Rose Tattoo

Band Members

• Current Line-Up
  • Chris (guitar)
  • Scott (vocals)
  • Dan Nahum (drums)
  • James Sims (guitar)
  • Henry Lauer (bass)

• Former Members
  • Jay Taylor (keys, guitar) (1997 - 2002)
  • Joss Separovic (vocals) (1999 - 2000)

Formed

Sydney, NSW, 1997

Band Information

Rose Tattoo is undoubtedly one of the most legendary bands Australia has ever produced. They played their first gig on New Year's Eve 1976 and in no time had established a reputation as one of the baddest, most brawling bands in the land. Rose Tattoo is one of the greatest bar-room blues bands ever to draw breath and their first two albums in particular are still regarded as masterpieces.

The group was formed by slide guitarist Peter Wells after leaving Buffalo, for whom he had been the bass player. Angry Anderson and drummer Dallas Royal were from Buster Brown, a hard-rocking boogie band who had played at Sunbury and once featured AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd. The pair joined as replacements for original members Tony Lake and Michael Vandersluys. Bass player Ian Rilen came from Band of Light and had also been in Blackfeather and Tully. The line-up was completed by rhythm guitarist Mick Cocks. Despite writing virtually all the band's early material, Rilen left the group within months, his only recording with Rose Tattoo being their first single, "Bad Boy for Love". He was replaced by Geordie Leach, also from Buster Brown, and Rilen went on to form X.

Rose Tattoo attracted the attention of AC/DC, who recommended them to Albert Productions and their debut self-titled album appeared in 1978. Despite a string of singles and constant live work, Rose Tattoo was unable to find major success in Australia but gained cult followings in North America and the UK, leading to tours there and eventually a performance at the Reading Festival.

In 1981 Cocks left the band to join Heaven and was replaced by Rob Riley for the Scarred for Life album. Leach had left the band during 1979 and been replaced by Lobby Lloyde, although this was only for a brief time and after one tour he returned to the band.

Rose Tattoo toured the US in 1982, supporting ZZ Top and Aerosmith and while it was not a particularly successful tour for them, they were exposed to members of the fledgling sleaze scene like Motley Crue and Hollywood Rose, who would play important roles in Rose Tattoo's later career.

On returning to Australia, Wells, Riley and Royal all left Rose Tattoo. Guitarists Greg Jordan and John Meyer (from Perth progressive metal band Saracen) and drummer Scott Johnston were recruited for the Southern Stars album, after which Leach departed. He teamed up with Riley, Wells and Royal in a band called Illustrated Men, which played sporadically around Sydney for a couple of years in the mid-80s.

Anderson joined the cast of the film Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, following which Rose Tattoo released a version of "Born to be Wild" which was a minor hit. The line-up on that track was Anderson, Meyer and Johnston with Tim Gaze on slide guitar and Judge Mercy bassist Andy Cichon. Meyer then rejoind Saracen and a four-piece Rose Tattoo was responsible for Beats From a Single Drum that was originally meant to be Anderson's debut solo album but released under the band name due to contractual obligations. However, after the track "Suddenly" became a No. 1 hit after being used as a love theme on the TV drama Neighbours, the album was then repackaged as an Angry Anderson solo effort in 1988. During this period, Anderson had also toured as a member of The Party Boys in 1986.

For the next few years, Anderson embarked on a solo musical career, issuing the album Blood From Stone that spawned the hit single "Bound For Glory." He also continued his acting and charity work. In 1993 he was awarded the Order of Australia for his work as a youth advocate. The same year, Rose Tattoo reformed to tour with Guns N' Roses and Skid Row. Guns N' Roses had previously recorded a version of "Nice Boys Don't Play Rock N Roll" and specifically asked for Rose Tattoo to support them. The line-up of Anderson, Wells, Cocks and Leach regrouped with Wells' drummer Paul Demarco replacing Royal, who had died after a long battle with cancer in 1991. After this tour, Rose Tattoo disbanded once again.

In 1999, the band reformed once again, playing an east coast tour with the line-up of Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Demarco and Rilen, the first time he had played with Rose Tattoo since a one-off appearance in 1980. In 2000 Rose Tattoo was active again with Steve King on bass and Riley in place of Cocks, touring Europe and taking part in the annual Wacken Festival in Germany. This tour was later issued as the live album 25 to Life. In November 2000 the band was to tour Australia with Motley Crue, but the tour was canned.

Rose Tattoo returned to Europe for further shows in 2001 and in 2002 recorded Pain, their first full album of new material in 16 years.

In 2005 Wells was forced to stand down from touring commitments as he endured treatment for prostate cancer and his place was taken in the band by Mick Cocks, who was also performing and touring in Doomfoxx. A benefit show for Wells was put together in mid-2005 and the band, with Dai Pritchard in Wells' role, began work on a new album. Peter Wells finally passed away from the disease on March 27, 2006.

Rose Tattoo was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on August 17, 2006. Not long afterwards, on October 30, Ian Rilen died from bladder cancer. Lobby Lloyde, who played in the band on a tour in 1979, died of lung cancer on April 21, 2007. During May 2007, Rose Tattoo again toured Australia with Guns N Roses and with Motorhead in October.

Discography

Albums:

	2001	Intorment Black	self release
	2003	The Fallen Shroud	self release

Compilation tracks:

Year	Track Title	Album Title	Label
2004	"The Lion's Mane"	Underearthed	Independent