Legendary Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes will undergo open heart surgery today as he fights a bacterial infection in hospital.
The Cold Chisel frontman, who is 67 years old, was hospitalised last month with pneumonia.
In a statement on Twitter, Barnes revealed the bacterial infection had spread to his heart.
“Unfortunately I got some bad news yesterday….despite everyone’s best efforts the bacterial infection I’ve been battling over the last fortnight has apparently now spread to my heart,” Barnes wrote.
“It’s infected an otherwise healthy valve that was replaced some years ago due to a congenital defect, so l’ll be getting open heart surgery over the next few hours to clear out this infection and put in a clean valve.”
Barnes was due to headline the Rock the Boat 2023 cruise festival before he fell ill.
The musician said just a few weeks ago he was the fittest he had been “in decades”.
“This has all happened very suddenly so it’s going to take a few days for everyone to figure out what’s going to be doable with my upcoming shows,” Barnes wrote.
Barnes thanked his wife Jane and the doctors and nurses who had cared for him as well as his many fans who had sent get well messages.
Barnes’ son David Campbell spoke of the news live on the Today show, saying his father was “frustrated” by the latest development but was in “wonderful hands”.
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“He is frustrated for the fans who have been booking the up and coming shows,” Campbell said.
“He is passionate about getting crews back up and running in Australia. He is grateful for the nurses and doctors. If he hadn’t got pneumonia he wouldn’t have had this picked up.
“He is in great hands. We feel confident in the doctors.
“He will make a great recovery. Reach out to him on social media. He will be good.”
Jimmy Barnes’ statement in full:
Unfortunately I got some bad news late yesterday … despite everyone’s best efforts the bacterial infection I’ve been battling over the last fortnight has apparently now spread to my heart. It’s infected an otherwise healthy valve that was replaced some years ago due to a congenital defect, so l’ll be getting open heart surgery over the next few hours to clear out this infection and put in a clean valve.
Obviously this is going to take me out of action for a while. I know lots of other people are battling even worse things but it still feels hugely frustrating. Just a few weeks ago I was the fittest I’ve been in decades!Anyway, as you can hopefully appreciate, this has all happened very suddenly so it’s going to take a few days for everyone to figure out what’s going to be doable with my upcoming shows. I’m really sorry for all the inconvenience this will cause but please be patient while my team works hard to figure things out. A new plan will be announced as soon as possible.
In the meantime I’d like to thank my darling Jane for her around the clock love and care over the last few weeks in particular – as always l’d be lost without her. I’d also like to thank the Doctors and Nurses who’ve been amazing and all the people who have sent me ‘get well’ messages. You’ve all lifted my spirits and I’m sincerely grateful.
Given the serious nature of this operation I probably won’t be posting again for the next few weeks so all the best to you and yours for the holidays. Here’s hoping 2024 is full of much better things!
