Jimmy Barnes rushed to hospital in 'unbearable pain' as he postpones tour dates amid new health scare following open heart surgery

Rock legend Jimmy Barnes has suffered another health scare after undergoing open heart surgery and a hip replacement. 

The 68-year-old Cold Chisel founder posted to his social media on Saturday to announce he was postponing the final shows of his current Hell of a Time solo tour.

Jimmy told fans that he required hip surgery after experiencing severe pain following a series of shows in New Zealand.

The 50th anniversary Cold Chisel tour scheduled for October is unaffected. 

'I've got some bad news unfortunately,' Jimmy said in his Facebook post.

'I had a twinge in my hip when I was leaving Dunedin (NZ) on Thursday morning and by late last night the pain was unbearable so I went off to hospital.

'The doctors have recommended a remedial medical procedure ASAP followed by some physio to address the issue. These doctors don't muck around! 

'Providing all goes to plan, I'm expected to make a full recovery in six weeks.'

Rock legend Jimmy Barnes has suffered another health scare after undergoing open heart surgery and a hip replacement. The 68-year-old Cold Chisel founder posted to his social media on Saturday to announce he was postponing the final shows of his current Hell of a Time solo tour. Pictured wife Jane

Rock legend Jimmy Barnes has suffered another health scare after undergoing open heart surgery and a hip replacement. The 68-year-old Cold Chisel founder posted to his social media on Saturday to announce he was postponing the final shows of his current Hell of a Time solo tour. Pictured wife Jane 

Jimmy continued: 'However, as a result of this unexpected surgery my August and September solo shows will all be impacted. 

'Ticket holders will be contacted with further info in the coming days once we have new plans in place.

'As you know, I hate to let anyone down, but I'm also never going to compromise the quality of my gigs. I apologise for the inconvenience this will cause everyone – I HATE moving shows! - but thank you for understanding.'

Included in the post was a picture of Jimmy giving the thumbs up from his hospital bed while his wife Jane poses beside him.

Jimmy told fans that he required hip surgery after experiencing severe pain following a series of shows in New Zealand. Pictured: Jimmy at Bluesfest in March

Jimmy told fans that he required hip surgery after experiencing severe pain following a series of shows in New Zealand. Pictured: Jimmy at Bluesfest in March

Jimmy's postponed gigs include concerts in Wyong, Toowoomba, Thirroul, Canberra and the Sydney Opera House.

Only last month Jimmy appeared to be well on the mend following his shock health scare last year which saw him undergo open heart surgery. 

The singer looked fit as a fiddle as he 'worked out' in a boxing ring.

During a holiday with his wife Jane in Thailand, he shared a photo to Instagram in which he posed in his luxury hotel gym.

The Working Class Man singer was all smiles in the sweet picture as he hammed it up for the camera by holding up his arms in a boxer's stance, as he jokingly prepared to spar.

He looked healthy and confident in the picture, as he flashed his trademark cheeky grin to the camera. 

Only last month Jimmy appeared to be well on the mend (pictured) following his shock health scare last year which saw him undergo open heart surgery

Only last month Jimmy appeared to be well on the mend (pictured) following his shock health scare last year which saw him undergo open heart surgery

Jimmy captioned the photo with some insightful words: 'When you're in hotels and in transit, it's great to keep up exercise and movement.

'This is the first hotel gym I've found with a Thai boxing ring. I can see another hip replacement... Maybe not... I think my wife Jane is going to have a go.'

Late last year, Jimmy was struck down by a life-threatening infection that attacked his heart - he then underwent successful open heart surgery. 

A team of specialists discovered his body was shutting down because an infection in his blood was causing endocarditis - a life-threatening inflammation of the heart.

Late last year, Jimmy was struck down by a life-threatening infection that attacked his heart - he then underwent successful open heart surgery

Late last year, Jimmy was struck down by a life-threatening infection that attacked his heart - he then underwent successful open heart surgery

By the time he was wheeled into the operating theatre for a open heart surgery, his doctors said he had just hours to live - In a marathon seven-hour surgery, the physicians successfully replaced his damaged valves and repaired his heart.

Eight months on, Barnes' recovery is going well and he recently announced his band Cold Chisel would be embarking on a national tour later this year.

In June promoters announced more shows for the tour which has been dubbed 'The Big Five-0', with frontman Jimmy Barnes and bandmates Ian Moss, Phil Small and Don Walker.

The tour has turned out to be a blockbuster after the Chisel Chisel management announced that 150,000 tickets have been sold across 16 gigs nationwide.