Rose Tattoo

:"For the Wildstorm Comics character, see Rose Tattoo (comics). For the Tennessee Williams play, see The Rose Tattoo. For the game, see The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes"

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Rose Tattoo


Img_capt = Rose Tattoo performing in Wagga, NSW, January 1993
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Sydney, Australia
Genre = Hard rock
Rock and roll
Blues rock
Years_active = 1976 – 1985; 1998 - present
Label = Albert Productions, Mushroom Records, SPV
Associated_acts = Buffalo
The Party Boys
Heaven
Coloured Balls
Buster Brown
Illustrated Men
X
Doomfoxx
URL = [http://www.rosetattoo.com.au/ rosetattoo.com.au]
Current_members = Angry Anderson Dai Pritchard Paul DeMarco Geordie Leach Mick Cocks
Past_members = Peter Wells Ian Rilen Dallas "Digger" Royal Steve King Lobby Lloyde Greg Jordan John Meyer Scott Johnston Tim Gaze Andy Cichon Robin Riley

Rose Tattoo is an Australian blues/hard rock band, led by Angry Anderson. Among their best known songs are "We Can't Be Beaten", "Scarred for Life", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw" and "Bad Boy for Love". 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.Fact|now|date=June 2008

Guns N' Roses, L.A. Guns, and Nashville Pussy have all covered Rose Tattoo songs.

History

Rose Tattoo was formed in Sydney in 1976 by slide guitarist Peter Wells, who had just departed the bassist role in Buffalo. Ian Rilen from Band of Light joined on bass. Rilen had apparently taught himself to play bass while in prison and thus gave Wells' band the street-cred he was looking for [Creswell, Toby & Fabiniyi, Martin "The Real Thing" (1998)] . Rhythm guitarist Mick Cocks, singer Tony Lake and drummer Michael Vandersluys completed the line-up howeverthe last two only remained for a few rehearsals and were soon replaced by former Buster Brown members Angry Anderson and Dallas "Digger" Royal. Like Buffalo, Buster Brown had enjoyed a level of notoriety, playing at the Sunbury Festival in 1974 and at one point had featured AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd [Engleheart, Murray "AC/DC: Maximum Rock N Roll" (2006)] . Rose Tattoo made their public debut on New Year's Eve at the rock club Chequers that several years earlier had launched the career of AC/DC.

Chiefly inspired by The Rolling Stones and the Faces, Rose Tattoo's hard-rocking sound quickly earned a devoted following in the Sydney area. Among the band's fans were the members of AC/DC, who recommended them to Albert Productions; the band's 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 Leach was recruited for Rose Tattoo's self-titled debut LP; after nearly three years of extensive touring, during which time Leach temporarily left the band to be replaced by Lobby Lloyde, they issued the follow-up, "Assault and Battery", in 1981. During Lloyde's brief tenure with the band, they recorded a song, "Legalise Realise" that was released as a single in 1980, backed with a track by country singer Colin Paterson to publicise a campaign to legalise marihuana.

Rose Tattoo toured Europe in 1981 and featured at the Reading Festival, and were hailed as the loudest band to play London's Marquee Club since Led Zeppelin.Fact|date=February 2007 Returning to Australia, the band began work on their third album; with new guitarist Robin Riley replacing Cocks who went on to join Heaven, they issued "Scarred for Life" in 1982, subsequently touring the US in support of Aerosmith and ZZ Top. The band's US visit was not a major success but proved to be extremely influential on the underground sleaze metal scene in Los Angeles, with bands such as Guns N' Roses later citing Rose Tattoo as favourites.Fact|date=February 2007 That group went on to record a version of "Nice Boys" and issue it on the "G N' R Lies" album.

After the US tour, Wells, Royal and Riley all left the group, with the remaining duo of Anderson and Leach recruiting guitarists Greg Jordan and John Meyer (from Perth progressive metal band Saracen) 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 also took time out to play the character 'Ironbar' Bassey in the 1985 film "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome". That year Rose Tattoo, as Anderson, Johnston, Meyer, Andy Cichon (bass) and Tim Gaze (slide guitar), released a version of Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild", their first release for Mushroom Records. Meyer left and Rose Tattoo recorded 1986's "Beats From a Single Drum" as a four piece.

Anderson finally mounted a solo career soon after, as did Wells. After a long battle with cancer, Royal died in 1991. In 1992, Anderson was approached by Guns N' Roses to reform Rose Tattoo in order to support them on an Australian tour. Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Leach and new drummer Paul DeMarco from Wells' solo band reunited for the 1993 tour. The reunion proved brief, however, and each then member returned to his solo endeavours.

Around this time, ex-members of Rose Tattoo formed a short lived band with ex Candy Harlots vocalist Aiz Lynch. This band had numerous rehearsals, but only recorded one demo before disbanding.

The same lineup, with original bassist Ian Rilen replacing Leach, reformed yet again in 1998 for the "All Hell Breaks Loose!!" tour, however Rilen remained with the band only for the duration of this tour and by the following year, Leach had returned to the fold once more, although his place was taken by Steve King in 2000. Since that time Rose Tattoo has toured regularly around Australia and throughout Germany and France. In 2000, the band appeared at the Wacken Open Air festival as part of their European tour. These shows formed the basis of the "25 to Life" live album. 2002 saw the release of "Pain", the band's first studio album in 16 years.

Peter Wells died after a four-year-battle from prostate cancer on March 27, 2006. In August that year, the band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Founding member Ian Rilen died on October 30 2006 after a battle with bladder cancer. One of Rilen's last public appearances was at Rose Tattoo's ARIA Hall of Fame induction.

In October 2006, a number of Rose Tattoo songs were voted upon and ranked in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown of songs, including "Bad Boy for Love" (voted #1060 out of 2006) and "We Can't Be Beaten" (voted #397 out of 2006).

In the same month, Rose Tattoo were also one of 55 acts voted and played in Triple J's "Impossible Music Festival" of 2006, with their live recording of a gig performed on New Year's Day 1980 at Mount Druitt, New South Wales being selected out of over 1000 "Live at the Wireless" recordings produced over the radio station's 31-year history.

In 2007, Rose Tattoo supported Guns N' Roses with Sebastian Bach, and later Motorhead on their Australian tours. In an interview with Australian rock magazine "Unbelievably Bad", Angry Anderson announced his intentions to retire the band after one more album.

The band have recently been confirmed as playing the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Download Festival in England ["http://www.rosetattoo.com.au/"]

Discography

Albums:

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Rose Tattoo
Released = 1978
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = LP
Chart position=
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Singles = "Rock N Roll Outlaw", "One of the Boys"
from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Assault and Battery
Released = 1981
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = LP
Chart position=
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Singles = "Rock and Roll is King", "Out of This Place"
from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Scarred For Life
Released = 1982
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = LP
Chart position=
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Singles = "We Can't be Beaten", "Branded", "It's Gonna Work Itself Out"
from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Southern Stars
Released = 1984
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = LP
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Singles = "I Wish", "Freedom's Flame", "No Secrets"
from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Beats From a Single Drum
Released = 1986
Label = Mushroom Records
Producer =
Format = LP
Chart position=
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Singles = "Calling", "Get it Right", "Falling", "Suddenly"
from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = compilation
Name = A Decade of Rock
Released = 1986
Label = Albert Productions
Producer =
Format = LP
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from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = compilation
Name = Nice Boys Don't Play Rock n Roll
Released = 1992
Label = Mushroom Records
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Format = CD
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Infobox Discography
Type = compilation
Name = Never Too Loud
Released = 1999
Label = Mushroom Records
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Format = CD
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Infobox Discography
Type = live
Name = 25 to Life
Released = 2000
Label = SPV
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Format = CD
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from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Pain
Released = 2002
Label = SPV
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Format = CD
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from Album =
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Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Blood Brothers
Released = 2007
Label =
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Format = CD
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Singles:

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Bad Boy for Love
Released = 1977
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
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Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer = Ian Rilen
Tracks = "Bad Boy for Love", "Snow Queen"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Rock N Roll Outlaw
Released = 1978
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Rose Tattoo
Writer =
Tracks = "Rock N Roll Outlaw", "Remedy"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = One of the Boys
Released = 1978
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Rose Tattoo
Writer = Ian Rilen
Tracks = "One of the Boys", "TV"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Realise Legalise
Released = 1980
Label =
Producer =
Format = 7" vinyl
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from Album =
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Other info = nnnn

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Rock N Roll is King
Released = 1981
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Assault and Battery
Writer = Angry Anderson/Mick Cocks
Tracks = "Rock N Roll is King", "I Had You First"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Out of This Place
Released = 1981
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
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Singles =
from Album = Assault and Battery
Writer =
Tracks = "Out of This Place", "Manzil Madness"
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Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = We Can't Be Beaten
Released = 1982
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
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Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Scarred for Life
Writer = Angry Anderson/Robin Riley
Tracks = "We Can't be Beaten", "Fightin' Sons"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Branded
Released = 1983
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
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Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Scarred for Life
Writer = Ian Rilen
Tracks = "Branded", "Dead Set"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = It's Gonna Work Itself Out
Released = 1983
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
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Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Scarred for Life
Writer =
Tracks = "It's Gonna Work Itself Out", "Sydney Girls"
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Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = I Wish
Released = 1984
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Southern Stars
Writer =
Tracks = "I Wish", "Wild One"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Freedom's Flame
Released = 1984
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Southern Stars
Writer =
Tracks = "Freedom's Flame", "Never Too Loud"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = No Secrets
Released = 1985
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda and George Young
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Southern Stars
Writer =
Tracks = "No Secrets", "Let Us Live"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Born to Be Wild
Released = 1985
Label = Mushroom Records
Producer =
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer = Mars Bonfire
Tracks = "Born to be Wild", "Sun's Gonna Shine"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Calling
Released = 1986
Label = Mushroom
Producer =
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Beats From a Single Drum
Writer =
Tracks = "Calling", "Win at Any Cost"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Get it Right
Released = 1986
Label = Mushroom
Producer =
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Beats From a Single Drum
Writer =
Tracks = "Get it Right", "Michael O'Reilly"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Falling
Released = 1987
Label = Mushroom
Producer =
Format = 7" vinyl
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Beats From a Single Drum
Writer =
Tracks = "Falling", "Winnie Mandela"
Other info =

References

External links

* [http://www.rosetattoo.com.au/ Official Rose Tattoo website]