Rose Tattoo lead singer Angry Anderson dies after suffering cardiac arrest

Aussie rock icon Gary Stephen “Angry” Anderson has died aged 79, just three weeks after being hospitalised for a cardiac arrest.

His band Rose Tattoo confirmed the news in a social media post on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the statement, Anderson passed away on the evening of Monday September 21 “surrounded by his loved ones here in Australia.”

The musician is remembered as “a devoted father, and much-loved member of his friends, bandmates and the wider music and entertainment community.”

Rose Tattoo said the loss of their frontman “will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas.”

The Anderson family has asked for privacy to “come to terms with this devastating loss” while they “take time they need to grieve.”

Anderson was admitted to hospital at the end of August after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to a previous statement from Rose Tattoo.

The band said he had been receiving “the care he needs” whilst asking for Anderson to be kept in the thoughts of his fans as he recovered.

“Your thoughts, prayers and well wishes mean more to Angry and his family than we can express,” the original statement read.

Anderson, who recently celebrated his 79th birthday, has been a major figure in Australian rock music for more than five decades.

He is best known as the frontman and longest-serving member of Rose Tattoo, which formed in Sydney in 1976.

Affectionately known as “the Tatts,” the band was not an instant hit in mainstream Australia after being banned on pop music show Countdown for a performance where Anderson kissed guitarist Mick Cocks, the pair visibly sharing chewing gum in the exchange.

However, the band took off overseas, rocketing up the British heavy metal charts and leading to Australians welcoming Anderson home as the fearless amplifier head-butter of 1981’s Reading Festival.

The singer also enjoyed success as a solo artist, with his 1983 hit Suddenly becoming one of his most recognisable songs, which famously featured during the wedding of Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell, played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, on Neighbours.

Prior to the confirmation of Anderson’s August cardiac arrest, Rose Tattoo announced a number of the band’s One Last Ride European tour dates had been cancelled because the frontman was suffering from a medical issue.

The band was still set to perform on their Australian leg of the tour this year with performances in November.

Many Australians remember Anderson for his iconic 1991 AFL Grand Final performance, where his rendition of Bound for Glory was paired with a large blue “Batmobile” that ferried him around Waverley Park.

The memorabilia was purchased in 2020 by 32 dedicated Angry Anderson fans who saw the prop as a symbol of Anderson’s cultural importance, saying “we really want this to be the people’s car.”