Rose Tattoo are an Australian rock and roll band, founded by slide guitarist Pete Wells in 1976, lead vocalist Tony Lake, rhythm guitarist Leigh Johnston, bassist Ian Rilen, and drummer Michael Vandersluys completed the bands first line-up. The band's most recent lineup consisted of lead vocalist Angry Anderson (from 1976 until his death in 2026), drummer Paul DeMarco (who first joined in 1992), bassist Steve King (who first joined in 2000) and guitarists Mick Arnold and Ronnie Simmons (both since 2022).

History Rose Tattoo were formed in Sydney in 1976 with Leigh Johnston on rhythm guitar, Tony Lake on lead vocals and they were led by slide guitarist Peter Wells. Drummer Michael Vandersluys completed the line-up. Ian Rilen from Band of Light soon joined on bass guitar, guitarist Mick Cocks soon replaced Johnston. Lake and Vandersluys were substituted by former Buster Brown members Angry Anderson and Dallas "Digger" Royall, respectively.

in 1977 Rillen departed, Buster Brown bass guitarist Geordie Leach was recruited to record their self-titled debut LP, Rose Tattoo. Leach left the band in May 1979 and was replaced by Neil Smith, before Lobby Loyde joined in October. By September 1980, Loyde had left and Leach returned.

Robin Riley replaced Cocks in 1982. In 1983, after the US tour, Riley, Royall and Wells all left. The remaining duo of Anderson and Leach recruited guitarists Greg Jordan and John Meyer, and drummer Scott Johnston. After recording 1984's Southern Stars, Leach left and the band went on a brief hiatus while Anderson pursued acting.

In 1985, Rose Tattoo returned with the line-up of Anderson, Johnston, Meyer, Andy Cichon (bass, piano) and Tim Gaze (slide guitar), Meyer left in 1986 and the remaining line-up recorded Beats from a Single Drum. Cichon left in late 1986 and was replaced by Jake Lardot (bass) and Rick Melick (keys) before the band disbanded in 1987.

In the late 1980s, Anderson tried to reunite Rose Tattoo, but Dallas Royall died in 1991. Rose Tattoo supported Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour. Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Leach were joined by new drummer, Paul DeMarco, from Wells' solo band reunited for the 1993 tour. The reunion was brief as each returned to solo projects.

Rose Tattoo, 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. By the following year, Leach had returned to the fold once more, although his place was taken by Steve King in 2000, around the same time Cocks departed and was replaced by a returning Riley.

In 2002, Wells was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, but he continued to perform with Rose Tattoo, although he was subbed in 2004 by Dai Pritchard. Wells died on 27 March 2006, Cocks returned in 2005, with Riley moving onto slide guitar in Wells absence. Mick O'Shea briefly replaced DeMarco in 2005. Dai Pritchard returned in 2007, replacing Riley, alongside a returning Leach, replacing King. Mick Cocks died of liver cancer on 22 December 2009, he had previously been subbed by Riley who stayed after his death, until his departure in 2011. Guitarist Randall Waller joined as Riley's replacement, Geordie Leach left in 2013. Rose Tattoo were inactive following the arrest and imprisonment of drummer Paul DeMarco.

The band returned in 2017, with Anderson and Pritchard joined by bassist Mark Evans, guitarist Bob Spencer, and drummer John Watson. Watson was replaced by Jackie Barnes in 2018, Barnes was replaced by Justin Ngariki in 2019, who had previously subbed for him in 2018. Pritchard departed in April 2021.

In 2022 the band were joined by Mick Arnold on slide guitar and returning Paul DeMarco on drums. Bob Spencer departed in late 2022 and was replaced by Ronnie Simmons. In May 2024, Mark Evans was replaced by a returning Steve King.

Members

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPaul DeMarcodrums Steve KingMick Arnold2022–presentnone to dateRonnie Simmons

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAngry Andersonlead vocalsall releasesPeter WellsIan RilenRose Tattoo (1978)Tony Lake 1976lead vocals noneMichael "Stork" Vandersluysdrums Leigh JohnstonguitarMick CocksDallas "Digger" Royall1976–1983 drums Gordon "Geordie" LeachNeil Smith1979 bass guitarnoneLobby Loyde1979–1980 Robin RileyScott Johnston1983–1987John Meyer1983–1985 guitar Southern Stars (1984)Greg Jordan1983–1985Tim Gaze1985–1987Beats from a Single Drum (1986)Andy Cichon1985–1986Rick Melick1987keyboards noneJake Lardotbass guitarDai Pritchardslide guitar Mick O'Shea2005drums noneRandall Waller2013–2016guitar Bob Spencer2017–2022Outlaws (2020)Mark Evans2017–2024John Watson2017–2018drums noneJackie Barnes2018–2019Outlaws (2020)Justin Ngarikinone

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersReleasesearly 1976 Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar, bass guitar Leigh Johnston – guitar Michael Vandersluys – drumsnone Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Leigh Johnston – guitar Michael Vandersluys – drums Ian Rilen – bass guitar Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Michael Vandersluys – drums Ian Rilen – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitarmid 1976 – 1977 Peter Wells – slide guitar Ian Rilen – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Rose Tattoo (1978) 1977 – May 1979 Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar Rose Tattoo (1978) May – October 1979 Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Neil Smith – bass guitarnoneOctober 1979 – September 1980 Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Lobby Loyde – bass guitarSeptember 1980 – 1982 Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar Assault & Battery (1981)1982 – 1983 Peter Wells – slide guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Scarred for Life (1982) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017)1983 – 1984 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Geordie Leach – bass guitar Greg Jordan – slide guitar John Meyer – guitar Scott Johnston – drums Southern Stars (1984)1985 – 1986 Angry Anderson – lead vocals John Meyer – guitar Scott Johnston – drums Tim Gaze – slide guitar Andy Cichon – bass guitar, pianonone1986 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Scott Johnston – drums, backing vocals Tim Gaze – slide guitar, guitar Andy Cichon – bass guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals Beats from a Single Drum (1986)1987 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Scott Johnston – drums Tim Gaze – slide guitar, guitar Jake Lardot – bass guitar Rick Melick – keyboardsnoneInactive 1987 – 19921992 – 1993 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Geordie Leach – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drumsnoneInactive 1993 – 19981998 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Ian Rillen – bass guitarnone1999 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar2000 – 2004 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002)2004 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar none2004 – 2005 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Peter Wells – slide guitar2005 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick O'Shea – drums 2005 – 2006 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar2006 – 2007 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Blood Brothers (2007)2007 – 2009 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Cocks – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitarnone2009 – 2011 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar2011 – 2013 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitar Randall Waller – guitarInactive 2013 – 20172017 – 2018 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar John Watson – drumsnone2018 – 2019 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Jackie Barnes – drums Outlaws (2020)2019 – 2021 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Justin Ngariki – drumsnone2022 Angry Anderson – lead vocals Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Arnold – slide guitar2022 – present Angry Anderson – lead vocals Mark Evans – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Arnold – slide guitar Ronnie Simmons – guitarnone to date

References