Jimmy Barnes’ son David Campbell speaks out as rocker undergoes open heart surgery

Jimmy Barnes’ son David Campbell has given an update on his famous father as he undergoes emergency surgery today.

Jimmy Barnes’ son David Campbell has given an update on his famous father as he undergoes emergency surgery today.

Hours after it was revealed this morning that the rock legend required open heart surgery, the Today Extra host assured fans that his father was in good hands as doctors fight to combat an infection that has spread to his heart.

Speaking on the show, which he hosts alongside Sylvia Jeffreys, Campbell said his 67-year-old dad was more worried about cancelling his upcoming gigs than undergoing surgery.

“I am here to allay everyone’s fears, he is in wonderful hands,” Campbell said on the program.

David Campbell shares health update on dad Jimmy Barnes on Today Extra.

“He loves to work and he is frustrated for the fans who have been booking tickets and coming to his shows, he is passionate about getting crews back up and running in Australia and performing with his band, but is grateful for the nurses and doctors and if he hadn’t got bacterial pneumonia, he wouldn’t have had this picked up.”

Campbell expressed his confidence in the medical staff looking after his dad, adding “it was a blessing” that the infection was picked up when it was.

Campbell says his dad is in good hands.

“He is in great hands and he will make a great recovery, so reach out to him on social media because all the love in the world will be good for him,” he said.

It was this morning that the former Cold Chisel frontman announced he was cancelling his remaining gigs for the year due to his health.

“Unfortunately I got some bad news late yesterday,” Barnes shared in a statement on Instagram.

“Despite everyone’s best efforts the bacterial infection I’ve been battling over the past 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 I’ll be getting open heart surgery over the next few hours to clear out this infection and put in a clean valve.”

Barnes said that the operation would “obviously take me out of action for a little while”, which he said was “hugely frustrating” as “just a few weeks ago I was the fittest I’ve been in decades!”

He revealed that this his health deteriorated “very suddenly,” so it would take some time to figure out what will happen with his 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.”