The Australian rock landscape suffered an immeasurable loss with the death of Gary "Angry" Anderson, the iconic and indomitable frontman of the hard rock band Rose Tattoo. Anderson passed away on September 21 at the age of 79, following complications from a severe heart attack that had hospitalized him weeks prior. In the wake of his passing, fellow Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has stepped forward to pay a deeply personal and enduring tribute to his lifelong friend and peer. Barnes has officially released his powerful rendition of the classic Rose Tattoo track "Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King," with all financial proceeds slated directly for the prominent Australian music industry benevolent charity, Support Act.
The release acts not only as a poignant farewell from one titan of Australian rock to another, but also as a celebration of a bygone era of uncompromising guitar-driven music. By channeling the fierce energy of Anderson’s signature sound into a charitable endeavor, Barnes has ensured that his late friend’s legacy continues to support the community they both dedicated their lives to building.
A Friendship Forged in the Golden Era of Australian Rock
The bond between Jimmy Barnes and Angry Anderson dates back to the late 1970s, an explosive period when Australian pub rock was transforming from a localized phenomenon into an international powerhouse. Barnes, as the frontman of Cold Chisel, and Anderson, leading Rose Tattoo, found themselves frequently traversing the same grueling touring circuits, sharing stages, technical crews, and occasionally even equipment.
In a heartfelt and expansive public statement reflecting on their decades-long relationship, Barnes painted a vivid picture of their shared youth. He described the era as a time when rock and roll truly reigned supreme, and bands operated with a collective, working-class mentality.
"We shared stages, we shared crew members, we even shared equipment at times," Barnes wrote. "Rock’n’roll was king and we were all young, taking on the world together."
Barnes characterized Anderson as more than just a colleague, naming him a dear friend and a "brother in arms." Furthermore, Barnes offered high praise for Anderson’s primary musical vehicle, describing Rose Tattoo as the ultimate rock band. According to Barnes, the Sydney-formed outfit possessed a ferocious authenticity that consistently outperformed and out-gritted their international hard rock contemporaries.
The Genesis and Evolution of the Tribute Track
The recording of "Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King"—originally a standout track from Rose Tattoo’s influential 1981 studio album Assault & Battery—actually predates Anderson’s passing. Barnes had originally laid down his vocal and instrumental interpretation with the intention of featuring it on his most recent studio album. However, as plans shifted, the track was held back. Following Anderson’s hospitalization and subsequent death, Barnes realized the song had acquired a profoundly different emotional weight.
Barnes revealed that he had discussed the cover with Anderson prior to the latter’s passing, noting that the late frontman had been genuinely excited and flattered by the tribute.
"I couldn’t wait to sit down with Angry and play it to him because the song takes on a whole new meaning for me now, looking back through all those years and all those gigs," Barnes reflected.
Opting to bypass any commercial gain from the project, Barnes made the decisive choice to dedicate every cent generated by the release to Support Act, an organization providing crisis relief and mental health support to artists, crew members, and music workers across Australia. Concluding his tribute with characteristic rock-and-roll defiance, Barnes urged fans to honor his late friend appropriately: "I won’t keep any money it makes, I just want to tip my hat to my mate… Turn it up f—ing LOUD. Angry’s gone to the Big Gig upstairs but I bet he’ll be listening."
A Lifetime of Defiance and Cultural Impact
Gary "Angry" Anderson’s journey in the music industry began in Sydney in 1976 when he co-founded Rose Tattoo. Recognized immediately by his shaved head, heavily tattooed physique, and blistering, sandpaper-rough vocal delivery, Anderson quickly established himself as one of the most formidable frontmen in rock history. Under his leadership, Rose Tattoo released a string of landmark albums, including their 1978 self-titled debut (often referred to in international markets as Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw) and 1981’s Assault & Battery.
While Rose Tattoo enjoyed moderate mainstream chart success in Australia, their true legacy lies in their immense international influence. The band pioneered a blueprint for street-level hard rock and heavy blues that resonated deeply across the globe. Most notably, American hard rock icons Guns N’ Roses cited Rose Tattoo as a fundamental musical influence. Guns N’ Roses famously covered the Rose Tattoo anthem "Nice Boys" on their 1986 EP Live ?!@ Like a Suicide, subsequently reissuing it on their multi-platinum 1988 release G N’ R Lies*, introducing Anderson’s raw musical ethos to millions of American listeners.
Beyond his musical contributions, Anderson achieved crossover fame on the silver screen. In 1985, he appeared in George Miller’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, starring alongside Mel Gibson and pop superstar Tina Turner. Anderson portrayed Ironbar, the menacing and memorable personal enforcer to Turner’s character, Aunty Entity, further cementing his status as an unmistakable fixture of Australian pop culture.
In recognition of their monumental contribution to the country’s cultural identity, Rose Tattoo were formally inducted into the prestigious ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006. The band’s lineage also maintained a direct connection to the Barnes family; in 2018, Jimmy Barnes’s son, accomplished drummer Jackie Barnes, joined Rose Tattoo, performing alongside Anderson and bridging generational divides within the Australian rock fraternity.
Broader Implications for the Australian Music Community
The passing of Angry Anderson and the subsequent charity release by Jimmy Barnes highlight the deeply interconnected and tight-knit nature of the Australian music ecosystem. Both artists occupy legendary status within the domestic market. Jimmy Barnes holds the all-time record for the most number-one albums on the official ARIA Albums Chart by a homegrown artist, having achieved chart-topping success both as a solo artist and as the frontman of Cold Chisel, an outfit that has also earned dual induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
The decision to channel the commercial and streaming proceeds of "Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King" into Support Act underscores a growing industry-wide emphasis on safeguarding the welfare of aging and vulnerable music professionals. Support Act has increasingly become a critical safety net for legacy artists and touring crews facing health crises, financial hardship, and mental health struggles—issues that have become increasingly pressing in the post-pandemic live entertainment landscape.
By aligning the release of a classic Australian rock anthem with charitable relief, Barnes has transformed personal grief into a tangible mechanism of support. The release serves as a bridge connecting the ferocious, rebellious energy of the 1970s and 1980s pub rock circuit with modern philanthropic necessities. As fans stream the track and contribute to the charity fund, they are not only commemorating the indomitable spirit of Gary "Angry" Anderson but also ensuring that the community he helped forge continues to endure for future generations of Australian musicians.
