Jimmy Barnes, Australian icon and leader singer of band Cold Chisel, has surfaced as the face of a $4 million campaign by bourbon Wild Turkey. The campaign includes a new Television Commercial as well as sponsorship of Cold Chisel’s 2011 concert tour.
Wild Turkey Bourbon’s Regional Director, Shane Richardson, said: “The new 30 and 15 second advertisements feature a group of mates enjoying a Wild Turkey Bourbon at their local when they spot rocker, Jimmy Barnes, at the bar. Watch it to see what happens when one bloke attempts to ‘Give Jimmy the bird’! The TV advertisement will appear on free-to-air, pay and digital TV as well as online in September.”
Rather perplexing however is why Barnes would endorse an alcohol brand given his infamous struggles with alcoholism for over 35 years, peaking when it is reported he would down up to two bottles of vodka daily. The singer admitted himself into rehab in 2002 in the US to help conquer his addiction to alcohol and drugs.
At the time in an interview with News Ltd he stated “For 35 years or something I was sort of seriously out of control (with) drinking … Unfortunately with most addictions, and most alcoholics, it’s sort of those gaps (between drinks) which tended to get smaller and smaller and smaller until it became just a big wash and I was sort of trashed the whole time”
So is Barnes selling out or buying in? We’ll leave that up to you but it seems everybody has a price; especially a working class man. You can watch the TV spot below.
See our slideshow of the biggest sell outs in rock n roll
[polldaddy poll=”5477762″]
