Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes is set to release his much-anticipated sixth book, Highways and Byways: Tall Tales and Short Stories from the Long Way Round, on October 16. Fans of the beloved musician (and now prolific author) are in for a treat, as it promises to be a thrilling mix of memories, misadventures, and the kind of heartwarming, intimate stories that Barnes has become known for.
Following the success of his previous books—Working Class Boy, Working Class Man, Killing Time, Where the River Bends, and Blue Christmas – Barnes continues his journey of storytelling with a fresh perspective, delving even deeper into his past while weaving in moments of imagination and new-found revelations.
The legendary Cold Chisel frontman first ventured into writing in 2016 with his groundbreaking memoir Working Class Boy, an unflinchingly raw account of his tumultuous childhood that resonated with readers across Australia and beyond. He followed it up with Working Class Man, where he detailed his ascent to rock stardom while wrestling with his demons. Each subsequent release has seen Barnes expanding his voice, moving from personal memoirs to fiction, cookbooks, and holiday tales.
In Highways and Byways, Barnes invites readers on a journey, from precarious high-rise adventures in Hawaii to the shock of uncovering life-altering family secrets. It’s a blend of laughter, danger, and reflection, told with the same grit and authenticity that has made him a literary success.
As Barnes reflects:
“I started writing in 2016 to share my story and to make sense of things, and I can hardly believe I’m now publishing my sixth book. I’m still writing, still loving it, and I’m very grateful to all the readers who’ve gone on this journey with me. There are places from the past in my memory that keep revealing themselves to me, and each time they do, I learn something new, grow, and become a better human. It’s like pieces of a puzzle that shine a light on the dark times in my life.”
Whether reflecting on his wild life in rock ‘n’ roll or imagining what lies beyond, Barnes’ storytelling captures a sense of nostalgia, excitement, and hard-won wisdom.
Highways and Byways hits bookstores on October 16.
