Living in the Shadow of Younger Brother Jimmy Barnes
John Swan, known as Swanee, 73, is the older brother of famous musician Jimmy Barnes and the original trailblazer in their musical family. He recently spoke about his struggles with past trauma, drug use, and the dynamic with his siblings, especially Jimmy.
Family and Career Reflections
Swanee has always been close to his siblings and proud of their achievements. He addressed the often unspoken tension of living in Jimmy's shadow:
“Not many people touch on it, and I think they're just polite.”
Despite this, he never felt threatened by any rivalry. Swanee shared:
“I didn’t really give a stuff, because I got offered the gig before he did.”
Early Music Choices
He chose to continue drumming with his band at the time because he was earning “$25 a week” and “couldn’t afford to lose that money.” He expressed surprise at hearing other musicians join the band later:
“My jaw just about hit the floor when I heard Mossy [Ian Moss] and Steve Prestwich …”
Although he joined Jimmy’s band six months after its formation to sing, Swanee soon felt it was best to leave, realizing:
“I was smart enough to realise that this band doesn't need me.”
Solo Success and Later Projects
Following his departure, Swanee built a successful solo career and played with other bands. Notably, he replaced Angry Anderson in The Party Boys and achieved a number one hit with them.
Author’s summary: Swanee, Jimmy Barnes’ older brother, overcame personal struggles and carved his own respected path in the music industry despite living in his sibling's shadow.