AC/DC were not the only Australia-based rock band that specialized in boogie-based hard rock and tales of hard living – as evidenced by the underrated Rose Tattoo. While Rose Tattoo enjoyed success in their homeland and in Europe, the group – fronted by a chrome-domed chap named Angry Anderson – barely managed to cause a blip on the rock & roll radar stateside…
Outside of their native Australia, Rose Tattoo aren't as well known as their countrymen AC/DC – and they haven't been together quite as long. AC/DC were formed in 1973, while Rose Tattoo's original lineup got started in 1976. But folks who really know hard rock inside and out will tell you that Rose Tattoo are a hard rock institution…
Southern Stars' is the fourth album by Australian hard rock band Rose Tattoo. Southern Stars , with a slick production by Vanda & Young, had the band moving in a more AOR style, but retaining their famous Rock/boogie style. The album was essentially made with Angry Anderson and Geordie Leach on bass guitar, and new members Greg Jordon (slide/lead guitar), John Meyer (guitar) and Scott Johnston (drums)…
Ever wonder what Led Zeppelin might have sounded like had they added a couple members of AC/DC and a couple members of Lynyrd Skynyrd to their lineup? The answer might lie in this album. Indeed, Rose Tattoo's gritty, bluesy rock & roll certainly does feel a lot like a Southern rock take on Zep with some Australian influence thrown in…
Re-issue of the Australian rock legends Rose Tattoo's debut LP in its original UK album sleeve. Includes the UK Top 75 single "Rock N Roll Outlaw" and the Aussie Top 10 "Bad Boy For Love" plus the original version of "Nice Boys" which was later covered by Guns N Roses. Lyrics to all the songs and liner notes by Kerrang!'s Derek Oliver are a feature of the artwork for this essential album.
If AC/DC are the greatest blue-collar hard rock band of all time, then Rose Tattoo (also Australian, also managed by the Vanda and Young team) just may qualify as the world's greatest blue-collar punk rock band… [All Music Guide]