Jimmy Barnes has announced his long-awaited return to the stage in New Zealand for the first time since his heart surgery last year.
Following a sold-out string of shows in his home country Australia, the rock star is bringing his Hell of a Time tour to New Zealand for four shows in July this year, just months after he was admitted to hospital with bacterial pneumonia.
While in hospital, he became very unwell and soon needed surgery for an abscess, which left him with endocarditis. He underwent surgery to replace the aortic valve in his heart on December 13 and has continued to update fans on his recovery via social media.
Now, he’s been given the all-clear by doctors to get back on the road, and Barnes says “I’m excited about getting back on stage, in front of the band and playing for my Kiwi mates.”
And he has a special message of thanks for his New Zealand fans, saying, “The family were passing on your messages of care and it really lifted my spirits.”