UPDATE: Europe 2007 - Rostock Show Cancelled 11/25/06
Unfortunately...local problems have caused the
cancellation of the Tatts show in Rostock on
April 14, 2007. The updated tour is listed below:
Europe 2007 Tickets available from 
DATE LOCATION VENUE
Mar 4, 2007 UK London Scala
Mar 6, 2007 UK Wolverhampton Civic Hall #
Mar 7, 2007 UK Nottingham Rock City #
Mar 8, 2007 UK Cardiff Coal Exchange #
Mar 9, 2007 BE Vosselaar Biebob
Mar 10, 2007 GER Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Mar 11, 2007 GER Übach-Palenberg Rockfabrik
Mar 13, 2007 GER Köln Live Music Hall #
Mar 14, 2007 GER Oberhausen Turbinenhalle #
Mar 15, 2007 GER Hannover Musikzentrum
Mar 16, 2007 GER Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt #
Mar 17, 2007 GER Leipzig Werk 2 #
Mar 18, 2007 GER Lichtenfels Stadthalle #
Mar 20, 2007 GER Regensburg Kulturspeicher
Mar 21, 2007 AUT Wien Planet Music
Mar 22, 2007 GER München Metropolis
Mar 25, 2007 RUS Moskau Club Tochka
Mar 26, 2007 RUS Sankt Petersburg Club Port
Mar 28, 2007 RUS Ekaterinburg The Hooch
Mar 30, 2007 ESP Barcelona Razzmatazz2
Mar 31, 2007 ESP Madrid Sala Heineken
Apr 1, 2007 ESP Bergara Sala Jam
Apr 3, 2007 FR Toulouse Havana Club
Apr 4, 2007 FR Bordeaux Theatre Barbey
Apr 5, 2007 FR Lyon Ninkasi Kao
Apr 6, 2007 FR Savigny Le Temple L'Empreinte
Apr 7, 2007 FR Strasbourg Le Laiterie
Apr 8, 2007 SWI Muotathal Alpenrõsli
Apr 10, 2007 SWI Winterthur Salzhaus
Apr 11, 2007 SWI Pratteln Z7
Apr 12, 2007 GER Essen Zeche Carl
Apr 13, 2007 GER Bremen Tivoli
Apr 18, 2007 NL Weert De Bosuil
Apr 19, 2007 NL Zoetermeer Boerderij
Apr 20, 2007 GER Hamburg Markthalle
Apr 21, 2007 GER Kiel Pumpe
Apr 28, 2007 Nor Stavanger Stavanger Punk Rock Festival 2007
# with Saxon & Masterplan
UPDATE: Europe 2007 Tour Dates 11/07/06
The Tatts have changed their 2007 European Tour Dates...
moving the February dates to April and starting the tour
in the U.K. The new schedule is posted below:
Europe 2007 Tickets available from
DATE LOCATION VENUE
Mar 4, 2007 UK London Scala
Mar 6, 2007 UK Wolverhampton Civic Hall #
Mar 7, 2007 UK Nottingham Rock City #
Mar 8, 2007 UK Cardiff Coal Exchange #
Mar 9, 2007 BE Vosselaar Biebob
Mar 10, 2007 GER Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Mar 11, 2007 GER Übach-Palenberg Rockfabrik
Mar 13, 2007 GER Köln Live Music Hall #
Mar 14, 2007 GER Oberhausen Turbinenhalle #
Mar 15, 2007 GER Hannover Musikzentrum
Mar 16, 2007 GER Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt #
Mar 17, 2007 GER Leipzig Werk 2 #
Mar 18, 2007 GER Lichtenfels Stadthalle #
Mar 20, 2007 GER Regensburg Kulturspeicher
Mar 21, 2007 AUT Wien Planet Music
Mar 22, 2007 GER München Metropolis
Mar 25, 2007 RUS Moskau Club Tochka
Mar 26, 2007 RUS Sankt Petersburg Club Port
Mar 28, 2007 RUS Ekaterinburg The Hooch
Mar 30, 2007 ESP Barcelona Razzmatazz2
Mar 31, 2007 ESP Madrid Sala Heineken
Apr 1, 2007 ESP Bergara Sala Jam
Apr 3, 2007 FR Toulouse Havana Club
Apr 4, 2007 FR Bordeaux Theatre Barbey
Apr 5, 2007 FR Lyon Ninkasi Kao
Apr 6, 2007 FR Savigny Le Temple L'Empreinte
Apr 7, 2007 FR Strasbourg Le Laiterie
Apr 8, 2007 SWI Muotathal Alpenrõsli
Apr 10, 2007 SWI Winterthur Salzhaus
Apr 11, 2007 SWI Pratteln Z7
Apr 12, 2007 GER Essen Zeche Carl
Apr 13, 2007 GER Bremen Tivoli
Apr 14, 2007 GER Rostock Mau Club
Apr 18, 2007 NL Weert De Bosuil
Apr 19, 2007 NL Zoetermeer Boerderij
Apr 20, 2007 GER Hamburg Markthalle
Apr 21, 2007 GER Kiel Pumpe
Apr 28, 2007 Nor Stavanger Stavanger Punk Rock Festival 2007
# with Saxon & Masterplan
Ian Rilen Tribute Photos 11/03/06
As we remember Ian, check out this photo gallery of the Ian Rilen Tribute show from last month.
Ian Rilen Funeral Info 11/02/06
Ian Rilen's funeral will be on Saturday Nov. 4th at the
Melbourne High Memorial Hall in Alexandra Avenue, South
Yarra. For full info, visit ianrilen.com
Vale: Ian Rilen (1947 - 2006) 10/31/06
The I94 Bar has a tribute to Ian that is well worth reading:
We've Lost Another Brother... 10/30/06
We are extremely sad to report that Ian Rilen has died. The Age:
Rose Tattoo legend dies
Daniel Ziffer, Entertainment Reporter
October 30, 2006 - 4:30PM
Hard-living Australian rock band Rose Tattoo have suffered
another loss, with the death today of former bassist Ian Rilen.
Founding guitarist Pete Wells died in March this year, months
before the band — whose hits included We Can't Be Beaten and
Scarred for Life — were inducted.
Rilen, a father of four who also led the band X, and more
recently Ian Rilen and the Love Addicts, passed away today
after a battle with bladder cancer. He co-wrote one of the
band's biggest hits, Bad Boy For Love.
His former manager Ian Wedd said it was a metaphor for his life.
"When Ian pumped the bass, you felt it hit your guts," he said.
"Lip jutting out, low to the ground stance, grinding you into
submission."
Cold Chisel songwriter Don Walker earlier called him "a national
treasure".
Just two weeks ago the cream of Australia's rock fraternity
joined forces in Melbourne to help the ailing rocker.
Nick Barker performed Tom Petty's Waiting is the Hardest
Part and said Rilen taught him to hang his guitar strap
lower; Paul Kelly played St Kilda to King's Cross; and
Rilen's X bandmate Steve Lucas performed a moving version
of John Lennon's Mother.
Rilen, 58, was took sick to attend the night.
Europe 2007 Tour Dates 10/18/06
The Tatts have announced their 2007 European Tour Dates...
it's a massive tour seeing them visit 9 countries in little
more than 6 weeks!
Europe 2007 Tickets available from
DATE LOCATION VENUE
Feb 11, 2007 GER Kiel Pumpe
Feb 13, 2007 GER Rostock Mau Club
Feb 14, 2007 NL Zoetermeer Boerderij
Feb 15, 2007 NL Weert De Bosuil
Feb 16, 2007 GER Hamburg Markthalle
Feb 17, 2007 GER Bremen Tivoli
Feb 18, 2007 GER Krefeld Kulturfabrik
Feb 20, 2007 SWI Pratteln Z7
Feb 21, 2007 SWI Winterthur Salzhaus
Feb 23, 2007 ESP Barcelona Mephisto
Feb 24, 2007 ESP Madrid Heineken
Feb 25, 2007 ESP Bergara Sala Jam
Feb 27, 2007 FR Toulouse Havana Club
Feb 28, 2007 FR Bordeaux Theatre Barbey
Mar 1, 2007 FR Lyon Ninkasi Kao
Mar 2, 2007 FR Savigny Le Temple L'Empreinte
Mar 3, 2007 FR Strasbourg Le Laiterie
Mar 4, 2007 UK London Scala
Mar 6, 2007 UK Wolverhampton Civic Hall #
Mar 7, 2007 UK Nottingham Rock City #
Mar 8, 2007 UK Cardiff Coal Exchange #
Mar 9, 2007 BE Vosselaar Biebob
Mar 10, 2007 GER Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Mar 11, 2007 GER Übach-Palenberg Rockfabrik
Mar 13, 2007 GER Köln Live Music Hall #
Mar 14, 2007 GER Oberhausen Turbinenhalle #
Mar 15, 2007 GER Hannover Musikzentrum
Mar 16, 2007 GER Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt #
Mar 17, 2007 GER Leipzig Werk 2 #
Mar 18, 2007 GER Lichtenfels Stadthalle #
Mar 20, 2007 GER Regensburg Kulturspeicher
Mar 21, 2007 AUT Wien Planet Music
Mar 22, 2007 GER München Metropolis
Mar 25, 2007 RUS Moskau Club Tochka
Mar 26, 2007 RUS Sankt Petersburg Club Port
Mar 28, 2007 RUS Ekaterinburg T.B.A.
# with Saxon & Masterplan
Ian Rilen Tribute 10/04/06
The Ian Rilen Tribute shows begin tonight...here's
all the details:
Ian Rilen Tribute Shows: 5 & 6 October
The crème de la crème of Australia's music scene join
forces over two nights to pay tribute to legendary
Australian songwriter, Ian Rilen.
Thursday 5 October @The Prince Of Wales
• Beasts Of Bourbon
• Tim Rogers & The Temperance Union
• Paul Kelly
• Nick Barker
• TNT (Tim rogers & Tex Perkins)
• Phil Jamieson &a,p; further guests to be announced
Friday 6 October @The Prince Of Wales
• Rose Tattoo
• Hoodoo Gurus
• Don Walker
• The Spazzys
• Maurice Frawley & the Yard Hands
• Kim Volkman & further guests to be announced
For more that 30 years Ian Rilen has made a crucial impact on the
Australian music scene. Inspiring punters and musicians alike with
his energy, passion and, of course talent! He is notorious and
admired for his absolute ability to embrace his music and then take
you on the ride of a lifetime. Rilen would have achieved lasting
notoriety if his only claim to fame was as the founding songwriter
for Rose Tattoo who left because the band's choice of music wasn't
hard enough!!
But Rilen has done more that pen a memorable song or two for an
enduring rock band. After the Tatts, he formed X and unleashed a
strain of high-energy music so visceral and basic that it almost
defies description. For three decades, clutching only a bunch of
street-level songs and a weathered bass or six-string guitar for
protection, the mercurial Rilen has been an indestructible figure
on the Australian music scene. Rilen personifies the exciting and
eclectic underground rock, which Australia is noted for.
From Rose Tattoo to X, Sardine V & Hell To Pay to his current incarnation
Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts, Rilen has been and continues to be an
unyielding force in the Australian Rock scene. Recently Ian Rilen
was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and when asked what steps he's
taken in its treatment, he replied, "Well, we¹ve recorded a new album,
that's one step!" And for those who know Ian they are aware that his
music is in his blood, it has kept him going and will keep on doing so.
The many fans and friends the 58-year old Rilen has made in his enduring
music career will appreciate the attitude: "The Ian Rilen, we've always
known, is incorrigible, rock'n'roll with legs, a pure spirit, like Link
Wray or Peter Wells, Clinton Walker. So it is no wonder that a stellar
line-up has joined forces to celebrate the work and music of one of
Australia's gutsiest performers.
Two extraordinary shows will be held at the Prince of Wales Hotel in
St Kilda, Melbourne on Thursday 5th October with Beasts Of Bourbon,
Tim Rogers & The Temperance Union, Nick Barker, Phil Jamieson & and
Friday 6th October, with Rose Tattoo, Hoodoo Gurus, Don Walker, Steve
Lucas, The Spazzys, Maurice Frawley & the Yard Hands, Kim Volkman
and more.
The bill over these two nights speaks volumes for the fondness and
respect his fellow musicians feel for Ian Rilen. It is meant as a
celebration of the sort of Australian rock'n'roll that he has had
such a hand in shaping. All funds raised will go towards treatment
for Ian's illness.
Tickets at $25 per night including booking fee can be purchased through:
Polyester Records, Greville Records, Missing Link & Prince of Wales
Public Bar.
Credit card sales (03) 9536 1168 or online www.princebandroom.com.au
With the new album due out soon and a European tour in the offing,
Ian Rilen clearly has a lot of life and music in him yet. "Just enjoy
the music," he says, and we are all there with him for the next musical
sojourn.
For further information please contact Caroline Moore on 0411 736 821 or
email mavarts@maconline.com.au
ARIA Performances & Photos 09/27/2006
The MMM 2006 ARIA site has both performance videos
and photos from the Hall Of Fame Ceremony last month.
Jet pays tribute to the Tatts...and don't miss Lobby
Loyde rocking out onstage with Thorpie & the Aztecs!
Jack Awards Tribute To Pete 09/16/2006
With Ian Rilen's tribute shows coming up in a few
weeks...lets looks back on a rocking tribute to
Pete Wells at the Jack Awards back in June. "The Wrongs"
did a killer version of Bad Boy For Love: Phil Jamieson
on vocals (Grinspoon), Chris Cheney on slide (The Living
End), Brad Shepherd on guitar (Hoodoo Gurus), Ian Rilen
on bass and Hamish Rosser on drums (The Vines). You
can see the performance at youtube!
Upcoming Tour Dates 09/16/2006
The Tatts official page announced some tourdates, including
a visit to Europe early next year:
2006
Sat 30 Sep AUS Pub w/No Beer Festival, Taylors Arm near Kempsey
Fri 6 Oct AUS Ian Rilen Benefit, Prince of Wales Hotel, Melbourne
Sat 7 Oct AUS Outdoor Festival, Carrington Park, Bathhurst
Fri 8 Dec AUS Meredith Music Festival, Meredith, VIC
Sat 9 Dec AUS East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
2007
Sat 27 Jan AUS Selinas, Coogee Bay Hotel w/Screaming Jets, Poor, Choirboys
Thu 8 Feb EUR Depart AUS for Europe, tourdates TBA
Sat 31 Mar AUS Newcastle Outdoor Festival TBC
New Single Available in Australia 09/16/06
You can get the new Tatts single in Australia from the
fine folks at Redeye Records. I've done business with
Redeye many times and highly recommend them!
Lobby Loyde & the New Tatts Album 08/24/06
It looks like Lobby will be contributing to the new Tatts
album, as reported in Undercover:
Lobby Loyde Joins Rose Tattoo
Lobby Loyde (photo by Ros O'Gorman)
Article by Tim Cashmere
August 23 2006
Aussie rock 'n' roll legends Rose Tattoo are back in the studio,
just months after the death of slide guitarist Pete Wells.
Replacing Wells will be ailing guitar legend and one time bassist
for Rose Tattoo, Lobby Loyde.
Loyde told Undercover earlier today, "Yeah I didn't know Rose Tattoo
were doing a new album until they asked me to play last night."
"Obviously they don't have Pete Wells anymore, so they asked me to play.
I'm not a real slide guitarist, but I'm the best choice after Pete!"
he proudly said.
The album won't see the light of day for a while, but work has begun.
Lobby, who is suffering from lung cancer, told Undercover that 6 months
ago he was told he had 5 weeks to live.
In other Tatts news, Rose Tattoo have just been confirmed to perform at
the infamous indie/rock festival Meredith this year.
Ian Rilen, guitarist for the Tatts, was recently diagnosed with bladder
cancer. Two benefit concerts are coming up for him at Melbourne's Prince
of Wales hotel in October, featuring The Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon,
Don Walker, The Spazzys, Rose Tattoo, Tim Rogers and the Temperance Union,
Phil Jamieson and more.
Tickets to both shows are $25 and on sale now, with all proceeds going to
help Rilen pay for his treatment.
Ian Rilen Tribute 08/24/06
Unfortunately another Tatt is battling the Big "C".
An Ian Rilen benefit tribute is planned for October,
and more info can be found at Ian Rilen.com.
Proceeds from the shows will go towards helping Ian
pay for his cancer treatment.
Lots of interesting info at Ian's site - it's no
surprise that despite his circumstances, Ian
continues cranking out his grinding brand of
rock & roll...and a new album is on the way!
Finally, lest we forget, Aztec Music has reissued a
deluxe version of the "Band Of Light" debut
album "Total Union" with bonus tracks including
'Destiny Song'! This album has been difficult to
find for many years, and is a genuine bluesy
precursor to Rose Tattoo...with Ian's heavy
downstroke bass and Norm Roue's slide guitar.
Lobby Loyde Tribute 08/22/06
Coming up on August 29th its "BALL POWER - A TRIBUTE
TO LOBBY LOYDE" at the Palace in Melbourne! A
Who's Who of Australian Rock will be paying tribute
to the guitar legend, who is fighting lung cancer.
The Palace website lists:
Billy Thorpe & the Sunbury Aztecs - Chain - Spectrum
Wild Cherries - Axiom (feat. Brian Cadd & Glenn Shorrock)
Ian Rilen - Rose Tattoo - Sparrow - Wendy Saddington
Sarah McLeod -The Coloured Balls - Painters & Dockers
Madder Lake - Blackfeather - Russell Morris
Masters Apprentices - Broderick Smith - Frances Loyde
+ more to be added
Tickets are available at the Palace website.
Also...Aztec Music continues their incredible
reissue series with several of Lobby's classic albums
coming to deluxe reissue CD's. Ball Power, Heavy Metal
Kid, and Obsecration are slated for release this
month and next!
Hall Of Fame Article 08/19/06
HOF article from news.com.au, here's
an excerpt:
ARIA honours rock greats
By Cameron Adams
August 17, 2006
The Hall of Fame was an emotional night for several reasons.
Rose Tattoo paid homage to late guitarist Pete Wells, who
died this year.
Frontman Angry Anderson was able to tell Wells about their
nod. "He was chuffed," Anderson said. "I was so glad he
knew about it.
"It's good we're getting recognised for the music.
While Rose Tattoo - who are still touring after 30 years -
did not perform, Melbourne's Jet belted out their 1982
hit We Can't Be Beaten.
"It's a classic song," Jet's Nic Cester said.
Lobby Loyde, battling cancer, was inducted by good mate
Billy Thorpe.
Loyde, who came to fame fronting the Coloured Balls, was
also in Thorpe's band the Aztecs.
The ARIA icons hall of fame will be broadcast on Foxtel's VH1 channel on August 20.
See the complete article at news.com.au.
Angry Is Interviewed 08/17/06
Rose Tattoo's Hall of Fame induction is complete, as
is Lobby Loyde's. The ceremony is set to broadcast
in Australia on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, see the
MMM website for an interview with Angry Anderson
conducted in advance of the festivities! Don't miss
the Lobby Loyde article as well!
ARIA Hall Of Fame - Latest News 08/13/06
With the Aria Hall of Fame Ceremony just days away, here's
the latest news on Rose Tattoo and Lobby Loyde's induction.
Australian Rockers Jet will be performing a tribute to
the Tatts, and Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs will be performing
a tribute to Lobby! All the news is here.
Report From Wacken 2006 08/08/06
We've got a comprehensive Wacken Report 2006 from Juergen Tschamler,
who also provided us with some intense stage-side photos:
ROSE TATTOO - WACKEN 2006
The Tatts played right after Whitesnake and Motörhead
on a smaller stage (the band would not play on the big
stage... for some reasons..) . Gig Time: 0.30 in the
night! But in front of the stage the place was packed
and the krauts very enthusiastic! The band got a very
good response!
Line up:
Angry, Mick Cocks, Steve King, Paul DeMarco and Dai
Pritchard (slide)
They played great (I was a little bit skeptical,
but it worked out very, very well).
On the last few tracks Gonzo (ex-Boehse Onkelz) joined
the band on stage. In the beginning of the set the band
had a little bit sound problems, but after the second song
the sound was excellent.
The band played 4 brand new songs!!!! "Black Eyed Bruiser"
is a cover version, originally written by Vanda & Young.
Just released on MCD here in germany with 3 live bonus
tracks recorded at the Pete Wells Benefit show (RnR Outlaw,
Remedy, Astra Wally).
Here is the setlist from the Wacken gig:
One Of The Boys
Rock`n´Roll Outlaw
Man About Town (new)
Remedy
Black Eyed Bruiser (new)
Assault & Battery
Tramp
Sweet Meat (new)
R`n`R Is King
Magnum Maid
Manzil Madness
Once In A Lifetime (new, very good...reminds in some guitar parts to RnR Outlaw)
Nice Boys
Bad Boy For Love
Astra Wally
Thanks Juergen!!!
Hamburg Rocks 2006 08/05/06
The Wacken Open Air site has some great Tatts photos from
their show the other night at Hamburg Rocks! You can see
the pictures here
And don't forget...the Tatts play Wacken tonight!
Cover Art For New Single 08/01/06
Here's the cover art for the new Tatts single:
Lobby Loyde - ARIA Hall Of Fame 08/01/06
Adelaide Now reports that Lobby Loyde will be joining Rose Tattoo
in the ARIA Hall Of Fame:
Loyde Lobs Into The Hall Of Fame
July 28, 2006 11:30pm
Joining the Divinyls, Icehouse, Daddy Cool, Helen
Reddy and Rose Tattoo, Loyde, whose real name is Barry
Lyde, spent the 1960s and 1970s as one of this
country's leading heavy rock guitarists, playing with
Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Rose Tattoo, the Purple
Hearts and the Coloured Balls.
Danielle O'Donohue
August Release Date For New Single 07/24/06
The Tatts upcoming new single, a remake of the 1975
Vanda & Young penned Stevie Wright classic "Black
Eyed Bruiser", is set for release on Thursday,
August 3rd. The single will be released through
Armageddon Music and it will also feature three
songs which were recorded live in Sydney at the Pete
Wells Benefit Concert a few months before Pete passed
away. The songs are "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Remedy"
and "Astra Wally".
Remember that the Tatts royalties from the single
will be donated to the cancer foundation that Pete
also supported before his death.
Tatts In The Studio 07/18/06
Here's a press release from Rose Tattoo management with lots of info!
In The Studio Working On New Album,
New Single On The Way
Australian rock 'n' roll legends ROSE TATTOO are back
in the studio recording a new album with veteran
Australian producer Mark Opitz (INXS, COLD CHISEL,
KISS). The first single from the album is "Black Eyed
Bruiser", a song written by the band's original
production team, Harry Vanda and George Young, who
also were AC/DC's producers. There are three
additional tracks on the single which were recorded
live in Sydney Australia at the Pete Wells Benefit
Concert a few months before Pete passed away. The
songs — "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Remedy" and "Astra
Wally" — are all blistering versions recorded on a
very special night when the Australian music industry
came together out of respect to honor Pete Wells, the
founding member of ROSE TATTOO, who was diagnosed with
prostate cancer. The band's royalties from this
single will be donated to the cancer foundation that
Pete also supported before his death.
The decision on what ROSE TATTOO would do following
the passing of Pete Wells could only be made by one
person. The band visited Pete in hospital a week
before he died and he told them to keep going. If it
were not for Pete's instruction, ROSE TATTOO would
have folded. Angry Anderson has always said, "When I
joined ROSE TATTOO, I joined Pete's band."
In recent months the band has signed a worldwide
recording deal with a German label Armagedon. They
were due to start recording in Sydney on May 1 but put
back the recording following Pete's passing until
July. The band was very hopeful of having Pete play on
this album before he got too ill. But time was not
friendly for this wish to be realised.
The band’s manager, Steve White, said, "there was no
way this record would be made if Pete did not tell the
boys to go ahead. It was not a decision the band could
or would have made without Pete's leadership. ROSE
TATTOO is a close family unit and the loss of Pete
Wells runs very deep within the band. They are all
brothers."
Angry Anderson said, "This is going to be a very
personal record. This will be our tribute. It has to
be special."
ROSE TATTOO will be doing some special shows in Europe
in August and will be releasing the single at the
Wacken Open Air festival. Plans are in work for an
extensive European tour after releasing the album in
early 2007.
The lineup for ROSE TATTOO is:
Angry Anderson - Vocals
Mick Cocks - Guitar
Steve King - Bass
Paul DeMarco - Drums
Dai Pritchard - Slide Guitar
Rob Riley 07/18/06
With the above press release comes the first official word that
Rockin' Rob Riley is no longer a member of Rose Tattoo. He was
sacked late last year, as Angry and the band apparently wanted
to go with a guitar lineup of Mick...and Dai Pritchard on slide.
Word is that band management gave Rob the news by phone, and
that none of the other Tatts were in on the call! Its unfortunate
that his tenure ended that way...Rob Riley deserved better.
Rob will be greatly missed from the Tatts, as he played an
integral part in their renaissance since he rejoined in 2000.
He made significant contributions to the "25 To Life" & "Pain"
albums...was a stalwart on tour...and he even picked up the
slide and filled in for Pete Wells during 2005. (Note that
the Tatts upcoming single will feature Rob's slide work on
the live tracks from the Pete Wells benefit show.)
On a personal note, Rob provided this web page with a fantastic
interview in 1997...hand-writing all of his responses...and
pulling no punches along the way! He is a class act, and a true
rock and roller of the first order.
Even though he is no longer with the Tatts, Rob remains busy in
Adelaide. He now plays with Aussie Bloke and also Adelaide's
The Flyers. And you can bet that Rob will keep on rocking...as
he said in the 1997 interview - "I don't know what else to do."
ROCK ON Rob...ROCK ON!
ARIA Hall Of Fame 07/16/06
Rose Tattoo will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at this years ARIA's...here are a couple of
articles with all the details...first one is from the Sydney Morning Herald:
Don't Call Us Respectable
Photo: Sahlan Hayes
by Bernard Zuel
July 12, 2006
Ask Angry Anderson if having Rose Tattoo, his band of reprobates,
hard-heads and pug-ugly musicians who set out 30 years ago to be
the "meanest, loudest, most in-your-face rock band around" ,
inducted into the music industry's hall of fame means he is now
respectable and he cackles loudly.
"Ah, [we're] acknowledged," he conceded when he finally stopped
laughing. "It doesn't bring you respectability."
Acknowledgement or respectability, call it what you will, but next
month Rose Tattoo will join Helen Reddy, Icehouse, Divinyls and
Daddy Cool as this year's inductees into the ARIA hall of fame.
That means songs such as Bad Boy for Love (Rose Tattoo's first hit
in 1978) and We Can't Be Beaten (a favourite in jails and at pub
closing times since 1982) will sit alongside Slim Dusty's A Pub with
No Beer and the collected works of Dame Joan Sutherland in the
pantheon of Australian music.
You could say the diminutive, heavily tattooed and decidedly bald
Anderson will have achieved the most unlikely hat-trick for a man
who made his name in some of the toughest pubs across Australia.
He has been loved by the grannies (for his appearances on Ray
Martin's Midday Show and A Current Affair); loved by the brides
(for wedding favourite Suddenly, which he sang for the TV wedding
of Neighbours stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan); and now
loved by his peers. If we still gave knighthoods, that would
probably be next.
"Yeah, but you know as a card-carrying republican I couldn't
accept that," Anderson guffawed. "I don't shrink away nor am I
made uneasy by any of those accolades. The only thing I don't
like is being called 'former singer of Rose Tattoo'. There is
nothing former about it."
Rose Tattoo, which formed in 1976 when Anderson and his friend
Mick Cox moved from Melbourne to join slide guitarist Pete Wells
in his new group, is recording a new album this year.
While Wells, who died in March, will not be there and it has been
some years since the "Tatts" figured on the charts, the band still
tours Australia and spends four to six weeks in Europe and America
each year.
But some things have changed. The band once described by Derryn
Hinch as " exactly what parents should be frightened of", is still
playing unpretentious pubs, to audiences in denim, leather and
tatts. But for the hall of fame night in Melbourne, Anderson will
be gussied up - if only to impress his date.
"We're taking our mums and I know my mum would love to see me in a tux."
Now that's rock'n'roll.
The second article is from the Herald Sun:
Rose-tinted nod, mate
12 July, 2006
ROSE Tattoo singer Angry Anderson will use his band's induction
into the ARIA Hall of Fame to pay tribute to late guitarist and
bandmate Pete Wells.
Anderson was able to tell Wells of the honour just before he lost
his cancer battle in March. "I'm glad Pete knew before those last
days," Anderson said yesterday.
"When I told him he looked at me like 'Who cares', but that was
Pete. He was chuffed."
Hamburg Rocks 07/16/06
The Tatts will be playing a warm-up date prior to their
Wacken Open Air show. It takes place in Hamburg at the
Markthalle on August 1, 2006 as part of Hamburg Rocks
New Blues Hangover CD w/Pete 07/08/06
Amazingly...Pete Wells was busy in the studio toward the end
of his life - this new Blues Hangover release was recorded in
December 2005. "Greetings From the Aloha Monkey" is more gut
bucket blues from Pete, Lucy, Dave Hogan & friends...and is
available from Shock Records
Wacken Open Air 2006 07/07/06
Wacken Open Air is less than a month away...and Rose Tattoo will
be travelling to Europe once again to play this legendary festival
on Saturday August 5th. All the info can be found at WOA 2006
Lobby Loyde Interview 07/07/06
Here's an in depth interview with Aussie rock legend Lobby Loyde
at the I94 Bar
Moscow Gig 05/23/06
The Tatts played an exclusive show in Moscow at a Harley Davidson
showcase. You can see pictures of this gig at rosetattoo.com.au
Report from the Bridge Hotel 04/29/06
Here's a report from Dave Williams, who was at the Bridge
Hotel for the gigs in Pete's memory...
Rose Tattoo at the Bridge Hotel
21-22 April 2006
by Dave Williams
I found the occasion almost overwhelming from a fan’s point of
view; being privileged to talk with some of the band before &
after the show. The crowd were definitely anticipating the gigs
(both nights) and proceedings were soon underway after a brief
announcement by Angry, reminding us that it was in fact a wake
for the wonderful Peter Wells; with the majority of the tracks
to be played being amongst Pete’s favourites.
We were soon greeted with Out Of This Place, a standard opener for
the past few years, which quickly set the pace for the remainder of
the night; followed by One of the boys, Remedy & Bad Boy, I still
can’t understand why Mick Cocks isn’t hailed as one of Australia’s
finest guitarists, he is amazing, with his speed, tempo & feel.
Between a few songs we are treated to some of Angry’s worthwhile
comments on all things from 4 wheel drives to the decline in quality
of one of our most popular beers and of course several toasts to
the “Boss”; on with the show again, during which there is much
byplay between Angry, Steve & to a lesser degree, Mick (looking
like the text book guitar player, cigarette hanging from his mouth,
and those trade mark facial expressions from sheer concentration).
A few more old favourites follow, Assault, Tramp & a Butcher,
featuring a perfect solo from Mick. Although not in the best position
to hear, Dai seemed to cover Pete’s parts very well, we know it
won’t be exactly as Pete played, but it’s a hard job & he did fine;
Steve & Paul were constant in the rhythm section as always, very
solid, and Steve as usual having a lot of fun.
I can’t remember what song, but I do remember Steve taking over the
lead vocal for a while, as Angry was otherwise occupied (having
collapsed over the fold back speakers). The crowd at front (me included)
were treated to some great moments as usual, with the familiar
rescuing mikes & mike stands, protecting the bands drink supply etc.
I remember Pete saying Outlaw was probably his favourite Tatts tune,
which explains why there was a few misty eyes when they played it.
Soon we were treated with an encore starting with Astra Wally
(Mr Cocks’ trade mark speedy introduction being slowed down somewhat
on the second night, with a great result) the show soon ending with
‘Beaten‘. After the show we filed out of the room, catching up with
fellow fans & friends for the obligatory after show drinks and
locating a quiet place to allow the ears to stop ringing.
Every Tatts gig is an event, this one just adds to the list, but being
extra special, as the first since the passing of Peter; I’m sure his
spirit was in the room (and he sure would have heard it!)
Pictures from the Bridge Hotel 04/27/06
Here's some pics from the Tatts at the Bridge Hotel...their
gigs in memory of Pete. Note that Dai is playing Pete's
"Everything You Like tries To Kill You" Telecaster in tribute.
Thanks to Steve Lorkin for these shots...
Tatts at the Bridge Hotel 04/21/06
The Tatts are playing at the Bridge Hotel, Rozelle
this Friday & Saturday night, April 21 & 22. The
lineup will be Angry, Mick, Steve, Paul & Dai.
Bad Boy For Love... 04/06/06
Here's another article about Pete's passing...from the theage.com.au:
Bad Boy For Love: Rose Tattoo rock monster Pete Wells dies
By Patrick Donovan, Music Writer
March 29, 2006
Australia lost one of its finest guitarists when Pete Wells
succumbed to prostate cancer on Monday night.
Friends said the 58-year-old died peacefully after suffering
much pain and being in hospital for the past five weeks. By
the time the guitarist-songwriter-tattooist was diagnosed with
cancer in 2002, it was inoperable.
Last October Wells told The Age that all Australian men should
have regular check-ups for the disease. "If they find it early,
they can fix it. If I had gone in earlier, it would have saved
me from a whole lot of pain and misery."
His Rose Tattoo bandmate Angry Anderson said Wells was the greatest
male influence on his life. "He was the genuine article. On guitar,
he was like a trapeze artist, he just pushed and pushed and pushed."
Triple R's Neil Rogers, who interviewed Wells many times on his music
show The Australian Mood, said Wells was Australia's greatest slide
guitarist. "Pete mattered because he was not only a key part of
Australian rock'n'roll history, he was in fact Australian rock'n'roll
personified."
A posting on Rose Tattoo's official website read: "Pete's music will
live on for the inspiration of generations to come."
In October a who's who of Australian rock artists, including Paul
Kelly, Tim Rogers, Tex, Don & Charlie, Ian Rilen and the Beasts of
Bourbon paid tribute to the guitarist in a concert at the Palace in
St Kilda. Wells was too weak to play with Rose Tattoo, but he joined
them on their song Bad Boy for Love and sang AC/DC's defiant anthem
Ride On with the Beasts of Bourbon. Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver
guitarist Slash, who was inspired by Wells' slashing slide guitar
playing, wanted to attend but had prior commitments.
Wells played in dozens of bands since the early 1970s including
Buffalo, Rose Tattoo, Blues Hangover and collaborations with his
partner, keyboards player Lucy DeSoto. He also released several
acclaimed solo albums.
His last recording was in December, a fresh outing with Blues
Hangover. Wells played all of the guitar and bass parts even
though he could not stand.
"He played like a monster," said Dave Hogan, Blues Hangover singer
and harmonica player. "He was the bravest man I ever met."
Anderson said Rose Tattoo's next album would be a tribute to Wells.
"It will be a celebration of his life, a farewell. We can't make
a Rose Tattoo album without Peter. His influence is on all of us,
so anything we play together as a band, he'll be there."
A memorial service will be held in Sydney on Friday.
A Loyal Mate... 03/31/06
Pete's funeral...from the Sydney Morning Herald:
Pete Wells Remembered As Loyal Mate
Rose Tattoo guitarist Pete Wells was a burly, tattooed
bloke who may have looked intimidating, but friends today
remembered him as a fiercely protective family man and loyal
mate.
Musicians Jimmy Barnes, Angry Anderson and Jon Stevens were
among the 150 friends and family who farewelled the musician
at his Sydney funeral.
Guests gathered at St Brendan's Church at Annandale, in Sydney's
inner-west, to celebrate the "rock n' roll outlaw", who died
on Monday after a four-year battle with cancer.
For a man known for his contribution to Australian rock music, it
was a service that was eerily bereft of the great rock tunes that
shot Rose Tattoo to fame in the late 1970s.
Instead, soft blues played as the eclectic crowd, some dressed in
black leather and mini skirts, watched.
Other prominent musicians also attended the church service, including
Mark Lizotte, also known as Diesel, Billy Thorpe and members of The
Angels and The Radiators.
In her eulogy, Wells' daughter Katrina said the burly rocker had a
secret soft side to him, playing the "ultimate protector" of the
family despite some "sensational boozy times".
He only ever lost his temper twice, she said.
Wells was to celebrate his 60th birthday this year.
"He said 'f---' all the time, but he was a very, very kind, gentle
man," fellow Rose Tattoo band member Rob Riley said after the church
service.
Rose Tattoo lead singer Angry Anderson wiped away tears during the
service, which praised the "gentle soul".
Wells successfully fought prostate cancer after being diagnosed in
2003, but the disease spread to other parts of his body.
It was going to beat him, I think we both knew that," said an
emotional Anderson, who was best friends with Wells for 30 years.
We grew up together, we grew up into the men we became together
because of one another.
I love my dad, my stepdad that is, I love my brother, I love my boys,
my children, but I don't love them any more than I love Pete ... I hope
I love them just as much."
Wells received his final standing ovation as Rose Tattoo band members,
including Anderson, Riley, Steve King and Paul De Marco, carried the
musician's casket out of the church.
Mourners burst into applause as the hearse drove away.
A Fiery Guitar... 03/28/06
We've been notified that Pete Wells' funeral will be this
Friday March 31, 2006 at the local church around the corner
from the Empire Hotel. The service takes place at 10am.
Also, here's three articles about Pete. The first is
from the Sydney Morning Herald:
Death of man with fiery guitar
By Richard Jinman
March 29, 2006
PETE WELLS, the slide guitarist, songwriter and founder member
of the Australian hard-rock group Rose Tattoo, has died. Wells,
who had prostate cancer, died in a Sydney hospital on Monday
night, aged 58, surrounded by family and friends.
Australian performers including the Beasts of Bourbon, Paul Kelly
and Tim Rogers staged benefit concerts for Wells in Sydney and
Melbourne last September.
Rose Tattoo's lead singer, Gary "Angry" Anderson, said yesterday
that Wells would be sadly missed by friends and fans of his music
in Australia and overseas. "He was a wonderful human being - one of
the most intelligent, intuitive people I have known."
Anderson considered Wells a kind of father figure, despite the
guitarist's initial reluctance to hire him as lead singer in the
mid-1970s. "He didn't want to give me the job and took great delight
in saying, 'I never really liked him, I've just tolerated him all
these years,"' he joked.
"But I always knew if I was going to do anything successful in music
it would be Pete who would help me get there."
Wells's incendiary slide guitar was the foundation of Rose Tattoo's
brutal blues-based sound and his playing was much admired by a string
of celebrated musicians, including Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of
the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons.
"American players used to say nobody sounds like this guy," Anderson
said. "You couldn't copy him as a player, and that's an amazing position
to have and a great way to be remembered."
The second is from the The Australian:
Rose Tattoo founder dies
From: By Iain Shedden
March 29, 2006
He was a great musician, an innovator and a man who lived for rock 'n' roll.
That's how singer Angry Anderson remembered his friend and colleague, guitarist
Pete Wells, yesterday.
Wells, founding member of one of Australia's most influential rock bands,
Rose Tattoo, died on Monday night after a four-year battle with prostate cancer.
He was 59.
"As a muso he was a giant," Anderson said. "His contribution to music is invaluable
and that contribution will live on."
Anderson and Wells were the driving force behind Rose Tattoo, who became a local
and international success with their blues-based rock in the late 1970s and
early 80s. At the heart of their sound was Wells's well-crafted slide guitar
playing, a style that would become his trademark.
After he left the Tatts in 1983, Wells enjoyed solo success and released a string
of blues and country-based albums that furthered his reputation as a guitar virtuoso.
His death comes just six months after a tribute concert was held in Sydney to raise
funds for his treatment.
Among those taking part at the Enmore Theatre show were rock luminaries Anderson,
Tim Rogers, Billy Thorpe and now-MP Peter Garrett. Yesterday Garrett paid tribute
to the rock legend. "He was a gentle man underneath it all," he said. "He cared
about people and he cared about his music. The thing about Pete Wells was that he
lived it right down into the deeper parts of who he was as a person."
While Wells cultivated the image of a mean rock'n'roller throughout his career, there
was another side to his character, according to Anderson. "He had the thing that I
sought the most, which was rock'n'roll," he said. "He had an amazing influence on me.
He was a parent, a best friend and an educator."
Anderson visited Wells in hospital 10 days ago. "I am glad that I was able to tell
him how much I loved him," he said. "I had never done that before."
Rose Tattoo had scheduled two concerts at Sydney's Bridge Hotel next month. The concerts
will now be considered a wake for their founding father, Anderson said.
Wells's funeral is in Annandale in Sydney on Friday.
The third is from the ABC:
Rose Tattoo Guitarist Dies
Rose Tattoo guitarist and songwriter Pete Wells has died after a battle with
prostate cancer. The group's lead singer, Angry Anderson, says Wells will be
remembered as one of the truly gifted rock and roll guitarists.
"One of the things about Pete is he had that touch, that wonderful touch with
the guitar and it was kind of like the soul was connected I suppose in a romantic
sense," he said.
Anderson says the news of Wells's death has still not sunk in. "When a person is
in illness like Pete has been for years, particularly over the last few months
we knew that he was dying, you talk about him like, 'Pete's in hospital, Pete's
doing well, he had a bad day yesterday, he had a good day today'," he said.
"So you always talk about him like he's still there. The big change of course is
he's no longer there."
An announcement on the band's website says its thoughts are with the family of Wells.
"The good news is that Pete's music will live on for the inspiration of generations
to come," the statement said.
"RIP Pete Wells, a great musician, a rock'n'roll legend and most importantly, a
great friend."
Wells, 58, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and has not been able to tour with the
band because of his ill health. Rose Tattoo rose to prominence in the late 1970s.
A Legend Passes Away... 03/27/06
It is with profound sadness that we report the passing
of the legendary Pete Wells. Pete bravely battled prostate
cancer for the last four years of his life, and unfortunately
it was the disease that won out in the end. Pete Wells
leaves a musical legacy that will live on forever. R.I.P. Pete Wells -
a great musician, a rock'n'roll legend, & most importantly,
a great friend.
blabbermouth.net
© 1997-2007 by Peter Gormley
"REMEDY - The Rose Tattoo Home Page" and its contents may not be reproduced, uploaded,
posted, transmitted or distributed in any form, or by any means, without prior
written consent of Peter Gormley.
Armageddon Music has set a February 16, 2007 release date for the
new ROSE TATTOO album, entitled "Blood Brothers".
ROSE TATTOO has posted its video for the track "Black Eyed Bruiser"
at YouTube.com. The song is the first single from "Blood Brothers",
which was produced by veteran Australian producer Mark Opitz
INXS, COLD CHISEL, KISS). "Black Eyed Bruiser" was written by the
band's original production team, Harry Vanda and George Young, who
also were AC/DC's producers.
ROSE TATTOO was due to start recording "Blood Brothers" in Sydney on
May 1 but put back the recording following guitarist Pete Wells' passing
until July. The band was very hopeful of having Pete play on this album
before he got too ill.
ROSE TATTOO will embark on a European tour in early March. The band will
also play select dates with SAXON and MASTERPLAN.
