Jimmy Barnes reveals the word that's not in his vocabulary

From a humble start to famous rocker, Jimmy Barnes has never been one to slow down.

The Australian icon will hit stage in Adelaide tonight to kick off a solo national tour in celebration of his 21st studio album Defiant.

"The name says it all, I've been defiant since I was a young man," he told 9News.

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Born in Scotland and raised in Adelaide's northern suburbs, Barnes left his job with SA Railways at the age of 16 to form iconic Aussie rock band Cold Chisel. 

Now with millions of adoring fans around the globe, he has released 10 new songs still true to the working class man the world was introduced to half a century ago. 

Much of his new solo album was written quietly in hospital as the rockstar battled various health complications over the past few years

"I was trying to write lyrics on my phone and a few melodies and ideas I had," he said.

"When I was singing in my phone, a couple of the nurses thought I was in pain.

"They wanted to come and calm me down. I was like 'it's ok, it's just the way I sing'."

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Barnes has shown that you can't hold the iconic rocker down for long.

The singer embarked on Cold Chisel's triumphant 50 year anniversary tour last year, with a special final show in front of tens of thousands at the Adelaide 500.

Now, he is back on home soil to shred the stage again. 

"I just think it is really fitting," he said.

"After all that turmoil and health problems to come back and reset and to do it where I started is an incredible thing."

Barnes is set to perform sold-out shows in Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra.

Fans can still secure tickets in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane but the shows are selling fast.

Despite a busy schedule, Barnes said retirement was not in his vocabulary as long as he had a voice.

"As long as I can sing, as long as there is an audience who wants to hear me sing and what I'm doing is relevant, I'm happy to do it," he said.

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