heart surgery.