SYDNEY — Australian rock singer, actor, youth advocate and charity ambassador Angry Anderson has died just weeks after being hospitalized in Germany during his band’s Eourpean tour.
Anderson’s family and bandmates announced in a statement that the 79-year-old had died on Monday, surrounded by loved ones in Australia.
“Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved bandmate, friend, and member of the wider music and entertainment community,” the statement said.
“His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas.”
It comes after Anderson suffered a cardiac arrest in August while on tour with his band. He was treated in hospital before going home to Australia, and the band canceled nine live dates.
Anderson was admitted to hospital in Germany during the European leg of Rose Tattoo’s 50th anniversary tour, prompting the band to cancel a concert on August 9. The next day, it announced it could not go ahead with the rest of the European tour.
The musician, whose real name was Gary Anderson, rose to fame as the frontman of Rose Tattoo, one of Australia’s most revered rock bands, in 1976. His music famously soundtracked the wedding of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s characters in the Australian TV soap Neighbours.
Rose Tattoo’s hits included Bad Boy for Love, Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw and We Can’t Be Beaten, while Anderson found solo success with the song Suddenly.
Suddenly became a global hit after it was played during the wedding of Minogue and Donovan’s characters Scott and Charlene in Neighbours. The episode was watched by 20 million people in the UK in 1988.
Anderson said Minogue had been “adamant” that the track was used for the scene, and he later declared that Suddenly was the best song he had ever written.
Paying tribute to Anderson on Instagram, Donovan said: “Legend! What a great guy.
“Another great Australian. Thank you Angry for all the wonderful music and memories. Condolences to all friends and family.”
Born in Melbourne in 1947, Anderson and Rose Tattoo first became known on Australia’s rock scene, releasing five albums beginning with their 1978 debut.
After the band split nine years later, Anderson continued recording music as a solo artist, and co-wrote and released Suddenly in the summer of 1987.
It was quickly selected by Minogue for use in Neighbours for her character Charlene Mitchell’s wedding to Donovan’s Scott Robinson.
Thanks in large part to its use in Neighbours, Suddenly reached the top three in both the UK and Australia.
However, it was held off the number one spot in its home country by Minogue’s own debut solo single, Locomotion.
Anderson released two albums as a solo artist, before Rose Tattoo reunited in 1993 to support Guns N’ Roses on their Australian tour.
The band returned in 1998 for their own tour and were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2006.
Anderson’s other credits included playing Herod in an Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993, in recognition of service to the community, particularly his charity work and his work as a youth advocate.
Source: Saudi Gazette