Jimmy Barnes announces ‘Working Class Man 40th Anniversary’ show at Sydney Opera House Forecourt with special guest Kate Ceberano

The Working Class Man is turning 40 – and having a very special birthday party at the Sydney Opera House.

To celebrate his landmark album For The Working Class Man, JIMMY BARNES is playing On The Steps at Opera House Forecourt, Sydney on Wednesday 10 December, proudly presented by MG Live and Face To Face Touring.

Barnesy, as he’s affectionately known, will be playing the iconic album from start to finish, taking the crowd from I’d Die To Be With You Tonight to Paradise, plus classic cuts from his chart-topping catalogue.

“For The Working Class Man was such a significant album in my life. I got to make the record with some amazing people, and it really set up the rest of my solo career.

I’m so excited to be celebrating For The Working Class Man at the Opera House with my dear friend Kate Ceberano.

It’s going to be a very special night.”
Jimmy Barnes

It’s part of the Working Class Man 40^th Anniversary Tour, which kicks off on Saturday 22 November at Mount Duneed Estate, Geelong VIC, and then heads to Sirromet, Mount Cotton QLD on Saturday 29 November; Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley NSW on Saturday 6 December; The Regatta Grounds, Hobart TAS on Saturday 17 January; Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley, SA on Saturday 31 January; and Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley WA on Saturday 7 February.

Telstra Members have exclusive access to the Telstra Plus Member presale, commencing Monday 18 August at 10.00am local time for 48 hours (or until presale allocation exhausted) via telstra.com/tickets

MG Live and Face To Face member presales, as well as a Jimmy Barnes fan club presale, start Wednesday 20 August at 12.00pm local time, before general on sale commences Thursday 21 August at 2.00pm local time via Sydney Opera House and Ticketmaster. All ticket and tour information via mg.live

Released in December 1985, For The Working Class Man went straight to number one on the chart and helped define Jimmy’s hugely successful solo career. As the authors of The 100 Best Australian Albums declared, “It defined both him and much of Australia.”

The album spent seven weeks at number one, becoming Barnesy’s longest-running chart-topper. And it has sold more than 500,000 copies in Australia.

For The Working Class Man is packed with classics, including Jimmy’s first Top 10 solo single I’d Die To Be With You Tonight, the Top 40 smash Ride The Night Away, and the beautiful ballad that he wrote for his wife Jane, Without Your Love.

And, of course, the album features his signature song, the unofficial national anthem, Working Class Man.

For the Working Class Man also included seven reworked songs from his chart-topping solo debut Bodyswerve, including No Second Prize, Daylight and Promise Me You’ll Call.

To coincide with the landmark tour, a special 40^th anniversary release of the album via Mushroom Music will be welcome news to collectors and music fans alike, released on Friday 14 November and available to preorder now here. Honouring the formats originally released in 1985 and newly remastered for the anniversary, For The Working Class Man will be released as a 2LP ‘flame’ coloured, hand-poured vinyl in a gatefold jacket, the first time it’s been on two records since it hit shelves. Also for the first time since 1985, the singles will be available as an exclusive limited-edition boxset of coloured 7″s – Ride The Night Away, I’d Die To Be With You Tonight, Working Class Man – and a new fourth single which includes a stripped back, re-worked version of Working Class Man and a 10-minute reflection by Jimmy on the creation of the iconic music video. The 40^th Anniversary Edition will also be available on CD and cassette. The album’s cultural impact is undeniable; it continues to hold lasting significance in the DNA of Australian music. Working Class Man was recently included in the triple j Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. The juggernaut that is JIMMY BARNES is showing no signs of slowing down.

Joining JIMMY BARNES for this very special show is KATE CEBERANO. 

KATE CEBERANO was still a teenager when For The Working Class Man was released, but she was already a star, fronting the band I’m Talking. Paul Kelly sums up Kate’s diverse career: “She’s made jazz albums, sung with symphony orchestras and collaborated with a range of singers … she’s doing it all.” Kate has also won Dancing With The Stars, five ARIA Awards and been honoured with the Order of Australia. Kate has recently been embracing Oz-music’s rich past with her Australian Made Tour and Live album – and is treating audiences to an encore on Jimmy’s tour. Boasting a setlist of her own Platinum catalogue alongside songs made famous by Cold Chisel, ICEHOUSE, Divinyls through to Sia, Bernard Fanning and Wolfmother, this is a simultaneous act of grateful reflection and bold creative evolution. Superstar Hugh Jackman calls Kate, “Truly one of the great voices this country has produced … Kate’s singing simply melts your heart.”

JIMMY BARNES is the most successful artist in Australian chart history. He’s had 16 solo number one albums – no artist has had more – plus six chart-topping albums with Cold Chisel. Barnesy’s 21st solo album, DEFIANT, entered the Australian charts at number one in June this year. Cold Chisel’s new live album, The Big Five-O Live, is out now.

The Working Class Man 40^th Anniversary Tour will also honour a dear friend who was instrumental in the making of the album. The late-great Michael Gudinski said, “I’m as proud of For The Working Class Man as any album the Mushroom Group has released.” Michael called the album Jimmy’s gift to his fans – “a record for everyone who’s believed in him … For The Working Class Man.”

The time has come to celebrate the album in all its glory.

Tickets on sale Thursday 21 August from Sydney Opera House and Ticketmaster.

TOUR DATES: