Angry Anderson was far from his rock persona as he turned pain into purpose
Gary Stephen Anderson became known to the world as Angry Anderson, as the frontman of Aussie hard rock band Rose Tattoo in 1976.
But the Melbourne boy was far from what his rock ‘n’ roll persona would lead you to believe - something fellow rocker Jimmy Barnes alluded to in his tribute to the music legend, who died on Monday, aged 79.
Gary Stephen Anderson became known to the world as Angry Anderson, as the frontman of Aussie hard rock band Rose Tattoo in 1976. Getty Images
“Angry Anderson sang from his heart with power and conviction. But don’t let that tough outside fool you,” Barnes wrote on social media.
“He was a caring soul who loved his family, cared for his friends and stood up for the downtrodden.”
Anderson helped those less fortunate through his youth advocacy work, which earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), after having gotten a less than ideal start in life himself.
The singer, who was behind the famous hit Suddenly - aka Scott and Charlene’s wedding song on Neighbours in 1987 - had his share of hard knocks in life, alongside his successes, but he was far from “angry” about any of it.
Anderson’s hit Suddenly was used as the soundtrack to Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene’s (Kylie Minogue) wedding on Neighbours in 1987, which was watched by more than 20 million people. National Film & Sound Archive
Difficult childhood
Anderson had spoken about suffering from physical and emotional abuse in the family and sexual abuse, which started about age 5, from a family friend.
He grew up in Coburg, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and struggled to fit in at school, with his shorter stature making him a target for bullies.
He used music as an outlet for his anger and frustration, which earned him the nickname “Angry Ant”.
Anderson started playing in a number of bands - including Buster Brown, alongside future AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd.
Anderson then moved to Sydney in the mid-1970s to join Rose Tattoo, a move that would go on to change his life in more ways than one.
Anderson moved to Sydney in the min-1970s to join Rose Tattoo (pictured with bandmates Mark Evans, Bob Spender, Mick Arnold and Paul DeMarco). Instagram/@rosetattoo
Love and loss
Despite his difficult childhood he broke the cycle of abuse to become a devoted family man, going on to have four children – daughter Roxanne and sons Galen, Blaine and Liam – with his wife of 16 years, Lindy “Lou” Michael.
The couple, who wed in 1986, divorced in 2002 and Anderson became a single father.
Anderson credited his daughter’s birth in 1983 for saving him. She also inspired the hit Suddenly.
“The first time I actually looked into those eyes, that was it,” he told the ABC’s Talking Heads.
Anderson credited his daughter’s birth in 1983 for saving him. She also inspired the hit Suddenly. (Pictured in 2016) Instagram/@gary_angry_anderson
“I went from being this wild, out-of-control rock dog to being a sort of ‘I want to paint the front fence’.”
In 2018, Anderson faced every parent’s worst nightmare when his youngest son died, aged 26, when trying to help a friend who was experiencing a drug-induced psychosis in a park in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
A subsequent court case over his son’s death played out until December 2020, when Mathew Flame was sentenced to eight years behind bars after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Following the sentencing, Anderson read from a four-page statement.
Angry Anderson was treated to dinner for Father’s Day 2016 by his four kids Instagram/@gary_angry_anderson
“Two years ago my family and those who loved him started a life sentence,” he said outside court.
The singer revealed his eldest son Galen had delivered him the terrible news in a distressed phone call, saying, “these few terrible words” that “reverberate in my head daily and will, I imagine, for the rest of my days”.
“I am forever denied every simple pleasure of being his dad,” he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“He will always be in our hearts, but we are denied the sound of his laughter, his smile, the light in his eyes, his unique sense of humour ... sadness now is our constant companion.
“I am condemned, as we all are, to a life of sadness.”
Men’s health ambassador
After five Rose Tattoo members died from cancer over the years, Anderson turned his pain into purpose and became an advocate for men’s health – and cancer in particular.
Drummer Dallas Royall died in 1991 of an unspecified cancer at the age of 42.
Slide Guitarist Peter Wells died of prostate cancer in 2006, while bassist Ian Rilen died the same year from bladder cancer.
The following year, guitarist Lobby Loyde died of lung cancer and, in 2009, fellow guitarist Mick Cocks died from liver cancer.
Mick Cocks (right) joins bandmate Angry Anderson (left) of Rose Tattoo on stage briefly during the One For The Boys - Mick Cocks Benefit at the Enmore Theatre on July 24, 2009 in Sydney Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
But it wasn’t just men’s health he supported. Anderson was the celebrity face for teen cancer charity Canteen and their famous Bandana Day fundraiser, which began in 1994.
Youth advocacy
Between 1992 and 1993 Anderson appeared on The Midday Show’s Soapbox segment, advocating for neglected and at-risk children.
He used his platform to shed light on youth homelessness, poverty and addiction, and was awarded his OAM in 1993 for “service to the community, particularly as a youth advocate”.
Anderson told then Midday Show host Ray Martin that he was “very honoured, very humbled” by the medal and planned to “spend the rest of my life earning it”.
Between 1992 and 1993 Anderson appeared on The Midday Show with Ray Martin, using their Soapbox segment to advocate for neglected and at-risk children. Nine
About the same time, he began to work with a number of child protection organisations, including National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network, Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Odyssey House.
Bruce and Denise Morcombe paid tribute to the rocker and shared a memory of him following news of his death.
“Always in our hearts. We are saddened by the passing of Angry Anderson,” they wrote on Facebook.
“Angry sang at our inaugural Dance for Daniel in March 2006. The only payment he would take was a carton of beer. He was a great charity minded man.”
Anderson wasn’t just a mouthpiece for the organisations, he actively took part and volunteered in their programs and even appeared before a federal parliamentary inquiry into violence affecting young Australians, pushing for legislative change.
In 1994, he hosted a TV show on Channel 9 called The Challenge, where he and his famous friends built a playground for kids with disabilities in 48 hours.
The show, which later continued as a segment on A Current Affair, is also credited with building two respite units for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as two respite units for landmine victims in Cambodia.
He was also a long-term ambassador for multiple children’s charities in addition to Canteen, including, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Camp Quality, Ronald McDonald House, and Bear Cottage.
Angry Anderson of the band Rose Tattoo performs on stage at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, November 24, 1982. Getty
Anderson performed at concerts raising funds and toys for drought-affected farmers and their kids, as well as an effort to raise money in the aftermath of the Bali Bombings.
He died following a heart attack while touring for Rose Tattoo’s 50th anniversary in Germany.
But by far, his biggest role next to music, was his selfless work for Aussie kids.
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).
