ANGRY Anderson, the singer whose influence on music and the wider culture runs far deeper than via his band Rose Tattoo, has died. He was 79.
Anderson had a cardiac arrest while on tour in Germany last month and did not recover. He was flown back to Australia and died there on Monday, a statement from his family read, “surrounded by his loved ones.
“Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved member of his friends, bandmates and the wider music and entertainment community. His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas.
“The family and band members are asking for privacy at this difficult time and will not be giving interviews. We kindly ask that their wishes are respected as they come to terms with this devastating loss and take time they need to grieve.
“We thank everyone for their prayers and messages of love and continued support.”
Tributes have focused on Anderson’s acting, television work and contributions to charity but through Rose Tattoo basically inventing biker rock, future analysis may establish his influence to be infinitely more pervasive.
In biographies and interviews, Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee have said that Rose Tattoo – formed in Sydney by Anderson in 1976 – were the only rock band they knew with tattoos.
They used the Tatts’ aesthetics – as well as music – for their own band, as did contemporaries Guns N’Roses and others, and with the explosion of the Sunset Strip scene in the mid-eighties, tattooing became popular again worldwide.
Baristas in San Francisco to tour guides in Tibet onto truck drivers in Peru may unknowingly owe much of their appearance to this 1.56m Australian.
Guns N’Roses covered the Tatts’ “Nice Boys (Don’t Play Rock’n’Roll)” on their fake-independent live EP, Live Like A Suicide.
Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach said upon hearing the sad news: “Well you’ve lost a true one. They don’t make them like Angry Anderson anymore. You’re not gonna see the likes of Angry anymore. You left us too soon but that’s because you was too good for us. The most gifted vocalis,t lyricist performer up until the day you fucking died.
“The James Brown of heavy metal rock ‘n’ roll you were a poet … I love you so much Angry Anderson.”
Gary ‘Angry’ Anderson AM, gang member, ARIA inductee, youth advocate, actor, television reporter, politician, singer, style icon, right wing agitator … rock’n’roll outlaw.
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