But it truly was, as he made sense of his past by telling his story of fear, survival, desperation and drugs and much more. He told more, publishing Working Class Man, in 2017, adding further insights into his background and psyche.

If anything, the nation's love for the front man of Cold Chisel, was enhanced by his touring shows, where he talked, told stories and played music.

Last week, Barnes, now 64, launched his third book, Killing Time, a series of nearly 50 short stories about his life adventures. He's nowhere near running out steam, as his stories and schedule attest.

The stories cover a wide range of times, places, people and events, told with humour and pathos. And they sound like who we think Jimmy is - larrikin, singer, lover, drunk, addict, joker. And there's a lot of family in the pages, too. And others, from Rod Stewart to Rosa Parks.

Barnes reckons the book shows how much he has learned about himself, and his journey to become a better man.

"Life has a way of panning out in front of you," he says in our quick phone chat.

"If you take notice, you have a lot of lessons and a lot of laughs. And that's what I'm trying to do. Be more aware of what goes on around me."

The book has been launched in a huge burst of publicity. Excerpts and live blog with The Guardian. Radio and television interviews "from 7am to bloody 7pm every day" he tells me.

Barnes has kept himself in the light as much as could be expected during a pandemic, doing regular appearances on Facebook with songs, often featuring just him and his wife, but also with guests, like other family members and musicians.

Under the circumstances, he says he may tentatively do a performing book and music tour in mid-2021, as he did with the first two books.

"The stories lend themselves to music," he says. "Emotionally, it will be a different show to to the others. The others were harsh, I was really looking at the darkest side of my life ... it was very painful. It did take me to a whole new place, where I could grow again."

Barnes says he believes his singing has matured as he has emotionally come of age, as late in life as it may be.

"As a singer when I was young I could tap into my emotions, but the one I tapped into most was fear," he says.

"It was fear of not succeeding, not being liked, fear of everything. I used it. It manifested itself in aggressiveness. All I did was drive a band hard ... that really served me well for a long time. It was something that eventually, you can only do that so long.

"My evolution, I can still be aggressive, but when I want to tap into love, fear, or hope, I can tap into them without being swamped by them. I think I am a better singer because I can tap into my emotions and not be swamped by them. That helps, the more I grow the better singer, the better human being I can be. That's my plan."

Barnes says he may have four albums coming out in the next 18 months.

He has been collaborating with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. "I love the darkness and intensity" of working with them, he says.

He's also got a rockabilly album in the works with Chris Cheney (of The Living End) and Slim Jim (of Stray Cats).

Two weeks ago he played Lizotte's in Newcastle over two nights (Ian Moss joined on the second night). He covered a huge range of works, and his version of Flame Trees was proof he hasn't lost a thing.