ROSE TATTOO Cancels Remaining Summer 2026 European Tour Dates Due To ANGRY ANDERSON's 'Medical Issue'

Australian hard rock legends ROSE TATTOO have canceled all remaining shows of their summer 2026 European tour due to a "medical issue" affecting the band's iconic frontman Gary "Angry" Anderson.

Earlier today (Monday, August 10),ROSE TATTOO released the following statement via social media: "We are deeply sorry to announce that all remaining shows of ROSE TATTOO's European Tour 2026 have to be cancelled.

"Angry Anderson is currently in hospital due to a medical issue.

"We are absolutely devastated that we cannot continue this tour and share these remaining shows with you.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love, messages and support you have already sent Angry and the band.

"We kindly ask everyone to respect Angry's and his family’s privacy at this time.

"Tickets for the cancelled headline shows can be returned at the respective point of purchase.

"Thank you for your understanding, your love and your incredible support.

In a recent interview with Nejc Zupančič of PodRaznoKast, the 79-year-old Anderson confirmed that there are plans for him and his ROSE TATTOO bandmates to record a new studio album for a possible late 2026 or early 2027 release.

Regarding how he feels about ROSE TATTOO's announcement that 2026 would mark the band's final year of touring, Angry said: "It's very emotional. For many, many years we enjoyed the privilege and we enjoyed the opportunity to tour through Europe, and we've toured through Europe many, many times. And we've always been very grateful for the opportunity because we're one of the... There's only a handful of Australian bands that have related, in a sense, to Europe. Apart from the big, big bands like AC/DC, AIRBOURNE and other bands, there's only a small handful of bands that have been able to come back many years, year after year. And so now that that's coming to an end, it's gotta be a large part of our year is gonna be not there anymore. But we're retiring the band in Australia entirely. We've got some dates in America next year [2027], because we couldn't fit them in this year. So that will be definitely be our last dates in America. And this [current tour] is, of course, our last run here in Europe."

Asked for his "final message" for all the ROSE TATTOO fans out there, Angry said: "We've got our last dates, of course, in Australia. But this European run, for me personally — I know the other boys feel it too, but I'm the only original member, so, obviously I'm the only one left from the very beginning… So yes, it's very emotional. But I have said to other journalists that the thing I think the most thing, apart from gratitude, my message is that rock and roll never grows old. And rock and roll, I truly believe, was sent to save our soul, because it saved my soul when I was very young, and I had a very troubled childhood. And when I discovered rock and roll, it helped me deal with life. It was something to hang on to. And then within a very few years, I was writing and I was singing in a band, and that saved my life. So that's the message I want to leave as a legacy, is that believe in rock and roll. Rock and roll can save your soul."

ROSE TATTOO's music has inspired countless artists, while classics including "Bad Boy For Love", "Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys" and "We Can't Be Beaten" remain staples of Australian rock culture.

ROSE TATTOO has released a total of eight studio albums: "Rose Tattoo" (1978),"Assault & Battery" (1981),"Scarred For Life" (1982),"Southern Stars" (1984),"Beats From A Single Drum" (1986),"Pain" (2002),"Blood Brothers" (2007) and "Outlaws" (2020).

Six former ROSE TATTOO members have died in recent years, including four of the original recording lineup: Dallas Royall (1991),Peter Wells (2006),Ian Rilen (2006),Mick Cocks (2009) and Lobby Loyde (2007),who was a member between October 1979 and September 1980, and Neil Smith (2013),who played bass temporarily prior to Loyde.

From the band's first gig on New Year's in 1976 until today, ROSE TATTOO has rarely strayed from its mantra of being the best barroom blues-based rock band in the world. For 50 years, the one constant is Anderson, whose vocals tell the story of bars, booze, fights and love, mostly lost.

ROSE TATTOO has toured relentlessly in Australia and Europe, with the occasional jaunt into the U.S., gathering fans along the way.