Jimmy Barnes undergoes open heart surgery after bacterial infection spreads

Jimmy Barnes has shared that he is undergoing immediate open heart surgery on Wednesday because a bacterial infection he has been “battling for the last fortnight” has spread to his heart.

The 67-year-old Cold Chisel frontman was hospitalised two weeks ago for pneumonia, and cancelled a show onboard a cruise to Noumea as part of Rock the Boat festival.

“Unfortunately I got some bad news late yesterday,” Barnes posted on Instagram on Wednesday morning, shortly before heading into surgery. “Despite everyone’s best efforts the bacterial infection … has apparently now spread to my heart.”

The musician said that it had infected “an otherwise healthy valve that was replaced some years ago due to a congenital defect” and that the surgery would “put in a clean valve”.

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Barnes was slated to play a series of headliner appearances around regional Australia in early 2024 including the Red Hot Summer Tour rock festival.

“Obviously this is going to take me out of action for a while,” he wrote, apologising to fans for the inconvenience. “It’s going to take a few days for everyone to figure out what’s going to be doable with my upcoming shows … A new plan will be announced as soon as possible.”

The illness had come on suddenly, Barnes said. “Just a few weeks ago I was fittest I’d been in decades!”

He thanked his doctors and nurses, as well as his wife, Jane, “for her around the clock love and care over the last few weeks in particular”.

“Given the serious nature of the operation I probably won’t be posting again for the next few weeks,” Barnes added. “Here’s hoping 2024 is full of much better things!”

This month Barnes cancelled a slot at a festival in Torquay, Victoria, after being hospitalised, citing doctor’s advice to stay on bed rest.

The health scare comes a year after the artist underwent surgery to address “constant and severe pain” in his back and hip.

“I’ve been jumping off PA’s and stomping around stages for nearly 50 years, but it’s finally caught up with me,” Barnes said at the time.

“As everybody knows, it’s against my religion to blow out gigs … 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.”