Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes has spoken out against anti-Islam and anti-immigration group Reclaim Australia, who played Cold Chisel music at protest rallies in major cities earlier this month.
In a statement, shared to Facebook, Barnes says he is aware that groups like Reclaim Australia have used his songs “as their anthems at rallies” and says he does not support their actions. Instead he believes Australia should be a loving and tolerant country.
“I only want to say the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia. A place that is open and giving,” Barnes says.
“It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people, in fact it is made stronger by the diversity of its people.
“If you look at my family you can see we are a multicultural family. Australia needs to stand up for Love and Tolerance in these modern times.
“None of these people represent me and I do not support them.”
Reclaim Australia are yet to make a public statement in response to Barnes’ comments.
Barnes appears on a new compilation album called #SayYesToLove Volume 1, in support of marriage equality.
He will wrap up his Flesh And Wood national acoustic tour at a sold out Gold Coast show this Friday, but Cold Chisel will be the final Aussie performers to play at Sydney’s Qantas Credit Union Arena this December, before it is demolished.
UPDATE 22/07/15: Reclaim Australia have responded to Jimmy Barnes’ statement, agreeing to stop using his music while at the same accusing Barnsey of “mistakenly believed incorrect news reports that Reclaim Australia is a racist group”.
“This is not true…Inevitably at our rallies we unfortunately have some fanatics & we have tried our best to have them removed,” reads their statement. “We are & will continue to support you privately as you are an Aussie Icon, however if it’s your wish, we will no longer play your songs at our Rallies.”
Watch: Cold Chisel – Khe Sanh (Lyric Video)
It has come to my attention that certain groups of people have been using my voice, my songs as their anthems at…
Posted by Jimmy Barnes – Official on Tuesday, 21 July 2015
