The Big Five-0: Cold Chisel announce 50th anniversary tour

The Aussie rock legends aren't promoting a new album, they're simply hitting the stage to celebrate 50 years together and their love of performing.

Lead singer, and Southern Highlands resident Jimmy Barnes said he was recently asked: "Are Cold Chisel together or apart?"

"Cold Chisel are never apart. We're as close as brothers," he said. "Some of the best moments of my life have been spent on stage with those boys, and I hope we keep going 'til the day we drop."

So they're hitting the stage again for The Big Five-0 tour.

They're kicking off the national tour in Armidale on October 5 and will also play regional shows in Wollongong, Newcastle and Ballarat.

"The Big Five-0 is a landmark moment," Barnes said.

Early days of Cold Chisel are well known, Barnes wearing a sweat-soaked bandana across his forehead as he clutches a vodka bottle. He sang, the crowd roared.

"There have been plenty of times where I never thought I'd live to see this day," the admits of where the band is now.

"I'm going to make the most of it. I can't wait to celebrate with my mates and with all the fans who have been such a big part of our story. We're gonna smash it."

Chief songwriter and piano player Don Walker is just as excited to hit the stage for the tour.

"We'll be going all out to celebrate a milestone birthday like this. Bookending the tour in the two places where we first welded the band together, building these circus tent shows in three cities, bringing along some great guests and doing a set which reaches back across our whole song catalogue should all make The Big Five-0 a tour to remember," he said.

The circus tent gigs will be in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and they're a nod to the band's Circus Animals shows from 1982 when Barnes closed the gig singing Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye) while riding pillion on a motorbike flying up a trapeze wire, yes, you had to see it to believe it.

During the upcoming circus tent gigs they'll play under a specially constructed, 10,000 capacity big top tent featuring floor and bleacher seating plus a standing area across the rear half of the venue.

Ahead of the upcoming tour Cold Chisel will release 50 Years - The Best Of, it's a 25-song album feature their classic songs.

Limited tickets will go on sale to members of Cold Chisel's mailing list at 12 on Friday, May 31, with general public tickets on sale at 12pm on Tuesday, June 4.

Armidale, NSW - Saturday, October 5, 2024 - Petersons Winery, Mount View - presented by Red Hot Summer Tour

Gold Coast, Qld - Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Sydney, NSW - Friday, October 11, 2024 - The Entertainment Quarter

Wollongong, NSW - Tuesday, 15 October 2024 - WIN Entertainment Centre

Perth, WA - Saturday, October 19 , 2024 - Sandalford Wines - presented by Red Hot Summer Tour

Melbourne, Vic - Friday, October 25, 2024 - Flemington Racecourse, Flemington VIC

Brisbane, QLD -Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Victoria Park

Newcastle, NSW - Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Ballarat, Vic - Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Victoria Park - presented by Red Hot Summer Tour

Hobart, Tas - Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - MyState Bank Arena

Adelaide, SA - Sunday, November 17, 2024 - VAILO Adelaide 500, Post Race Concert - Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.