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Content Source: OztixRock n Roll Outlaw, the title track of Rose Tattoos first international album,
was a chart hit in Germany. And more than 45 years later, it remains the
Australian bands manifesto:
I dont need lots of people tellin me what to do, Angry Anderson sings. All I
need is a rock n roll band, somewhere new to play and Im on my way, Im on
my way.
Rose Tattoo who are celebrating their 50 th anniversary in 2026 are one of the
most respected Australian bands ever.
Their entry in The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop starts: In the
pantheon of Australian hard rock, Rose Tattoo stands as one of the most revered
bands of all time.
Rose Tattoos self-titled debut was featured in the book The 100 Best Australian
Albums, with the authors stating: AC/DC presented a cartoonish version of the
hard rockin, hard livin lifestyle but Rose Tattoo were the real thing.
In 2006, Rose Tattoo were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame Australian
musics highest honour.
But the bands influence extends far beyond their home country.
Izzy Stradlin, Guns N Roses co-founder and guitarist, says: Axl [Rose] and I
had done stuff together before wed heard Rose Tattoo, but I think when we
heard them it just gave us that much more steam, that much more power.
Axl Rose saw Rose Tattoo on their first American tour in 1982. Six years later,
on Guns N Roses first Australian tour, responding to accusations that GNR
were ripping off Rose Tattoo, Axl told the Sydney crowd: We aint no f*cking
Rose Tattoo rip-off. Theyre just one of my favourite f*cking bands, thats all.
We put a Rose Tattoo song on our record because we wanted people in America
to listen to some bitchin Australian band.
Guns N Roses covered Rose Tattoos Nice Boys on their first release, the 1986
EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide and on their 1988 album, G NR Lies.
As Angry is fond of telling the crowd when introducing Nice Boys, Just
remember, theres a little bit of evil in the best of em. And theres a little bit of
good in the worst of us.
UK magazine Sounds gave the first two Rose Tattoo albums five-star reviews.
And the Tatts were voted Best New Band for 1981 in UK magazine Kerrang!
Four years later, Angry Anderson spoke about Rose Tattoos mission statement
in Rolling Stones Big Australian Rock Book:
Its the dedication, the very heartfelt obligation of Rose Tattoo to appeal to
everyone who has a heart and a soul, who lets life affect them on an emotional
level. What about the kids who are being brought up in the suburbs today? ...
Societys turning a lot of people into desperados, and the numbers are growing.
These are the people for whom Rose Tattoo speaks: the dispossessed.
Four decades on, Angrys words continue to ring true.
was a chart hit in Germany. And more than 45 years later, it remains the
Australian bands manifesto:
I dont need lots of people tellin me what to do, Angry Anderson sings. All I
need is a rock n roll band, somewhere new to play and Im on my way, Im on
my way.
Rose Tattoo who are celebrating their 50 th anniversary in 2026 are one of the
most respected Australian bands ever.
Their entry in The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop starts: In the
pantheon of Australian hard rock, Rose Tattoo stands as one of the most revered
bands of all time.
Rose Tattoos self-titled debut was featured in the book The 100 Best Australian
Albums, with the authors stating: AC/DC presented a cartoonish version of the
hard rockin, hard livin lifestyle but Rose Tattoo were the real thing.
In 2006, Rose Tattoo were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame Australian
musics highest honour.
But the bands influence extends far beyond their home country.
Izzy Stradlin, Guns N Roses co-founder and guitarist, says: Axl [Rose] and I
had done stuff together before wed heard Rose Tattoo, but I think when we
heard them it just gave us that much more steam, that much more power.
Axl Rose saw Rose Tattoo on their first American tour in 1982. Six years later,
on Guns N Roses first Australian tour, responding to accusations that GNR
were ripping off Rose Tattoo, Axl told the Sydney crowd: We aint no f*cking
Rose Tattoo rip-off. Theyre just one of my favourite f*cking bands, thats all.
We put a Rose Tattoo song on our record because we wanted people in America
to listen to some bitchin Australian band.
Guns N Roses covered Rose Tattoos Nice Boys on their first release, the 1986
EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide and on their 1988 album, G NR Lies.
As Angry is fond of telling the crowd when introducing Nice Boys, Just
remember, theres a little bit of evil in the best of em. And theres a little bit of
good in the worst of us.
UK magazine Sounds gave the first two Rose Tattoo albums five-star reviews.
And the Tatts were voted Best New Band for 1981 in UK magazine Kerrang!
Four years later, Angry Anderson spoke about Rose Tattoos mission statement
in Rolling Stones Big Australian Rock Book:
Its the dedication, the very heartfelt obligation of Rose Tattoo to appeal to
everyone who has a heart and a soul, who lets life affect them on an emotional
level. What about the kids who are being brought up in the suburbs today? ...
Societys turning a lot of people into desperados, and the numbers are growing.
These are the people for whom Rose Tattoo speaks: the dispossessed.
Four decades on, Angrys words continue to ring true.