“It’s funny, my short-term memory is buggered from drinking vodka, but the rest of it’s good,” the Australian rock legend laughed. 

Barnes recently finished the tome, due for release in October, and said it was a “cathartic” experience. 

“Basically it’s the story of my childhood, from when I was born until I was about 17 and I joined Cold Chisel,” the vocalist said.

“I came from a pretty wild background, so there’s lots of stuff people don’t know. It’s a pretty dark childhood.

“It’s also all the stuff that shaped me to become the singer and the person that I am today – the good, the bad and the ugly,” he laughed. 

Barnes refers to himself as “hyperactive”. 

Aside from having already started another book covering his career, other recent activity has included writing a series of children’s books and recording a kids’ album with The Wiggles. 

Cold Chisel, currently on a brief break, also completed the highly successful ‘One Night Stand’ national tour late last year. 

“When I get an idea for a project I’m like a rabid dog,” Barnes said.

“I like to keep busy, I like to keep moving, and I love performing.

“So in among all the other stuff, the big payoff for me is getting out and playing live.

“Getting the chance to get out on the Red Hot Summer Tour, it’s like the release valve. 

“When I get the chance to get on-stage and just cut loose is what makes it all worthwhile for me.”

He also travelled to Nashville at the end of last year to record the fourth installment of the Soul… collection, to be issued later in 2016. 

Before its release, the veteran front-man will headline the aforementioned Red Hot Summer Tour, which also features Noiseworks, The Angels, Mark Seymour and the Undertow and The Badloves. 

The tour visits Kiama Showground on March 20.

Barnes said he didn’t plan to air the new soul material during these shows, instead focusing primarily on Chisel material and solo hits. 

“If you put a good bill together, you get a lot of bands that are like-minded, you can get there and every member of each band is on,” Barnes enthused. 

“It doesn’t matter where they are on the bill, they’re out there to make the day the best it can possibly be for the punters. Every band goes on and says, ‘I’m going to be the best band on the day’, and they try and do that. 

“We’re all mates on the tour, so it’s not like we’re unhealthily competitive, but we’re all competitive.”