Monday, November 16, 2009

Rose Tattoo?

Has anybody ever heard of an Australian rock/metal band called Rose Tattoo? If so how do you like them? I actually think they're a good band and it's a shame they didn't make it big in the states, I consider them to be a cross between of the classic Rolling Stones and AC-DC, Rose Tattoo's prime period was in the late 70's/early 80's

Rose Tattoo?
I remember them and they were pretty good and I'm surprised they didn't make it.








Rose Tattoo are an Australian blues/hard rock band, led by Angry Anderson and slide guitarist Peter Wells. Among their best known songs are "We Can't Be Beaten", "Scarred for Life" and "Bad Boy for Love" (co-written by Ian Rilen.) Their first four albums were produced by Harry Vanda and George Young who also worked with AC/DC. Along with AC/DC and The Angels, Rose Tattoo helped establish an Australian rock sound in the 1970s that was copied around the world.





Guns N' Roses and L.A. Guns have both covered Rose Tattoo songs.





Pete Wells, the guitarist for the band, died on 28 March 2006 after a long battle with prostate cancer.





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History


Australian hard rock combo Rose Tattoo was formed in Sydney in 1976 by ex-Buffalo bassist Peter Wells (on slide guitar); with the additions of former Buster Brown vocalist Angry Anderson, guitarist Mick Cocks, bassist Ian Rilen and drummer Dallas "Digger" Royal, the group made their public bow on New Year's Eve at the local club Chequers, which several years earlier launched the career of AC/DC.





Chiefly inspired by the Rolling Stones and the Faces, Rose Tattoo's ferocious, ear-splitting sound quickly earned a devoted following among Sydney area pubgoers, and in 1978 the group signed to Albert Productions; their debut single "Bad Boy for Love" was written by Rilen, who left the lineup prior to the record's release.





Anderson's onetime Buster Brown bassist Geordie Leech was recruited for Rose Tattoo's self-titled debut LP; after nearly three years of relentless touring, they issued the follow-up, Assault and Battery, in 1981.





After a tour of Europe which saw them hailed as the loudest band to play London's Marquee Club since Led Zeppelin, Rose Tattoo returned to Australia to begin work on their third album; with new guitarist Robin Riley replacing Cocks, they issued Scarred for Life in 1982, subsequently touring the U.S. in support of Aerosmith and ZZ Top.





However, over the course of 1983 Wells, Royal and Riley all left the group, with the remaining duo of Anderson and Leach recruiting guitarists Greg Jordan and John Meyer along with drummer Scott Johnston to record 1984's Southern Stars. Leach then exited to join Wells, Royal and Riley in the short-lived Illustrated Men; Anderson and Johnston continued on as Rose Tattoo, enlisting guitarist Tim Gaze and bassist Andy Cichon for 1986's Beats from a Single Drum.





Anderson finally mounted a solo career soon after, as did Wells. After a long battle with cancer, Royal died in 1991. At the request of longtime fans Guns N' Roses, Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Leach and new drummer Paul DeMarco reformed Rose Tattoo in 1993 to open for the Gunners on their Australian tour; the reunion proved brief, however, and upon completing the tour each member returned to his solo endeavors.





The same lineup, with original bassist Ian Rilen replacing Leach, reformed yet again in 1998 for the "All Hell Breaks Loose!!" tour; by the following year, Leach had returned to the fold once more. Fall 2000 saw the release of 25 to Life.





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Discography


Rose Tattoo (1978)


Assault %26amp; Battery (1981)


Scarred for Life {1982)


Southern Stars (1984)


Beats From A Single Drum (1986) later released as a Angry Anderson solo album


Nice Boys Don't Play Rock N Roll (1992) Compilation


25 to Life {2000) Live Album


Pain (2002)


Best of Rose Tattoo (2005) Compilation
Reply:Angry Anderson rules!


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