Angry Anderson

Starting his career as a hard rock singer, Australian legend Gary "Angry" Anderson successfully added actor, media star, and tireless charity worker to his lengthy resume. Angry has always been an outspoken personality whether onstage or off. His candid opinions on subject matters ranging from youth affairs, drug addiction and cultural issues have seen many a head turn when this tattooed, aggressive and in-your-face man made a public stand on any of these issues and became directly involved in debates.

Angry Anderson, born Gary Anderson in 1947, grew up in Coburg, Melbourne. His childhood was far from happy. His abusive father dominated his life as a child - he reflects now that he was a very angry boy and grew into a very angry young man. Popular at school, Angry played most sports but suffered from stress-related asthma, and was far too small to be a star player. During secondary schooling he moved to Coburg Technical School, a trade school for semiskilled and skilled labourers. It was during this time that Angry discovered he was physically short. He was given nicknames like "Mouse" and "Tiny", and was always the one who had to stand at the end of the line up for school photographs so he didn't muck up the balance of the shot.
Angry developed what he calls 'little guy syndrome' - a big mouth, and a big chip on his shoulder. From a very early age he wanted to be thought of as a dangerous, or somehow formidable. He didn't mind being short as long. As a teenager Angry became increasingly rebellious, the kind of person who stood out in a crowd. He was the first one to grow his hair long, the first one to cut his hair short. He didn't dress like anyone else either. He went from one mad craze to another, and he loved to shock people with his outfits. He'd put on some outrageous shirt or coat, and try to pretend he was someone other than little Gary Anderson.

One of Angry's few pleasers at the time was listening to rock 'n' roll music, first the Beatles, and later the Rolling Stones. He also changed jobs, becoming a clothes cutter, a job that allowed him to purchase the one thing he'd always wanted - a motorbike. He also continued to acquire tattoos as he wanted people to think that shouldn't mess with him. That's an attitude that remains to this day.

Angry went on to pursue his love of rock n roll mostly through the Melbourne pub scene with bands called Primitive and the Peace, Power and Purity. Angry wanted to play guitar but defaulted to lead singer (a decision made because he had the best voice out of all of them). It was also at this time that Gary Anderson became Angry Anderson after a fight in a Melbourne pub. One of those involved started talking about an angry ant, so Angry was born. Buster Brown was Angry's first step up to fame. It was a band that took to the stage like it was taking to a battle zone. Buster was unpredictable, volatile, and spontaneous... everything Angry needed in a band.

In hindsight through his activities with Buster Brown and latter Rose Tattoo, Angry was seen as a pioneer of heavy rock music in Australia at a time when ditties like Sadie The Cleaning Lady and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds were teenage national anthems. After moving to Sydney, Angry formed the now legendary Rose Tattoo, the band playing their first real gig on January 1, 1976 at Chequers nightclub. Rose Tattoo was Buster Brown grown up. They performed like no other band. They were as wild and outrageous as a band can possibly be. They lived the bad life, but they knew they had all they needed to make a huge mark on the Australian music scene. During 1993 Angry and Rose Tattoo preformed and toured nationally with Guns 'N Roses who admitted in interviews that the Tatts had been one of their favourite and most inspirational bands. The tour played to in excess of 10,000 people each night. In July and August 1998 the available original members of Rose Tattoo reformed to tour nationally with The Angels on the All Hell Breaks Loose Tour.

Angry then moved on to front the Channel 9 current affairs monthly special, Challenge, which focuses on helping out charities. The Challenge takes on 'challenges' which seem impossible to attain, yet shows that, if people are willing to lend a hand, anything can be achieved. Previous Challenges include building a playground for handicapped children within 48 hours, providing relief to drought stricken farmers, and providing Christmas presents to underprivileged children and granting the wishes of children from The Starlight Foundation.  For the final challenge Angry flew to Cambodia, with the help of the R.A.A.F., to deliver artificial limbs to land mine victims.

Trying to list the charities and organisations that Angry supports would take several pages. He's had long term associations with the Prince Of Wales Children's Hospital, Camperdown Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Bear Cottage. There's also been extensive involvement with Odyssey House -  drug rehabilitation program and Oasis - the Salvation Army centre for street kids. Angry has also given long term support to Cancer Research, Canteen, Camp Quality, N.A.P.C.A.N, Amnesty, Refugee Week, Greenpeace, The Starlight Foundation, and the Make A Wish Foundation. He's been an Australia Day Ambassador, spent two years as President of Children's Week and been a Director on the board of the Foodshare Program.

A midst the numerous awards Angry has Received are the Advance Australia Award (1986), the Australian Medal A.M. (1993) and the Special Merit Advance Australia Award (1995). Angry's music career has not ended as a result of his various commitments. Angry has toured individually on the Lounge Lizards Tour with The Angels and Ross Wilson.

Whichever way you look at Angry Anderson is an extraordinary human being - tireless, passionate, outspoken and humble. There is simply no one like him.