Rock star Angry Anderson, whose music famously soundtracked the wedding of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s characters in Australian TV soap Neighbours, has died at the age of 79. The musician, whose real name was Gary Anderson, rose to fame with rock band Rose Tattoo, which he fronted from 1976. His solo song Suddenly became a global hit after it was played during the wedding of Minogue and Donovan’s characters Scott and Charlene in Neighbours in an episode that was watched by 20 million people in the UK alone in 1988. Anderson said Minogue had been “adamant” that the track was used for the scene, and he later declared that Suddenly was the best song he had ever written.
Before his death, Anderson had a cardiac arrest while on Rose Tattoo’s farewell tour in Europe last month. He was treated in hospital before going home to Australia, and the band cancelled nine live dates. A joint statement, external from Anderson’s family and Rose Tattoo remembered him as a “devoted father, and much-loved bandmate”. “His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas,” it said.
“We thank everyone for their prayers and messages of love and continued support.” Born in Melbourne in 1947, Anderson and Rose Tattoo first became known on Australia’s rock scene, releasing five albums beginning with their 1978 debut. After the band split nine years later, Anderson continued recording music as a solo artist, and co-wrote and released Suddenly in the summer of 1987. It was quickly selected by Minogue for use in Neighbours for her character Charlene Mitchell’s wedding to Donovan’s Scott Robinson. Thanks in large part to its use in Neighbours, Suddenly reached the top three in both the UK and Australia.
However, it was held off the number one spot in its home country by Minogue’s own debut solo single, Locomotion. Anderson released two albums as a solo artist, before Rose Tattoo reunited in 1993 to support Guns N’ Roses on their Australian tour. The band returned in 1998 for their own tour and were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2006. Anderson’s other credits included playing Herod in an Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993, in recognition of service to the community, particularly his charity work and his work as a youth advocate. Farewell (again) to Neighbours, Australia’s longest running soap opera
