Jimmy Barnes releases cover of Rose Tattoo in tribute to Angry Anderson
Jimmy Barnes is releasing his recording of Rose Tattoo’s Rock N Roll Is King in tribute to the late Angry Anderson.
Barnes recorded the cover before Anderson’s death on September 21, 2026, but never got the chance to play it for his friend.
Jimmy Barnes is releasing a cover of Rose Tattoo in honour of his late friend, Angry Anderson. Asanka Ratnayake
Now, Barnes has decided to release the track in honour of Anderson, with all proceeds going to Support Act, a charity providing crisis relief and wellbeing support to Aussie music industry workers.
In a statement, Barnes said he had been excited to sit down with Anderson and play him the recording, with the cover now taking on an even deeper meaning following his friend’s death.
The pair first met in the late ’70s, both major players in forming the Aussie rock scene that we know and love today.
In his statement, Barnes said that Rose Tattoo and Cold Chisel’s paths would often cross in the early days of their career.
“We travelled the same country, playing the same gigs, on the same endless tours that took us to every single bar that would let a rock’n’roll band play their music LOUD,” he said.
“We shared stages, we shared crew members, we even shared equipment at times.
“Rock’n’roll was king, and we were all young, taking on the world together.”
Angry Anderson of the band Rose Tattoo performs on stage at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, November 24, 1982. Getty
Barnes went on to say that when they weren’t performing, he and Anderson often found themselves at the bar together.
He’d spoken with Anderson about the cover previously, considering including it on his 2025 album Defiant, but ultimately, it didn’t make it onto the record.
Despite the recording having been done in time for the album, Anderson never got to hear it, with Barnes explaining that the two simply didn’t get the chance to see each other much.
“Now that Angry has left us I want to release this song, I won’t keep any money it makes, I just want to tip my hat to my mate and let the world know what great songs he and his band wrote,” Barnes said.
“I hope you like it. Turn it up f---ing LOUD. Angry’s gone to the Big Gig upstairs but I bet he’ll be listening.”
