Jimmy Barnes headed to Thailand to focus on recovery

Jimmy Barnes is headed overseas to focus on his recovery after near-death, as he sets his sights on returning to the stage at Bluesfest.

Jimmy Barnes has a long to-do list for this year after surviving the life-threatening blood infection and heart surgery which saved his life.

The beloved rocker continues to rebuild his fitness with pilates, walks, swimming and the famous Barnes home cooking after his near-death experience in November.

He and wife Jane will keep the fitness program going when they escape soon to their second home in Thailand to focus on his recovery.

The surgeries on his back and heart in December and intensive antibiotics treatments since he was discharged from hospital have taken no toll on his voice, with the singer now able to belt out his favourite songs.

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes recovers at home after major surgery. Picture Sam Ruttyn

While doctors had cautioned him against singing in the early stages of recovery, the Working Class Man couldn’t help giving his vocals a workout during his gym sessions on the exercise bike.

“I’ve got different playlists every day when I go in there and a couple of weeks ago, I had the Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock’n’Roll album on and Dance Little Sister and I was on the bike and started pedalling faster because the song was so good, and I thought I’d just try and sing,” he said.

“They said I wasn’t supposed to yet. I started singing softly and it was OK so I got a bit louder and it was easy for me.

“Jane came in and said ‘Was that you? I could hear you through two walls!’

“What I noticed a couple of weeks ago was I would get my heart rate up to about 105 on the bike and it would stay there, but as soon as I start singing it was up to about 127 because singing puts me in gig mode and I had to be mindful of my blood pressure.”

Barnesy can’t wait to get back on stage. Picture Sam Ruttyn

Barnes, who is restless at the best of times and unable to stay seated or still for longer than a few minutes, is itching to get back on stage.

His first show will be at Bluesfest on March 31 when he will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Flesh and Wood album with a special show.

Barnes and his band will then perform three Red Hot Summer shows in the Hunter Valley, Launceston and Bendigo in April.

And his Hell of a Time tour, which will also celebrate the Flesh and Wood record with Barnes sharing stories from his recent brush with death during the show, kicks off in June.

Jimmy Barnes with wife Jane, post heart surgery. Picture: Twitter

But in between shows, the rocker turned best-selling author is working on two new books, including the ghost story which has haunted his imagination for the past few years.

He found it tough to write at first during his recovery because of post-op brain fog but meditation has helped him to focus.

“I’m writing short stories and a novel at the moment and the horror book is still there,” he said.

“But the book of fiction and nonfiction short stories will come out sooner than that.”

Tickets for the Hell of a Time tour go on sale on February 19 via jimmybarnes.com