If Jimmy Barnes had his way, Dunedin may have been able to claim him as one of its own.
The Australian rock icon spoke of his love for New Zealand in an interview with Stuff, and said he even investigating a move across the Ditch at one point.
Dunedin was the preference for the Scottish-born singer, although the cooler climate dissuaded his wife Jane Mahoney.
“I was trying to talk my wife into moving to Dunedin,” Barnes said.
“I love the look of the town, and I took her [Mahoney] down there.
“It was beautiful, but it was freezing cold, and she’s a Thai girl, so that was out of the question.”
The revelation comes as Barnes announced two New Zealand shows in April next year, in Christchurch and Auckland, on the 40th Anniversary Tour of his hit album For The Working Class Man.
There was no chance he would leave New Zealand off the schedule.
“I feel an emotional and physical connection to New Zealand,” Barnes told Stuff, elaborating to say that goes back to his days with Cold Chisel – the band he fronted for a decade prior to his solo career.
While he has not been immune to addiction and health issues, including multiple surgeries in recent years, he assured fans he was as healthy as ever as he prepares to tour once more.
“Voice is stronger than it’s ever been,” he told Stuff.
“I’m probably healthier than I was when I made this record back 40 years ago.
“I look after myself. I swim every day. I do weights and pilates and all that sort of stuff. So my lungs are good.”
Barnes will be joined at the shows by Cold Chisel bandmate Ian Moss.
The most successful artist in Australian chart history, Barnes has had 16 solo No 1 albums, as well as a further six with Cold Chisel.
Of those For Working Class Man was the longest running chart-topper, spending seven weeks at No 1 and selling more than 500,000 copies in Australia.
Barnes will play at Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena on April 17, and Spark Arena in Auckland on April 19.
Ticket presales begin on Wednesday, before general release on Monday next week.
– Allied Media