Biography
Gary Anderson, the Australian music icon known as "Angry," launched his professional journey performing as a hard rock vocalist before expanding his achievements to encompass acting, media prominence, and dedicated philanthropy. His combative demeanor initially led to the moniker "Angry Ant," which he directed into musical projects including Peace Power and Purity between 1971 and 1972. Forming Buster Brown in 1973 marked his next step, followed by his 1976 entry into Rose Tattoo. The group's anthems "Bad Boy for Love" and "We Can't Be Beaten" resonated with disaffected young people, while Rose Tattoo established a worldwide standing among Australia's leading hard rock ensembles. His entry into film came via a minor part in Bullamakanka during 1985, with a larger appearance in Mad Max III: Beyond Thunderdome. Originally conceived as Angry Anderson's first solo effort, Rose Tattoo's concluding record Beats From a Single Drum took shape under American producer Kevin Beamish. Issued in 1986, the project delivered the ballad "Suddenly," which reached the summit of Australia's national charts in August 1987, after which Blood From a Stone saw reissue as an Angry Anderson solo album in 1988. A pause in studio work allowed Anderson to portray Vladimir Lenin onstage in Rasputin and to participate in TV's The Midday Show. His genuine first solo album, Blood From Stone, arrived in 1990 under the production of Beau Hill (ZZ Top) and featured the tracks "Heaven" and "Bound for Glory," with the latter delivered during the opening ceremony of the 1990 Australian Rules Football (AFL) Grand Final. The Angry Anderson Band—featuring Robin Riley on lead guitar, Bobby Barth on guitar, Jim Hilbun on bass, and Tim Powles on drums—subsequently backed Aerosmith throughout their October 1990 Australian dates. In 1992 Anderson took the role of King Herrod in the Australian staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar alongside numerous Australian music luminaries, appearing on the chart-topping soundtrack album Jesus Christ Superstar: The Album that July. His charitable commitments included ongoing efforts with the National Association for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect of Kids (NAPCAN) and the Prince of Wales Hospital. Brief engagements with the Party Boys in 1987 and the Wild Colonial Boys interspersed tours alongside his solo outfits Angry and Double Trouble. A 1993 reunion tour with Rose Tattoo coincided with another personnel shift in the Angry Anderson Band, now including John Brewster on lead guitar, Steve Crofts on guitar, Alan Lancaster on bass, and Peter Heckenberg on drums. Thereafter Anderson has channeled his primary focus into media endeavors over musical ones.
Albums
Singles
