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ABC News
ABC News
National

Jimmy Barnes cancels shows due to health issues requiring surgery

It's doctor's orders for Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes.

He announced on Tuesday that he requires back and hip surgery and will take a break from touring.

Barnes anticipates he'll be back on the road again in the second half of 2023, which means his summer touring schedule will have to take a back seat to his health issues.

He will still headline his final show for the year on Saturday, but will abandon his other live commitments for now.

This will enable him to go under the knife and recover before he gets back on the road.

Barnes released a video message outlining his predicament to fans.

"I've been jumping off PAs and stomping around stages for nearly 50 years, but it's finally caught up with me," Barnes said.

"I've had niggling back and hip issues for years, but things suddenly got a lot worse over the last few weeks and I'm now in constant and severe pain.

"As everybody knows, it's against my religion to blow out gigs, but the doctors tell me I need an operation as soon as possible and it will really limit my movement for a few months.

"As much as it kills me to inconvenience everyone, I have to get this fixed so I can jump around onstage for another 50 years."

Ticketholders to most of his concerts can be expected to be contacted by event promoters with information posted on the websites of individual shows.

Some performances will be postponed to a later date, others will be cancelled.

In some cases, Barnes has called in favours from his mates, with the Hoodoo Gurus stepping in for some upcoming shows.

Given the pandemic has caused so much disruption to touring, Barnes is encouraging his fans to still show up to these concerts in his absence.

"I'm very grateful that the Gurus have agreed to headline these three big gigs in my absence," Barnes said.

"We played some great shows together last summer so I know audiences will be in good hands.

"Their addition to the top of the Wollongong, Torquay and Rochford line-ups also means that the other bands on the bill, like The Living End, Wolfmother and Noiseworks, will still get their chance to rock.

"That's important for everyone after all the disrupted touring over recent years so I strongly encourage people to #keepyourticket and support some of our finest Aussie artists at these shows."

Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaite and Diesel will step in for Summernats 35 in Canberra in January.

The disruption to Barnes's schedule means he won't be able to tour to support his inaugural album of holiday songs, Blue Christmas, which was released last week.

Barnes's updated touring schedule will be available on his website.

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