Barnes took an apprenticeship in a foundry with the South Australian Railways and in 1973, but the love he and his brother had for music led him to join a band. In 1974 his brother Swanee was playing drums with Fraternity, which had just parted ways with singer Bon Scott. Barnes took over the role but his tenure with the band was brief and in December 1975 Barnes had joined a harder-edged band called Orange, featuring organist and songwriter Don Walker, guitarist Ian Moss, drummer Steve Prestwich and bassist Les Kaczmarek.