An unlikely collaboration! Why Jimmy Barnes worked with The Wiggles’ songwriter on a new album

Jimmy Barnes has teamed up an unusual collaborator for a new single. 

The rocker, 64, has recorded a song with Paul Field, 59, who is best known as the former manager of The Wiggles. 

Paul, whose brother Anthony Field, 57, is the Blue Wiggle, is a former member of the rock group The Cockroaches, and the songwriting talent behind some of The Wiggles’ famous tunes. 

Jimmy and Paul have teamed up for a cover of Bob Dylan’s You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, which will appear on Paul’s new album Love Songs For Lonely People. 

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Jimmy revealed that he and Paul are old buddies who have enjoyed many a night on the tiles together. 

‘In my loungeroom in Berrima, there’s a small, very low coffee table by the fire and there’s a small plaque underneath which says, ‘I got the best sleep I ever had under here’ because Paul ended up under that table one night,’  he told the paper. 

It was Jimmy who convinced Paul to record what is his first solo record, after he first considered just released an EP. ‘

‘Jimmy said why stop there? Do an album. He told me to write some songs with my brother John – he’s written more than 300 songs for The Wiggles – and I could use his studio,’ he said. 

Jimmy joined Ed Sheeran last week, as he performed at the state memorial for music mogul Michael Gudinski.

Two days later, he shared a photo alongside the British crooner as they paid tribute to their friend.

Posting the picture to his Instagram, the 64-year-old wrote: ‘Ed Sheeran is genuinely one of the nicest guys I’ve met. A great artist too. It was a pleasure to share the stage again. I’m sure we will do it again soon.’

He added that the two men were holding one finger up in memory of Gudinski.

‘This is MG’s symbol. Always number 1. Enjoy your weekend,’ he concluded the caption.