RIP Pete Wells, guitarist for Rose Tattoo

Peter Wells, whose ripping slide leads gave the hard-charging Aussie rock band Rose Tattoo a bluesy feel to their unique metal/punk hybrid, died of Prostate Cancer at age 58. (PSA: time to go get checked, fellas!)

Rose Tattoo were a very rough-looking group, some of them were reputedly gang members, and they sported tattoo-covered arms and more back when it was not socially acceptable. They played badass three chord rock, even more down and dirty than AC/DC.

I’m sure some of you Aussie dopers might know more of this great band; unfortunately, they never garnered much attention Stateside. But lots of bands like Guns n Roses knew about Rose Tattoo, and they most certainly had some kind of influence.

Peter Wells will be missed.

One quick bump for any Aussie dopers stopping by this morning…

Yeah, Wells had a big fat sound. And like the Angels (known as Angel city in the US, IIRC), they were quite influential.

That riff in Bad Boy for Love is one of only a handful of truly memorable slide riffs (along with Dust My Broom, Whipping Post and not many more).

And of course, for any Melbournian the mention of the Tatts immediately brings to mind fond memories of Angry Anderson in the Batmobile.