Jimmy Barnes hits back at racists

The Cold Chisel frontman wrote on Facebook late yesterday he had been told “certain groups of people” had been playing his songs at rallies.

As anyone who has sunk piss at any kind of Australian celebration will know, Khe Sanh is synonymous with arms around shoulders and out of tune notes belted the length of slippery pub floors.

Just hours after Reclaim Australia singer Jimmy Barnes’ music at their rallies per his request, fellow Aussie music legend John Farnham has also slammed the group for using his hit anthem You’re The Voice during their protests.

Reclaim Australia organisers have said they are not racist but that the rallies were “a public response to the shock of recent atrocities of “Islam’s radicals” both inside and outside of Australia”.

None of the Reclaim Australia protesters represented his views and he did not support their cause, he said.

I only want to say the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia.

Barnes’ wife was born in Thailand and the musician himself emigrated from Scotland in 1961 when he was four. A place that is open and giving. “It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people, in fact is made stronger by the diversity of its people”.

Anzac spirit: Lee Kernaghan’s music was also used at Reclaim Australia rallies.

“We are deeply saddened at the news of Jimmy Barnes asking us not to play his songs at our rallies”, they wrote on Facebook.

“Full of respect for your taking a stand on this highly devisive [sic] issue”.

Back in April, Australian songwriter John Schumann condemned the use of “I Was Only Nineteen”, the classic Australian peace anthem he wrote as a member of Adelaide band Redgum in 1983, during a Reclaim Australia rally.

Another comment from Wendy Lisac said “I don’t have any problems with anyone, black or white, religions or political views…I have a problem with people who want to hurt, kill, rape, and don’t respect others”.