Working Class Boy: The untold story of Jimmy Barnes’ harrowing childhood in new book

Booze, fights and hiding all night in a cupboard to stay out of dad’s way ... Jimmy Barnes reveals the untold story of his harrowing childhood in our exclusive book extract this Sunday.

BOOZE, fights and hiding all night in a cupboard to stay out of dad’s way ... Jimmy Barnes reveals the untold story of his harrowing childhood in our exclusive extract this Sunday.

“There are a lot of kids who have gone through the same horrors that I have. But that doesn’t make it right.”

In the first of a two-part exclusive from his new book Working Class Boy, this Sunday Barnes tells his story in his own words.

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WORKING CLASS BOY

I am writing from what I feel; I don’t really know any facts. But what I feel has driven me to the brink of insanity for many years.

I have spent most of my life ashamed of something that I didn’t understand. I have been subconsciously trying to kill myself.

I’ve tried to drink myself to death for a start, but I tried anything that would keep me from facing things in my life that were too hard to look at.

And there were lots of things that I didn’t want to face. This period in my life seems to be the key to the whole mess.

I always used to say to Jane, my wife, that I thought my childhood was just normal. And sadly, in some ways it was. By that, I mean that there are a lot of kids who have gone through the same horrors that I have. But that doesn’t make it right. I have been afraid all my life and for good reason, not only because of this one person but because of many. The things I went through then and since have scarred me almost beyond help.

Don’t miss the full extract only in this weekend’s Sunday newspapers.

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The book is released on Monday.

On Monday, our exclusive extract continues with Barnes revealing his greatest regret — allowing son David Campbell to spend his childhood without a father: “I can never change that or make it up to him.”

Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes, RRP $45, published September 19 by HarperCollins. Barnes will appear at bookshop events in September and October. His live show, Working Class Boy: An Evening Of Stories And Songs, tours nationally in November and December. Details and tickets: jimmybarnes.com

READER BOOK OFFER

Buy Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes for only $29.95 + $5 p/h. Order online at heraldsun.com.au/shop or call 1300 306 107.

For mail order, post a cheque/money order to: Book Offers, PO Box 14730, Melbourne VIC 8001.