Some people may only know Angry Anderson through Australian soap, Neighbours where his dulcet tones provided the love theme to the matrimonials of Scott and Charlene. Anyone wandering in the O2 Academy on that basis may well have been in for a shock.
Anderson, to those in know, fronts Aussie Rockers Rose Tattoo, the toughest, loudest, hardest bunch on the block. Whereas bands such as Bon Jovi and Van Halen were all about flash and flamboyance, Rose Tattoo are about as down to earth and streetwise as you can get, undoubtedly a product of growing up in the tough suburbs of Sydney.
Rose Tattoo have had a rather unfair share of tragedy over the years, with the loss of a number of members to cancer over the years including founder members Pete Wells, Mick Cocks, Ian Rilen and Dallas “Digger” Royall. Anderson has paid tribute to his fallen comrades and promised to fly the flag, keeping their legacy alive. In doing so he’s brought in Mark Evans on bass, who played on the classic AC/DC releases of the ’70s and Bob Spencer from the legendary, The Angels to join him and long-time demonic slide guitarist Dai Pritchard. A veritable collection of Aussie Rock Royalty.
One Of The Boys really sets to tone for the evening, it packs a punch and Rocks hard while the boogie shuffle of Juice on The Loose complete with Pritchard’s dirty slide work was the perfect counter blow.
The classics Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw and Assault and Battery follow hot on their heels as the Tatts hit their stride. Angry prowling the stage in menacing fashion, his gritty voice adding the bite.
The slow smouldering Blues of The Butcher and Fast Eddie gave Angry the chance to tell the tale of gang life in Australia and couldn’t be further away from Suddenly if you tried and it’s hard to imagine anyone else tell the story as convincingly as Angry as he squeezed every ounce of emotion in his tale of rivalry and conflict. It was breathless stuff.
Evans and Spencer certainly added the kick to the fast-paced Remedy but it was on the stone-cold classics Scarred For Life and Nice Boys (Don’t Play Rock’n’ Roll) where the Tatts really excelled. This is what they are all about, gritty, hard hitting, no frills in your face Rock ‘n’ Roll. No one does it better. Angry and the boys certainly did the Tatts legacy proud.
Review and Photos By Mick Burgess
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