{"product_id":"working-class-boy","title":"Working Class Boy","description":"\u003cp\u003eLong before Cold Chisel  long before Barnesy  there was the true story of James Dixon Swan  A household name  an Australian rock icon  the elder statesman of Ozrock - there isnt an accolade or cliche that doesnt apply to Jimmy Barnes. But long before Cold Chisel and Barnesy  long before the tall tales of success and excess  there was the true story of James Dixon Swan - a working class boy whose family made the journey from Scotland to Australia in search of a better life.  Working Class Boy is a powerful reflection on a traumatic and violent childhood  which fuelled the excess and recklessness that would define  but almost destroy  the rocknroll legend. This is the story of how James Swan became Jimmy Barnes. It is a memoir burning with the frustration and frenetic energy of teenage sex  drugs  violence and ambition for more than what you have.  Raw  gritty  compassionate  surprising and darkly funny  Jimmy Barness childhood memoir is at once the story of migrant dreams fulfilled and dashed. After arriving in Australia in the summer of 1962  things went from bad to worse for the Swan family - Dot  Jim and their six kids. The scramble to manage in the tough northern suburbs of Adelaide in the 60s would take its toll on the Swans as dwindling money  too much alcohol and fraying tempers gave way to violence and despair. This is the story of a familys collapse  but also of a young boys dream to escape the misery of the suburbs with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join a rocknroll band and get out of town for good.  Nothing will prepare you for the power of Jimmys memoir. A fierce  graphic  bawdy account of his working class childhood - truly harrowing   and yet often tender and funny. I couldnt put it down because  above all  it is also a story of resilience and bravery. - Sam Neill  Visceral  brave  honest: it is like Angelas Ashes meets Trainspotting - only more brutal. A deep  guttural howl of a book  it speaks of the pain and hurt that haunt so many men. And it may just save lives. - Magda Szubanski\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984154718261,"sku":"ByrdShop_1460752139","price":61.82,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781460752135.jpg?v=1770824826","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/working-class-boy","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}