Angry Anderson ProfileAngry Anderson, the internationally-renowned frontman of hard rock outfit Rose Tattoo, has passed away at the age of 79 it has been announced.
Anderson's passing was confirmed in a statement released by his family on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 23rd.
"It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Gary 'Angry' Anderson on the eve of Monday 21 September 2026, surrounded by his loved ones here in Australia," the statement began.
"Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved bandmate, friend, and member of 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," it continued. "We kindly ask that their wishes are respected as they come to terms with this devastating loss and take time they need to grieve."
Born Gary Anderson in Melbourne in 1947, Anderson took the nickname 'Angry Any' as a youngster, during which time he dreamed of a career as a blues guitarist.
After performing in a couple of formative groups, he fronted the short-lived Buster Brown in the early '70s. That group featured drummer Phil Rudd, who would depart to join AC/DC in 1974.
Performing at the 1974 edition of the Sunbury Festival, the group's debut album – produced by Lobby Loyde – emerged early the next year, though the band would split by the end of 1975.
Rose Tattoo had initially formed in Sydney in 1976, and Anderson would replace their founding singer Tony Lake upon his relocation to the Harbour City that same year.
Renowned for their hard rocking attitude and aggressive compositions, and bolstered by Anderson’s powerful voice and intimidating onstage presence, the group's self-titled debut would arrive in 1978, hitting No. 40 on the Australian charts.
The group's first four records featured production from Harry Vanda and George Young, and they became a fixture of local stages, ultimately releasing five albums before splitting in 1987.
Despite their split, the group's legacy grew, and in the early '90s they would reform to support Guns N' Roses, who had cited them as a massive influence, and had even covered Nice Boys on their 1986 EP, Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.
Anderson would launch a solo career during his time away from Rose Tattoo, with both Beats From A Single Drum and Blood From Stone hitting No. 35 on the charts. His debut single, Suddenly, would peak at No. 2 locally and No. 3 in the UK, helped along by its status as the soundtrack to the famous wedding between Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) on Neighbours.
Rose Tattoo would again reunite in the late '90s, with a trio of new records arriving between 2002 and 2020, with Outlaws serving as their last full-length album. While Anderson would be made Member of the Order of Australia in 1993, Rose Tattoo were also inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2006.
Last year, Anderson told 3AW’s Darren James and Lee Simon that 2026 would be the final year of Rose Tattoo – closing out the group alongside their 50th anniversary.
“Nearly 50 years later and we wrap it up next year, ‘26, for good,” Anderson said at the time.
“We will be 50 years old in ’26 on New Year’s Eve,” he continued. “I am proud to say, because I have survived all the original members – and a few along the way – we have achieved what we set out to achieve. At the end of the day, if you can say that, you are a lucky man.”
In August, it was announced that Rose Tattoo had been forced to cancel their appearance at the Alcatraz Metal Festival on August 9th, along with the remainder of their European tour dates.
At the time, the only explanation provided was that Anderson had been hospitalised due to an unspecified “medical issue”.
Later that month, it was revealed that Anderson had in fact suffered a heart attack. “We would like to let everyone know that Angry suffered a cardiac arrest and is currently in hospital receiving treatment and the care he needs,” a statement released by his family read at the time.
At the time of Anderson's passing, a string of Australian dates – indeed described as their final shows – had been scheduled to take place until the end of the year, though these had been rescheduled to 2027 in the wake of Anderson’s health setbacks.
