One of the power houses of 1970-80s Australian pub rock, Rose Tattoo is famous for its diminutive (in size, not stature) singer Gary Angry Anderson.
With hard rock hits including “Bad Boy for Love”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw”, “Nice Boys”, “We Can’t Be Beaten” and “Scarred for Life” it is no wonder that Rose Tattoo has been covered by bands such as Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns, Keel, Nashville Pussy, Motosierra, Pud Spuke, Helen Schneider, Skrewdriver, and more.
For nearly fifty years, the Tatts have been at the top of the game, regularly playing pubs and festivals around Australia. Rose Tattoo have supported international acts on tours in Australia and USA from Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead to ZZ Top.
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The End of an Era
Angry Anderson has called time on his band Rose Tattoo. Angry has been talking about retiring for at least fifteen years. In an announcement in May 2024, he said:
TATTS UPDATE…
“Brothers and Sisters, so where to start? Well, it may not be common knowledge, as no official release has been made thus far, so here goes,..1976-2026,…come 2026 The Rosie Tatts will be fifty years old as a name and band operating, on and off, over that period of time, so I’m seeing that year as a fitting time to retire dear old Rosie. In keeping with that decision I’m wanting to honour the invaluable contribution of past members by asking them to come back into the line-up for one last go around. Stephen ‘Kingy’ King, Gordon ‘Geordie’ Leach and Robin, RRR, Riley will come back for a bow out as we retire Old Rosie. First cab off the rank will be Kingy”
Angry Anderson continued: “Our beloved brother Mark, will step out to make way for Kingy for our upcoming September Tour dates and the rest of 2024. Mark has been a joy to work with and has made a wonderful contribution to the band’s history, so it is with sadness that we say goodbye to him but there is a saying amongst us that, “Once a Tatt, always a Tatt!” so Mark will always be with us, in spirit, whenever we take to the stage.”
“So, there you have it, the end of an era is now in sight, on a lighter note, we are working on new material and we hope to put together a new album soon; it’s been a hellava ride and would not have been possible without you, the faithful, both old and new but as George Harrison so wisely said:- “All things must pass”.
“I’ll write more on our plans for the next couple of years later but for now, adios amigos. There is much love in me for you, we cannot thank you all enough for your contribution, for the loyalty and love you have shown us over the years; remember, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.. but I can hear her warming up!” – Ango.
In the beginning
His first major band was Melbourne based band Buster Brown in the mid-1970s. Buster Brown developed a sharpie following and lived the bad life to the extreme. A sharpie is Australia’s equivalent to the London skinhead of the era.
Rose Tattoo was formed in Sydney and became the antithesis of pop music, a huge hit with the punk rockers assembling in the drunken punk pub-rock scene.
“The name Rose Tattoo is comprised of two contrasting words. A rose is delicate, beautiful and associated with high romance. But tattoos are masculine, aggressive and ugly. We are as outrageously macho as we appear but were not a bunch of idiots, we are really thinking, caring people.” Angry Anderson, 1982
After the birth of his children, Angry lead a quieter life taking jobs as the Youth Reporter on The Midday Show, and the occasional acting job including Bullamakanka, and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (DVD)
Angry Anderson was known as the Bad Boy of Rock, yet through a series of televised philanthropic Challenges has endeared himself with an older generation.
From 1994 until 1998 Angry Anderson fronted a Channel 9 TV special called Challenge delivering aid, drought relief to farmers, providing Christmas presents to underprivileged children and granting children’s wishes at The Starlight Foundation. One challenge saw Angry fly to Cambodia to deliver artificial limbs to land mine victims.
Angry Anderson has received are the Advance Australia Award (1986), the Australian Medal A.M. (1993) and the Special Merit Advance Australia Award (1995).
Rose Tattoo were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2006 together with former Tatts member Lobby Loyde, Daddy Cool, Divinyls, Helen Reddy and Icehouse.
Rose Tattoo [IMPORT] ~ Rose Tattoo — Audio CD
Never Too Loud ~ Rose Tattoo — Audio CD
Assault and Battery [IMPORT] ~ Rose Tattoo — Audio CD
Rock ‘N’ Roll Outlaw [IMPORT] ~ Rose Tattoo — (Audio CD)
Rose Tattoo tour dates are here
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