The Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo cover is out now as a tribute to Angry Anderson, the band’s frontman, who died Sept. 21 at age 79. Barnes released his version of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King” on Oct. 2, according to Music Feeds, and all proceeds go to Support Act, an Australian music-industry charity.
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Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo Cover: How It Came Together
The song first appeared on Rose Tattoo’s 1981 album “Assault & Battery.” Barnes recorded his version for his 2025 album “DEFIANT” but left it off the final release, per Rolling Stone Australia. The Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo cover was not on that record. He had planned to play the recording for Anderson in person. Barnes said he had talked to Anderson about covering the song and that Anderson was excited about it, according to Billboard. After Anderson’s death, Barnes decided to release it as a tribute.
A Friendship Behind the Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo Cover
The friendship explains the Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo cover. Barnes’ band Cold Chisel and Rose Tattoo toured heavily in the 1970s and ’80s, often playing the same venues. In a statement, he said their paths “crossed a hell of a lot” and described Anderson as a friend and “brother in arms.” He recalled that the two shared stages, crew and sometimes equipment, and that they laughed a lot about “taking the rock establishment by the throat.”
Who Was Angry Anderson?
Gary Stephen Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1947, in Melbourne and died Sept. 21, 2026, in Sydney, according to Wikipedia. He moved to Sydney and became the lead vocalist of Rose Tattoo, which formed there in 1976. Outside the band, he had a solo hit with “Suddenly” in 1987, which reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and “Bound for Glory” in 1990, which peaked at No. 11 in Australia. He also acted, playing Ironbar Bassey in the 1985 film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” “Suddenly” became familiar to a wider audience as the wedding theme for Scott and Charlene on the Australian soap “Neighbours,” and Anderson performed “Bound for Glory” at the 1991 AFL Grand Final half-time show.
Rose Tattoo’s Legacy and the Cover
Rose Tattoo released their self-titled debut album in November 1978, and its 1981 follow-up, “Assault & Battery,” reached the top 30 in Australia. The band never became a major chart act in the United States, but its influence reached American hard rock. Guns N’ Roses covered the Rose Tattoo song “Nice Boys” on its 1986 EP “Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.” Rose Tattoo were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on Aug. 16, 2006.
There is also a family connection. Barnes’ son Jackie, a drummer, joined Rose Tattoo in August 2018 and played with Anderson for several years.
Barnes, meanwhile, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame for his work with Cold Chisel and as a solo artist. The Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo cover keeps the focus on the song itself: a hard-driving anthem from an era when Australian pub-rock bands like Rose Tattoo and Cold Chisel built their reputations one loud show at a time. Fans who want to remember Anderson can stream the original on “Assault & Battery” alongside Barnes’ new recording.
Where to Hear the Cover and Support the Charity
The Jimmy Barnes Rose Tattoo cover version of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King” is available on streaming platforms, and Barnes encouraged listeners to play it loudly. Every dollar of proceeds is donated to Support Act, which helps Australian music workers in times of hardship. For more music news, see our report on the Silverchair reunion question, our list of new albums to check out and our look at the Billy Idol documentary.
