Add The New York Post on Google Australian rock legend Angry Anderson has died at 79, several weeks after suffering a heart attack while on the Rose Tattoo farewell tour in Europe.
Anderson was brought home for treatment but could not recover from the devastating cardiac arrest.
“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,” a representative shared in a statement posted on the band’s social media channels.
“Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved member of his friends, bandmates and 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.
“We kindly ask that their wishes are respected as they come to terms with this devastating loss and take time they need to grieve.
“We thank everyone for their prays and messages of love and continued support. With love, The Anderson family and Rose Tattoo Band.”
The Tatts announced the cancellation of their final European tour on August 10 and, in a post on social media three weeks later, shared that their frontman singer remained in hospital.
Previously, the Tatts shared a photo of 79-year-old Anderson performing with the band in Cologne on August 8.
But their next scheduled appearance at the Alcatraz Metal festival in Belgium the next day was cancelled.
The following day, the band shared Anderson had been hospitalised due to a “medical issue” and the remaining dates on the farewell European tour would not go ahead. It is not known when Anderson was medically repatriated to Australia.
Born in Melbourne in 1947, Anderson was one of Australia’s most distinctive hard rock frontmen for 50 years.
The fitter and turner came to prominence in the scene there as the singer for Buster Brown before relocating to Sydney and joining Pete Wells’ new band Rose Tattoo.
The Tatts established themselves as a band not to be messed with and Anderson, despite his diminutive stature, was regarded as a formidable performer who could hold his own in the volatile moshpits of Sydney’s pubs in the 70s.
He became known as Angry as a child, a shortened version of Angry Ant, for his tendency to fly off the handle, and the name stuck for life.
The Tatts enjoyed a succession of hits, their chart breakthrough coming in 1977 with the anthemic Bad Boy For Love and followed by rock classics Rock’n’Roll Outlaw and We Can’t Be Beaten, songs that became rusted onto backyard BBQ playlists and sports highlights package for the next five decades.
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But shockingly it was a romantic power ballad that became Anderson’s biggest hit, a track that got another burst of popularity in recent weeks courtesy of Netflix’s Kylie documentary series.
In 1987, his single Suddenly soundtracked one of the most watched scenes in television history when Scott and Charlene, aka Kylie and Jason, married on Neighbours in one of the most watched television episodes ever filmed in Australia.
Anderson said he was most proud of the song because it was “about a man coming to a point in his life when he says, ‘I know who I am, and I don’t mind revealing myself and being vulnerable.’”
Besides fronting Rose Tattoo, he also starred in several films, most notably Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985 and then as a regular in the Fat Pizza and Housos series.
Anderson and the Tatts were a huge influence on the global hard rock scene, with Guns N’ Roses among the many bands who cited them as a seminal inspiration for their sound.
Guitarist Slash was one of the first to pay tribute to his late friend.
“I’m going to miss my good friend; I can’t believe he’s gone. Condolences to his family, friends and band members,” the Gunners legend posted.
Jackie Barnes, son of Jimmy and Jane Barnes, also expressed his sadness at the passing of the rock legend.
Barnes played drums with Rose Tattoo, joining the band’s European tour in 2018.
“Sharing the stage with Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo will forever be one of the great privileges of my life,” he wrote, sharing a series of photos of his time with the band.
“One of the greatest Rock’n’Roll bands of all time with one of the all time greatest frontmen. “Thank you Angry for your friendship and what an honour it has been. Rest in Peace mate.”
Sebastian Bach was also among those to acknowledge the sad news of Anderson’s death, commenting simply “No” under the Tatts announcement.
