Moments from death: Jimmy Barnes shares the remarkable story of the split second decision that saved his family from being blown up in a terrorist bombing in Bangkok

 

  • Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes narrowly escaped a terrorist bombing
  • He was in Bangkok with his family when a last-second decision saved their lives
  • The Cold Chisel front man spoke about the fateful decision on his new podcast 

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has opened up about a fateful last-second decision that saved his wife and grandchildren from a deadly terror blast.

The Cold Chisel front man was set to perform at a charity gig in Bangkok on an August night in 2015.

He was in town with his Thai-born wife Jane and their young grandchildren, and they were staying at a hotel across the road from the iconic Erawan Shrine - the site where one of Thailand's most notorious terror attacks unfolded that very evening.

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes (pictured with wife Jane) has opened up about a fateful last-second decision that saved his wife and grandchildren from a deadly terror blast

Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes (pictured with wife Jane) has opened up about a fateful last-second decision that saved his wife and grandchildren from a deadly terror blast

Unlike most rock stars, Barnes does not shy away from taking his loved ones on the road (pictured, with his young family and wife Jane)

Unlike most rock stars, Barnes does not shy away from taking his loved ones on the road (pictured, with his young family and wife Jane)

The pair were frequent visitors to the city and would often stop by the shrine to make a wish and pray to the Hindu god of creation.

But on the evening of August 17, while they were on their way to a nearby restaurant, they noticed a large crowd gathered in front of the shrine and roadworks which surrounded the area.

They decided to take the long way around, rather than push their grandson Dylan's stroller through the throngs of worshippers and the array of jackhammers and heavy machinery. 

It was this split second decision that saved them from being blown up.

As they were walking around, a pipe bomb with 3kg of TNT had been left under a bench and detonated just outside the shrine.

The huge blast killed 20 people and left 125 others with horrific injuries and traumatising memories.          

Debris from an explosion in central Bangkok is seen scattered across the road after the Erawan Shrine bombing in 2015 (pictured)

Debris from an explosion in central Bangkok is seen scattered across the road after the Erawan Shrine bombing in 2015 (pictured)

Police and emergency workers gather to investigate the scene (pictured) after 20 people were killed in the Bangkok blast

Police and emergency workers gather to investigate the scene (pictured) after 20 people were killed in the Bangkok blast

Blood and personal belongings of victims are seen as experts investigate at the Erawan shrine site (pictured) after the explosion on August 17 2015

Blood and personal belongings of victims are seen as experts investigate at the Erawan shrine site (pictured) after the explosion on August 17 2015

Thai soldiers inspect the scene after a terror bombing rocked the religious shrine in central Bangkok (pictured on the fateful night in 2015)

Thai soldiers inspect the scene after a terror bombing rocked the religious shrine in central Bangkok (pictured on the fateful night in 2015)

Thai rescue workers carry one of the 125 people injured after the pipe bomb exploded (pictured)

Thai rescue workers carry one of the 125 people injured after the pipe bomb exploded (pictured)

'We had to take him the long way around – Jane loves my short cuts, she calls them the scenic route,' the Khe Sanh singer said this week in his new podcast Story Time with Jimmy Barnes.

'Jane would always take me to that shrine to make wishes and give thanks.

'We would have been at the gate where the bomb went off if we hadn't thought this is too hard to do with the baby, let's go this way.

Barnes is pictured performing at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena in 2019

Barnes is pictured performing at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena in 2019

'We were literally between buildings, so we were sheltered from the spray (of the blast) and you could feel the whole building shake. We were incredibly lucky.'

Incredibly, it was not the first time Barnes and his family narrowly escaped a terror attack in Asia.

In 2002, Barnes revealed he was playing a show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Bali the night before the Sari Club bombing which killed 202 innocent bystanders, including 88 Australians.

They had planned to be in the middle of the Kuta district the evening the attack took place.

But the couple's youngest daughter Elly May was misbehaving so badly they decided to take her back to the hotel instead of shopping for souvenirs.

Unlike most rock stars, Barnes does not shy away from taking his loved ones on the road. 

'I remember going to America and they didn't want family or parents or wives or anyone on the road … they wanted the rock'n'roll lifestyle,' he said.

'When I said I wanted to bring my wife and children on tour in America, they thought I was crazy.' 

Jimmy Barnes new book Killing Time: Short Stories from the Long Road Home, was released this week, shedding light on what it's really like to tour with one of Australia's most loved rock bands.

He is currently back on the road for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions came into effect and performed at Top End Breakout Tour in Darwin on September 26.

Cold Chisel were formed in Adelaide in 1973, with Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums and Don Walker on piano and keyboards. Jimmy joined the band at the end of that year, on lead vocals - he was just 17 at the time. Pictured in 1983

Cold Chisel were formed in Adelaide in 1973, with Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums and Don Walker on piano and keyboards. Jimmy joined the band at the end of that year, on lead vocals - he was just 17 at the time. Pictured in 1983

'Jane would always take me to that shrine to make wishes and give thanks. We would have been at the gate where the bomb went off if we hadn't thought this is too hard to do with the baby, let's go this way,' Barnes said (pictured, with wife Jane)

'Jane would always take me to that shrine to make wishes and give thanks. We would have been at the gate where the bomb went off if we hadn't thought this is too hard to do with the baby, let's go this way,' Barnes said (pictured, with wife Jane)

   

CCTV of explosion in central Bangkok at Erawan Shrine
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