Album review: ROSE TATTOO – Tatts Live In Brunswick 1982

Golden Robot [Release date 24.11.17]

Classic Australian hard rock band synonymous with the shaven headed frontman Angry Anderson and a tattoo or two, as well as a few AC/DC connections, Rose Tattoo were formed in the mid 70s and took AC/DC’s blues rock to a whole new level.

With a frequently rotating line-up (leaving, rejoining, reformations, and six former members have died along the way), the original sound had such a ‘street’ edge it was almost punk, but the blues, boogie and slide guitar were all turned up to 11. The band featured former members of Buffalo and Buster Brown, and the first four albums were produced by Vanda & Young, the team responsible for the early AC/DC albums.

Recorded around the time of the release of their third album Scarred For Life in 1982, the band featured vocalist Angry Anderson, guitarists Pete Wells and Rob Riley, bassist Geordie Leach and drummer Dallas ‘Digger’ Royall.

The album, it sounds like a club recording, opens with the solid Out Of This Place, it’s raw and energetic from the outset. Bad Boy For Love is another chunky number, this one as a strong AC/DC edge, only much more earthy. Assault And Battery, the title track to their second album, and it all kicks off in blistering fashion, frenetic slide and street level lyrics, a track that (in whatever form) screams to be heard.

The Butcher And Fast Eddie, running to over seven minutes, is a slower and bluesier number, and the riff to Rock’n’Roll Is King is just wonderful.

The set is full of rock’n’roll, tracks fast and slow and many a classic across the 14 tracks.

Despite the Official Bootleg sound (and feel, the minimalist 2 page booklet has a few paras from Angry Anderson, an RIP list of those who have passed, no sleevenotes), it’s a fantastic listen and verging on essential listen. But SO much more could have been made of the packaging and release. ***1/2

Review by Joe Geesin

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)