Jimmy Barnes releases Rose Tattoo cover as tribute to Angry Anderson
Jimmy Barnes has released his version of Rose Tattoo's "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" as a tribute to Angry Anderson following the singer's death.
All proceeds from the track will go to Support Act, the Australian charity that supports musicians and music workers in times of need, according to Billboard. That means money raised by the recording will go directly to helping others in the industry.
Anderson, born Gary Anderson, was the longtime frontman of Rose Tattoo. He died on Sept. 21 at the age of 79. His death came weeks after he suffered a heart attack.
Barnes had recorded the song before Anderson died. It was cut for his most recent album. He said he spoke to Anderson about the plan while making that record, and Anderson was excited at the idea of the cover. The release now stands as a farewell.
Barnes confirmed the tribute on his official Facebook page on Oct. 1, describing Anderson as his dear friend, in a post shared with fans on Facebook. A planned album track has become something else. It is now a public goodbye.
The original "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" appeared on Rose Tattoo's 1981 album Assault & Battery. The Sydney band formed in 1976 with Anderson as frontman. They built a direct, hard-edged rock sound that travelled well beyond Australia.
That wider reach is part of the band's story. Guns N' Roses covered Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys" on the 1986 EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide, later reissued on 1988's G N' R Lies. Anderson also acted, playing Ironbar opposite Mel Gibson in the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Rose Tattoo were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, the Australian recording industry's honours list, in 2006.
The Barnes and Rose Tattoo families are closely linked. Jackie Barnes, the son of Jimmy Barnes, joined Rose Tattoo as drummer in 2018. Jimmy Barnes himself holds the record for the most No. 1 albums on the ARIA Albums Chart, Australia's main album ranking, of any homegrown act.
For listeners, the new recording brings those threads together. It is a song Anderson knew about and welcomed. Now its sales will support other working musicians.
