Photo: Chelle Carr, Rock Shots Photography
The book, BLOOD SWEAT AND BEERS – OZ ROCK FROM THE AZTECS TO ROSE TATTOO begins in the late 1960s when Lobby Loyde was blowing up amplifiers on such a regular basis that equipment had to be specially constructed. King of the Sunbury festivals, and former child star, Billy Thorpe then took massive amplification to another level, making history along the way when his band, the Aztecs, pulled as many as 300,000 people to the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. Rose Tattoo somehow cranked everything up even higher and became the loudest, most threatening band to ever stalk the earth. Banned from the TV show Countdown, they often played in prisons, and occasionally had to fight, microphone stands in hand, to get out of the very venues they’d performed in. Then, of course, there were the Angels, Australia’s number-one live drawcard, who turned venues across the country into jam-packed paramilitary rallies. Against a backdrop of interviews with all the major Australian players and international heavyweights, one of Australia’s best known rock writers, Murray Engleheart hands out the earplugs and the morning-after aspirin with BLOOD SWEAT AND BEERS, a literally balls and all tour through the bar-brawling, riot-inducing and occasionally gun-toting Oz rock culture that The Monthly crowned as having ‘the highest expletive count in the history of non-fiction’.
“What an honour. Firstly writing Blood Sweat and Beers, the everything louder than everything else history of Oz rock. Then having that title adopted by a legendary bunch of blokes for a national tour that will see them blast out some of the greatest rock n roll ever made. Scripts don’t come no better than that.” – Murray Engleheart
Blood Sweat and Beers – The Concert is a three part show, blistering over 3 Hours with former members of AC/DC, The Angels, Rose Tattoo and Screaming Jets. This assault features the cream of rock n roll outfits. These music industry legends have performed to millions of people, had dozens of hit singles in the ARIA charts, sold millions of albums & been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
This concert features, Bon Scott Classic AC/DC songs bettered only by AC/DC themselves, a set of The Angels favourites and Screaming Jets hits, and to bring it home a blistering set of Ross Tattoo classics fronted by the great man himself Angry Anderson.
ANGRY Anderson The unmistakeable Rose Tattoo front man Angry Anderson has slayed audiences and bled on stages across the globe for over 40 years. Blessed with the voice of a working man’s Rod Stewart, he is the other great throat in the history of Oz Rock next to that of the iconic Bon Scott. On 16 August 2006, Rose Tattoo were inducted into the (ARIA) Hall of Fame. Angry is also known across Australia for his charity work, journalism and political talents.
Dai Pritchard brings an incredible arsenal of technical expertise, an expertise broad enough to allow him to slot in easily behind anyone that needs a slice of his power, versatility and finesse. Pritchard the guitarist of choice by some pretty big – and diverse – names, among them Jimmy Barnes, Glen Shorrock of LRB, Doug Parkinson and even Olivia Newton-John and the late, great Billy Thorpe. Stints with Nancy Kiel Band, Chris Thomas, Steve Flack’s Guitar Heroes. In July 2005, Pritchard became a fulltime member of Rose Tattoo, proudly blazing his own chops into their musical legacy on their latest album, Blood Brothers.
Bass Guitarist Mark Evans, who was an early member of hard rock band AC/DC on their albums T.N.T., High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock and ’74 Jailbreak. Evans has played for numerous other groups, sometimes on lead guitar, including Finch (aka Contraband), Cheetah, Swanee, Heaven & The Party Boys. Evans’ autobiography, Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC was released in December 2011.
Grant Walmsley / aka GW Freebird is the founder and songwriter/guitarist of the legendary Screaming Jets. His song ‘Better’ has become a certified classic and Aussie rock anthem. Grant has spent years touring the world, sharing the stage with a ‘who’s who’ of legends including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Velvet Revolver, Kiss and many others, whilst amassing a swag of gold and platinum awards for album sales. A quintessential guitar hero of his generation, his playing and writing has become part of the fabric of Australian rock history.
James Morley 1989 James caught wind of an opening as bass player for rock legends ‘The Angels’. Within a couple of weeks, was sitting at Ardent studios in Memphis, recording Beyond Salvation, which went on to sell at double platinum status and became the first number one album for ‘The Angels’ in Australia. One of the first concerts he performed with the band was in front of 42,000 people alongside his favourite artists such as ‘Midnight Oil’, ‘Crowded House’ and Jimmy Barnes. Five years and a couple of more albums later, James left the band to record his own album at the famed Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. In 1995 James was asked to go to the U.S.A. where he played and recorded with AC/DC drummer Simon Wright.
Melbourne rocker Greg Aldridge from ‘Destroy She Said’, joins the outfit on drums.
See Blood Sweat and Beers – The Concert at:
Friday June 10 Villa Noosa Sunshine Coast
http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/blood-sweat-and-beers-villa-noosa/85140
Saturday June 11 Chardons Hotel Brisbane (The Back Room)
http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/blood-sweat-and-beers-chardons-hotel/85138
Friday 1st July Ravenswood Hotel WA
Saturday 2nd July Charles Hotel WA
https://www.trybooking.com/LBLM
Friday 12th August SS&A Club Albury
Saturday 13th August Mulwala Ski Club
Friday 19th August Plantation Hotel Coffs Harbour
Saturday 20th August North Haven Bowling & Recreation Club
