Cold Chisel Announce ‘Big Five-0’ Live Album to Celebrate 50-Year Legacy

Australian rock icons Cold Chisel are marking their 50th anniversary with the release of a new live album, vinyl set and documentary film capturing their sold-out ‘Big Five-0’ tour across Australia and New Zealand.

The band, which played to more than 250,000 fans between late 2024 and early 2025, will release The Big Five-0 Live on Aug. 8 through Universal Music Australia. The 27-track album was recorded at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Nov. 23, 2024 — a scorching 37-degree night that frontman Jimmy Barnes described as producing “a blistering and joyous performance.”

“Every show on our ‘Big Five-0 Tour’ had something special, but Melbourne really brought out something unforgettable in us,” Barnes said in a statement. “The crowd nearly drowned us out, they sang so loud and proud. It was a show we will never forget.”

The CD and vinyl editions will feature 24 songs from the show plus three bonus tracks: “Plaza,” “Mr Crown Prosecutor” and “Wild Colonial Boy.” Fans will have the option of classic black vinyl, a red-and-black splatter vinyl exclusive to JB Hi-Fi, and a limited-edition picture disc through the band’s official merch store.

Also arriving Aug. 8 is a 90-minute DVD documentary offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the tour and Cold Chisel’s five-decade run. Directed by Andrew Lord and produced by Paul Clarke, the film features interviews with all five band members, rare archival photos, backstage moments, and 10 additional live tracks.

“At 50 years old, Cold Chisel are on fire in this film,” said Clarke. “I’ve never seen audiences punching the air one moment and openly sobbing the next.”

The band’s 50th anniversary was not just a nostalgic milestone — it proved Cold Chisel’s enduring popularity and multi-generational appeal. The tour’s ticket sales spanned major cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland, drawing longtime fans as well as younger generations discovering the band for the first time.

The Big Five-0 Live is expected to include career-spanning setlists featuring hits like “Khe Sanh,” “Flame Trees,” “Cheap Wine,” and “Bow River.”

Cold Chisel formed in Adelaide in 1973 and rose to prominence with their 1980s-era albums East, Circus Animals, and Twentieth Century. With Jimmy Barnes’ unmistakable vocals and Don Walker’s acclaimed songwriting, the band became one of Australia’s most iconic and influential rock groups.

Pre-orders for The Big Five-0 Live are available now through Cold Chisel’s official site and Universal Music Australia.