How can you not love a bit of Jimmy Barnes?! Actual question. He’s an Aussie music legend, he’s been around the block more than a few times and tonight we’re here to celebrate and remember the album that turned 40 years old this year ‘For The Working Class Man.’ I decided to listen to the album again today in full in preparation for tonight and found myself not only enjoying it all over again but by the fifth play through I was so ready to hear these songs live tonight as he is set to perform them on the steps on the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Kate Ceberano is warming us up tonight and opens up with the Aussie classic by The Models ‘Out of Mind Out of Sight’ which is awesome. This Australian made set is going to be great now with some Icehouse and ‘Can’t Help Myself’ and silverchair’s ‘Straight Lines’ followed by a medley of some INXS, James Reyne, and now for one of her own and it’s a stripped down version of ‘Brave’ and this is great! Taking her life into her own hands by playing a Cold Chisel classic ‘You Got Nothing I Want’ is ballsy but I give her respect for that. ‘Eagle Rock’ is next and not one person has dropped their pants, what is wrong with the world these days ha ha. Some Divinyls and ‘Boys in Town’ which rocked things up before a bit of ‘Chandelier’ and some Wolfmother and ‘The Joker and The Thief’ before heading back to her catalogue with ‘Bedroom Eyes’ and what a song. ‘I See Red’ gets some Split Enz in the mix and then back to her with ‘Pash’ and what a trip down memory lane that was and also the remembrance of just how good our Aussie music is.
OK, let’s go!! And let me tell you all about it indeed… Jimmy and band take the stage to celebrate as I said earlier 40 years of ‘For the Working Class Man’ and opening with ‘I’d Die To Be With You Tonight’ and what an opener for not only the album but tonight’s set. This actually may even be one of my favourite Jimmy Barnes songs. Straight into ‘Ride the Night Away’ and this band fill out this song perfectly. It’s so good hearing these classics live and Jimmy is an absolute powerhouse that still has the chops and it’s perfect. We stick with the album for ‘American Heartbeat’ a song I’ve never heard live before and it’s a pleasure to hear it. “Welcome to 1985” Jimmy says as he jinxes us for future rain, which is now followed by ‘Thickskinned’ and ‘Daylight’ and hearing these songs live 40 years on is a treat. The perfectly 80’s sounding ‘Promise Me You’ll Call’ is up and what a tune. ‘Paradise’ is rockin’ and almost a sequel to ‘Rising Sun’ and it kicks ass. Time for some bagpipes leading us into ‘Vision’ and Jane holding it down on the pipes is a treat. Great tune. Story time before ‘Without Your Love’ and I’m a big fan of an 80’s ballad and this one delivers. Up next though is one we all know and again one of his classics and first solo single in ‘No Second Prize’ and the crowd are loving this one as expected. What a tune. Easily one of the best Aussie rock songs out there. Throwing in ‘Boys Cry Out for War’ was a nice touch and kept things moving before the big one… the one that this whole thing is named after its time for ‘Working Class Man’ and the cheer as the piano started was perfect. Phones are raised everywhere to capture this classic and a song that clearly means so much to those here. That was perfect. And so ends the album.
Piano intro takes us into ‘Last Frontier’ which keeps the tempo up nicely. Bringing out the legendary Diesel for ‘Too Much Ain’t Enough Love’ was a treat. Man that guitar tone is so good and that song is so damn smooth. An amazing outro lets Diesel shine and that was cool. Taking us from the old to the newer with ‘Beyond The River Bend’ from latest album ‘Defiant’ which fit in nicely and things rock back up a bit with ‘Merry-Go-Round’ with Jackie holding it down on the drums, killing it. They absolutely rock out to end this one which is awesome to see. Turning it up to annoy Alan Jones they blast into ‘Lay Down Your Guns’ and man I love this song. That’s how you do it! Now from one of the best Jimmy solo songs into the best Cold Chisel song and you can fight me on that. ‘Flame Trees’ is perfection. Hearing everyone sing that back to the stage from the top of the Opera House steps was unbelievable and to be a part of that was something special. From the old to the new it’s the title track from ‘Defiant’ and that fits in nicely before a “thank you very much” and a well deserved rest before the encore.
The slide guitar intro means only one thing and it’s time for ‘Driving Wheels’ which is another piece of Barnes perfection. The hits keep coming but we’re going back to Chisel with the only one it could be… ‘Khe Sanh’ and as you can imagine this went off. Hearing everyone sing it back gives you chills. Diesel returns to the stage and Mahalia joins them for an amazing rendition of ‘Good Times’ as they all bang this classic out as footage of Michael Hutchence and Jimmy adorn the screens it’s a lovely tribute. What a way to end the show.
That was an amazing show full of nostalgia and hits and reminds you just how amazing Jimmy Barnes’ catalogue is and how much of a powerhouse he is, also can’t forget the brilliant band backing him that helped bring these songs back to life and helped make tonight something we all needed. What a show!
Essential Information
Venue: Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Date: December 10, 2025
Presented by: MG Live
Set list:
I’d Die to Be With You Tonight
Ride the Night Away
American Heartbeat
Thick Skinned
Daylight
Promise Me You’ll Call
Paradise
Vision
Without Your Love
No Second Prize
Boys Cry Out for War
Working Class Man
Last Frontier
Too Much Ain’t Enough Love
Beyond The River Bend
Merry-Go-Round
Lay Down Your Guns
Flame Trees
Defiant
Driving Wheels
Khe Sanh
Good Times
