I sat in on some songwriting classes, and it was really bloody hard, a lot of music theory. I'd be sitting there, and they'd be talking all this music theory, and the teacher would say, 'Let's ask our guest Jimmy what he thinks,' and I'd be sitting there thinking, 'Please don't ask me, please don't ask me.'
— Jimmy Barnes
For me, 'Soul Deep' wasn't an easy thing to do.
One of my major regrets was that period in my life where I wasn't present in my kids' life. I was in another world.
I was lucky I was blessed with the constitution of a horse.
I love playing live.
Songs are like sign posts in my life.
My family were very poor. We never owned a house, in fact, we were lucky if we could afford the rent. So when I bought my first home, it was a very emotional time for me.
I've had a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I don't look back on anything with regret.
Jane and I - somehow we fell into each other's arms, and I adored her! I loved her from the minute I saw her. I don't think I knew what love was.
I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.
I come from a multicultural family. My wife's Thai. My children are half-Asian, half-Scottish; we're all immigrants.
I think tax is tough in this country. Every time I sign a cheque to pay tax, it drives me crazy. But at the same time, I'm happy to live here. I want to have a good medical system, good education, good roads, so it's a Catch 22. I hate it, but it's a necessary evil.
I'm happy to be recording and singing live. I have a great family, and a great bunch of people always come and see me sing. What more does a man need?
I have always loved soul singers.
Kids grow up, and they still need you.
Kids are the best thing ever.
The Internet has been a godsend and a nightmare for the music industry.
I'm not running out of inspiration.
I'm really happy with the way I am, and I've got a fantastic family and a great life, and I don't need anything else.
I'm good at maintaining a face. If you've got that bravado, and people expect anything from you, then you'll get away with anything.
I was actually wilder before I joined Cold Chisel. I was really wild.
I grew up in poverty. I was ashamed of the fact, when we were kids, we'd be at school hungry, our stomachs rumbling so we couldn't concentrate.
I can't stand a house to be dirty or even messy, even. I am a bit OCD. Wash the dishes when you finish eating.
I have very strong memories of my early years. In fact, I remember the house I was born in, and we moved from that house when I was less than ten months old. I have drawn pictures of it and shown my mother, and she was shocked because we have no photos of the place, and I was very accurate.
I came from a tough childhood. There was a lot of stuff that I'd actually forgotten or that I'd blocked or hidden away until I started addressing it.
I was not an ideal parent, and there were things that I did right and things I did wrong.
I have done a lot of great things. I have a beautiful family and wonderful friends. But there were many times, dark times, that I almost let it all slip through my fingers.
The best thing about this country is the difference in all of us. We all come from different backgrounds. It's a really beautiful thing.
When you get behind with the tax department, it's very difficult to catch up.
I always wanted to be in a rock band, but I wanted to sing like a soul singer.
You should fight for every breath you have.
Don't take your friends for granted or that everyone is going to be OK.
Thais are one of the nicest people I've ever met. It's not called the land of smiles for nothing.
I keep my Scottish connection. I know where I was born, and that's an important part of my history, and I think all immigrants are the same. But if I could live anywhere in the world, it would be Australia.
The music industry is quite brutal and quite harsh and can be spirit shattering, but it's an honour to be a musician because your job is to make sure people enjoy themselves; to make people forget about their troubles.
In the 1970s, we got a Labor government that put more emphasis on trade with Asia; the Vietnam war ended, and refugees were coming in. We were more part of Asia than America and the rest of the world. There was the proximity, for a start - all these countries and cultures just north of us. It just made sense that that's what we were part of.
Iggy Pop is legendary - he is awesome - and I am a massive Bruce Springsteen fan. His song 'Cautious Man' is my favourite song. It's really poignant, dark, and moody, like myself.
I got to 25, and I thought, 'I'm never going to make 30.' But now I look at it like... if you can remain true to what you do, I don't see why you can't keep doing it.
My dad was a womaniser, a gambler. He was violent. They thought if they left Scotland, they would leave the problems behind.
I wanted my children to never feel like they were unsafe. I wanted them to have everything they needed.
I know I've made a lot of mistakes, but I've done some good things along the way.
My dad was a quiet assassin. He was really charming and smiley and softly spoken, but he could knock you out in a second.
I love my mum and dad, but they were shocking providers and carers.
We all do the best with what we have.
When I was 18 in Cold Chisel, I didn't want to make it to 21. Who wants to be that old?
I love spending money. I always have.
When I hear a singer, I want them to be passionate and intense, and soul singers like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett always seemed to do exactly that.
Partners fall in and out of love, but they still need each other.
Life is good.
People change naturally when they have children.
