# List of Rose Tattoo members

Rose Tattoo are an Australian rock and roll band, founded by slide guitarist Pete Wells in 1976, lead vocalist Tony Lake, rhythm guitarist Leigh Johnston, bassist Ian Rilen, and drummer Michael Vandersluys completed the bands first line-up. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Angry Anderson (since 1976), drummer Paul DeMarco (who first joined in 1992), bassist Mark Evans (since 2017) and guitarists Mick Arnold and Ronnie Simmons (both since 2022).

## History

Rose Tattoo were formed in Sydney in 1976 with Leigh Johnston on rhythm guitar, Tony Lake on lead vocals and they were led by slide guitarist Peter Wells. Drummer Michael Vandersluys completed the line-up. Ian Rilen from Band of Light soon joined on bass guitar, guitarist Mick Cocks soon replaced Johnston. Lake and Vandersluys were substituted by former Buster Brown members Angry Anderson and Dallas "Digger" Royall, respectively.
in 1977 Rillen departed, Buster Brown bass guitarist Geordie Leach was recruited to record their self-titled debut LP, Rose Tattoo. Leach left the band in May 1979 and was replaced by Neil Smith, before Lobby Loyde joined in October. By September 1980, Loyde had left and Leach returned.
Robin Riley replaced Cocks in 1982. In 1983, after the US tour, Riley, Royall and Wells all left. The remaining duo of Anderson and Leach recruited guitarists Greg Jordan and John Meyer, and drummer Scott Johnston. After recording 1984's Southern Stars, Leach left and the band went on a brief hiatus while Anderson pursued acting.
In 1985, Rose Tattoo returned with the line-up of Anderson, Johnston, Meyer, Andy Cichon (bass, piano) and Tim Gaze (slide guitar), Meyer left in 1986 and the remaining line-up recorded Beats from a Single Drum. Cichon left in late 1986 and was replaced by Jake Lardot (bass) and Rick Melick (keys) before the band disbanded in 1987.
In the early 1990s, Anderson tried to reunite Rose Tattoo, but Dallas Royall died in 1991. Rose Tattoo supported Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour. Anderson, Wells, Cocks, Leach were joined by new drummer, Paul DeMarco, from Wells' solo band reunited for the 1993 tour. The reunion was brief as each returned to solo projects.
Rose Tattoo, with original bassist Ian Rilen replacing Leach, reformed yet again in 1998 for the "All Hell Breaks Loose!!" tour, however Rilen remained with the band only for the duration of this tour. By the following year, Leach had returned to the fold once more, although his place was taken by Steve King in 2000, around the same time Cocks departed and was replaced by a returning Riley.
In 2002, Wells was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, but he continued to perform with Rose Tattoo, although he was subbed in 2004 by Dai Pritchard. Wells died on 27 March 2006, Cocks returned in 2005, with Riley moving onto slide guitar in Wells absence. Mick O'Shea briefly replaced DeMarco in 2006. Dai Pritchard returned in 2007, replacing Riley, alongside Leach, replacing King. Mick Cocks died of liver cancer on 22 December 2009, he had previously been subbed by Riley who stayed after his death, until his departure in 2011. Guitarist Randall Waller joined as Riley's replacement, Geordie Leach left in 2013. Rose Tattoo were inactive following the arrest and imprisonment of drummer Paul DeMarco.
The band returned in 2017, with Anderson and Pritchard joined by bassist Mark Evans, guitarist Bob Spencer, and drummer John Watson. Watson was replaced by Jackie Barnes in 2018, Barnes was replaced by Justin Ngariki in 2019, who had previously subbed for him in 2018. Pritchard departed in April 2021.
In 2022 the band were joined by Mick Arnold on slide guitar and returning Paul DeMarco on drums. Bob Spencer departed in late 2022 and was replaced by Ronnie Simmons.

## Members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Angry Anderson | 1976–19871992–19931998–present | lead vocals | all releases |
| Paul DeMarco | 1992–19931998–20142021–present | drums | 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002) Blood Brothers (2007) |
| Mark Evans | 2017–present | bass guitarbacking vocals | Outlaws (2020) |
| Mick Arnold | 2022–present | slide guitarbacking vocals | none to date |
| Ronnie Simmons | 2022–present | guitarbacking vocals | none to date |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Peter Wells | 1976–19831992–19931998–2006 (died 2006) | slide guitarvocalsbass guitar | all releases from Rose Tattoo (1978) to Scarred for Life (1982) 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017) |
| Ian Rilen | 1976–19771998 (died 2006) | bass guitarvocals | Rose Tattoo (1978) |
| Tony Lake | 1976 | lead vocals | none |
| Michael "Stork" Vandersluys | 1976 | drums | none |
| Leigh Johnston | 1976 | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Mick Cocks | 1976–19821992–19931998–20002005–2009 (died 2009) | guitarbacking vocals | Rose Tattoo (1978) Assault & Battery (1981) Blood Brothers (2007) |
| Dallas "Digger" Royall | 1976–1983 (died 1991) | drums | all releases from Rose Tattoo (1978) to Scarred for Life (1982) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017) |
| Gordon "Geordie" Leach | 1977–19791980–19841992–199319992007–2013 | bass guitarbacking vocals | all releases from Rose Tattoo (1978) to Southern Stars (1984) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017) |
| Neil Smith | 1979 (died 2013) | bass guitar | none |
| Lobby Loyde | 1979–1980 (died 2007) | bass guitar | none |
| Robin Riley | 1982–19832000–20062009–2011 | guitarslide guitar (2005–2006) | Scarred for Life (1982) 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017) |
| Scott Johnston | 1983–1987 | drumsbacking vocals | Southern Stars (1984) Beats from a Single Drum (1986) |
| John Meyer | 1983–1985 (died 2020) | guitar | Southern Stars (1984) |
| Greg Jordan | 1983–1985 | slide guitarguitar | Southern Stars (1984) |
| Tim Gaze | 1985–1987 | slide guitarguitar | Beats from a Single Drum (1986) |
| Andy Cichon | 1985–1986 | bass guitarpianokeyboardsbacking vocals | Beats from a Single Drum (1986) |
| Rick Melick | 1987 | keyboards | none |
| Jake Lardot | 1987 | bass guitar | none |
| Steve King | 2000–2007 | bass guitar | 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002) Blood Brothers (2007) |
| Dai Pritchard | 20042007–2021 | slide guitar | Blood Brothers (2007) Outlaws (2020) |
| Mick O'Shea | 2005 | drums | none |
| Randall Waller | 2013–2016 | guitar | none |
| Bob Spencer | 2017–2022 | guitar | Outlaws (2020) |
| John Watson | 2017–2018 | drums | none |
| Jackie Barnes | 2018–2019 | drums | Outlaws (2020) |
| Justin Ngariki | 20182019–2021 | drums | none |

## Line-ups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| early 1976 | Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar, bass guitar Leigh Johnston – guitar Michael Vandersluys – drums | none |
| early 1976 | Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Leigh Johnston – guitar Michael Vandersluys – drums Ian Rilen – bass guitar | none |
| early 1976 | Tony Lake – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Michael Vandersluys – drums Ian Rilen – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitar | none |
| mid 1976 – 1977 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Ian Rilen – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums | Rose Tattoo (1978) three tracks |
| 1977 – May 1979 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar | Rose Tattoo (1978) remaining tracks |
| May – October 1979 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Neil Smith – bass guitar | none |
| October 1979 – September 1980 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Lobby Loyde – bass guitar | none |
| September 1980 – 1982 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar | Assault & Battery (1981) |
| 1982 – 1983 | Peter Wells – slide guitar Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dallas "Digger" Royall – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar | Scarred for Life (1982) Tatts – Live in Brunswick (2017) |
| 1983 – 1984 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Geordie Leach – bass guitar Greg Jordan – slide guitar John Meyer – guitar Scott Johnston – drums | Southern Stars (1984) |
| 1985 – 1986 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals John Meyer – guitar Scott Johnston – drums Tim Gaze – slide guitar Andy Cichon – bass guitar, piano | none |
| 1986 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Scott Johnston – drums, backing vocals Tim Gaze – slide guitar, guitar Andy Cichon – bass guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals | Beats from a Single Drum (1986) |
| 1987 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Scott Johnston – drums Tim Gaze – slide guitar, guitar Jake Lardot – bass guitar Rick Melick – keyboards | none |
| Inactive 1987 – 1992 |||
| 1992 – 1993 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Geordie Leach – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drums | none |
| Inactive 1993 – 1998 |||
| 1998 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Ian Rillen – bass guitar | none |
| 1999 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Geordie Leach – bass guitar | none |
| 2000 – 2004 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Peter Wells – slide guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar | 25 to Life (2000) Pain (2002) |
| 2004 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar (substitute) | none |
| 2004 – 2005 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Peter Wells – slide guitar | none |
| 2005 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar Peter Wells – slide guitar Mick O'Shea – drums (substitute) | none |
| 2005 – 2006 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Robin Riley – slide guitar Mick Cocks – guitar | none |
| 2006 – 2007 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Steve King – bass guitar Mick Cocks – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar | Blood Brothers (2007) |
| 2007 – 2009 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Cocks – guitar Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitar | none |
| 2009 – 2011 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitar Robin Riley – guitar | none |
| 2011 – 2013 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Paul DeMarco – drums Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Georgie Leach – bass guitar Randall Waller – guitar | none |
| Inactive 2013 – 2017 |||
| 2017 – 2018 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar John Watson – drums | none |
| 2018 – 2019 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Jackie Barnes – drums | Outlaws (2020) |
| 2019 – 2021 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Dai Pritchard – slide guitar Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Justin Ngariki – drums | none |
| 2022 | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Bob Spencer – guitar Mark Evans – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Arnold – slide guitar | none |
| 2022 – present | Angry Anderson – lead vocals Mark Evans – bass guitar Paul DeMarco – drums Mick Arnold – slide guitar Ronnie Simmons – guitar | none to date |