Angry Anderson, Rose Tattoo Frontman, Dies at 79 After Cardiac Arrest
Angry Anderson, the iconic frontman of the Australian rock band Rose Tattoo, has died at 79 following a cardiac arrest while on tour in Germany. He was known for his powerful voice and contributions to rock music.
Gary “Angry” Anderson, frontman of the Australian hard rock band Rose Tattoo, has died at 79. He passed away on Monday evening, September 21, surrounded by family in Australia, according to a joint statement from his family and bandmates, also reported by the ABC and the Sydney Morning Herald. The statement described Anderson as a devoted father and a deeply valued member of his circle of friends, his band, and the wider music and entertainment community, and said his loss would be felt across Australia and internationally. No cause of death was given, and the family has asked for privacy, saying it will not give interviews for now.
Anderson's death comes weeks after he suffered a cardiac arrest in August while Rose Tattoo were on their European farewell tour, and was hospitalized in Germany. A concert planned for August 9 was cancelled, and the band called off the rest of its European dates the following day, including planned shows in Munich, Graz, Budapest, Berlin and Hamburg. The tour, billed as “Rock'n'Roll Outlaws – One Last Ride,” marked the band's 50th anniversary; before the health scare, Rose Tattoo had played a show in Cologne and appeared at the Wacken heavy metal festival in late July.
Anderson, born Gary Stephen Anderson, joined Rose Tattoo as its singer in the band's founding year, 1976, and remained its frontman and defining voice for decades. Among the band's best-known songs are “Bad Boy for Love,” “Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw,” “We Can't Be Beaten” and “Nice Boys” — the last of which was later covered by Guns N' Roses.
