Rose Tattoo are an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, which formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life". Their first four albums were produced by Harry Vanda and George Young who also worked with AC/DC. They disbanded in 1987, subsequently reforming briefly in 1993 to support Guns N' Roses on an Australian tour. They reassembled again from 1998 and have since released two more studio albums.

According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, Rose Tattoo are "one of the most revered bands of all time. The Tatts played peerless, street-level heavy blues with the emphasis on slide guitar and strident lyric statements". Rilen had taught himself to play while in prison and gave Wells' band the street-cred he was looking for.

Rose Tattoo supported Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour. Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Leach were joined by new drummer, Paul DeMarco, from Wells' solo band reunited for the 1993 tour. The reunion was brief as each returned to solo projects. 2002 saw the release of Pain, the band's first studio album in 16 years. Cocks rejoined the group and they prepared material for a future album. Founding member Ian Rilen died on 30 October from bladder cancer. One of his last public appearances was at the Hall of Fame induction. On 5 August 2017 a new line-up of Anderson, Dai Pritchard, Bob Spencer, Mark Evans and John "Watto" Watson was announced. In August 2018 a new drummer joined, Jackie Barnes, the son of Australian vocalist, Jimmy Barnes.

The band toured Europe during March 2020 with Justin Ngariki on drums. They released a new album, Outlaws, on Cleopatra Records in that month. In May 2020, they were due to tour the US for the first time since 1982, but the tour was deferred due to COVID-19 restrictions. Outlaws is a re-recording of the band's debut album, Rose Tattoo, plus three early songs, which did not appear on the 1978 release: "Snow Queen", "Sweet Love (Rock n Roll)" and "Rosetta". Anderson provided the reasons behind making the album, "Honouring the past and respecting the future." It was recorded at Hercules Studio, Sydney by Mark Opitz and Tim McArtney. It was produced by Opitz, and mixed by Opitz, Spencer and McArtney. Liner notes were written by the author, Murray Engleheart.

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On 1 September 2020 it was announced through Rose Tattoo's social media that John Meyer, the group's slide guitarist from 1983 to 1985, had died.

After 16 years of loyal service, Dai Pritchard announced his retirement from Rose Tattoo on 14 April 2021 via Facebook, leaving the band amicably to move into a new career in mental health.

When the band resumed live performances in 2022, Paul DeMarco was back behind the drums and Mick Arnold had taken over slide guitar duties.

After 5 years of loyal service Bob Spencer announced his retirement from the band via Facebook on 18 September 2022, and has been replaced by Ronnie Simmons.

Members

Current

  • Angry Anderson&nbsp;– lead vocals <small>(1976–1987, 1992–1993, 1998–present)</small>
  • Paul DeMarco&nbsp;– drums <small>(1992–2016, 2021–present)</small>
  • Steve King – bass guitar, backing vocals <small>(2000-2007, 2024–present)</small>
  • Mick Arnold&nbsp;– slide guitar, backing vocals <small>(2022–present)</small>
  • Ronnie Simmons&nbsp;– guitar <small>(2022–present)</small>

Discography

  • Rose Tattoo (1978)
  • Assault & Battery (1981)
  • Scarred for Life (1982)
  • Southern Stars (1984)
  • Beats from a Single Drum (1986)
  • Pain (2002)
  • Blood Brothers (2007)
  • Outlaws (2020)

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Rose Tattoo were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

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References

;General

  • Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.

;Specific

  • Geordie Leach Band