Jimmy Barnes says that his wife Jane Mahoney taught him ‘what a family was’

‘I learnt about love’: Jimmy Barnes says that his wife of 39 years, Jane, taught him ‘what a family was’ and not to ‘hold grudges’ against relatives

Jimmy Barnes has revealed that he ‘learned about love’ from his wife of 39 years, Jane. 

In his Story Time podcast this week, the 64-year-old said: ‘Jane’s family became a template for what a family was. 

‘My family, we’re Scotsmen, we feud, we hold grudges. I’ve had a fight with my mum and not spoken to her for years. And only spoke to her because Jane insisted.

Perfect couple: Jimmy Barnes has revealed that he ‘learned about love’ from his wife of 39 years, Jane. Both pictured 

‘Whereas Jane’s family, they would have big fights, say horrendous things, get emotional and scream, and then a minute later ‘Can I get you a cup of tea, dear?’ And I would be like ‘What? Are you serious?” he said. 

The rocker added: ‘From the minute I met Jane and joined he family, they were the way I learnt about love.’    

Jimmy documented the first time he set eyes on Jane in his memoir, Working Class Man. 

The Cold Chisel frontman reveals he was dating two other women when the met Thai-born Jane Mahoney in Canberra in 1979. 

In his Story Time podcast this week, the 64-year-old said: 'Jane's family became a template for what a family was. My family, we're Scotsmen, we feud, we hold grudges.' Pictured in 2001

In his Story Time podcast this week, the 64-year-old said: ‘Jane’s family became a template for what a family was. My family, we’re Scotsmen, we feud, we hold grudges.’ Pictured in 2001

Jimmy went on: 'Whereas Jane's family, they would have big fights, say horrendous things, get emotional and scream, and then a minute later 'Can I get you a cup of tea, dear?' And I would be like 'What? Are you serious?''

Jimmy went on: ‘Whereas Jane’s family, they would have big fights, say horrendous things, get emotional and scream, and then a minute later ‘Can I get you a cup of tea, dear?’ And I would be like ‘What? Are you serious?” 

‘I’d met a lot of girls in my life but no one had ever stopped me in my tracks like that girl did.

‘She was way out of my class but I loved her from the minute I saw her. Jane would change my life,’ he writes. 

However, at the time Jimmy- then aged 23-was dating his housemate Bernadette, and was also linked to a woman named Jan who he had been ‘seeing on and off for a long time’. 

The rocker added: 'From the minute I met Jane and joined he family, they were the way I learnt about love'

The rocker added: ‘From the minute I met Jane and joined he family, they were the way I learnt about love’ 

Devoted mum: The Cold Chisel frontman met Thai-born Jane Mahoney in Canberra in 1979. They married in 1981. They share four children- son, Jackie, and daughters, Mahalia, Eliza-Jane and Elly-May. Pictured in a throwback photo

Devoted mum: The Cold Chisel frontman met Thai-born Jane Mahoney in Canberra in 1979. They married in 1981. They share four children- son, Jackie, and daughters, Mahalia, Eliza-Jane and Elly-May. Pictured in a throwback photo 

Despite this, Jane became the musician’s girlfriend shortly after, and they promptly moved in together.  

Jimmy and Jane married in 1981, and had four children – son, Jackie, and daughters, Mahalia, Eliza-Jane and Elly-May.   

The family lived in France for much of the 1990s, before returning to Australia and taking up residence in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. 

Locals: The family lived in France for much of the 1990s, before returning to Australia and taking up residence in the eastern suburbs of Sydney

Locals: The family lived in France for much of the 1990s, before returning to Australia and taking up residence in the eastern suburbs of Sydney