**WARNING – THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS GRATUITOUS SELF INDULGENCE AND NARCISSISTIC CONTENT. CHILDREN UNDER 50 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE IRRESPONSIBLE**

Stalwarts? Survivors? Those who cannot be beaten? Rock ‘n Roll outlaws? A little bit of everything perhaps as my thoughts turn to Rose Tattoo whilst attacking a pint in Katy’s Bar next to Belfast’s Limelight 2 venue. Earlier in the day, a lady in a pub asked if I was going to see them after she’d spotted my old Motörhead t-shirt and assumed such. She explained that she’d already seen them in Hamburg earlier in their tour, would be at tonight’s gig and would also be in Dublin to see them the following night. There’s nothing like the loyalty of die hard fans.

Front man, Angry Anderson has put together a formidable gang for this latest incarnation of Aussie hard rock’s working men. Now 71 years of age, there’s a warmth to his smile and a firm hand shake as I manage to say a quick hello and take a photo opportunity on the street outside the venue. He appears to be a man revelling in this moment; his band are back out on the road. The boys have brought Girlschool along for this series of gigs to ensure that the old school flag is kept flying high. Stepping inside the venue, its’ the intimacy of the surrounds which only adds to the expectation. No pretence. No exclusivity.

The side stage door opens, Girlschool’s Jackie Chambers’ platinum mane and broad smile shine and announce the beginning of the celebrations. The band smash through a well compiled and adored set. Kim McAuliffe and Enid Williams vocals are spot on, Chambers noodles her way through tasty lead guitar solos and Denise Dufort absolutely crushes her drum kit. Songs like “Hit And Run” and “Come The Revolution” bring rapturous applause. Their take on The Gun’s “Race With The Devil” still has a menace and there’s very few faces in the crowd that aren’t beaming. The years spent touring with Motörhead have created a force that is still to be reckoned with as an urgent version of “Emergency” brings their set to a close.

Another pint please barkeep! Clad in denim with leather vests, ornate tat’s and a veteran stare, Mr Anderson and co take the stage. The opening salvos are like quick jabs to the chops. “Juice On The Loose”, “Tramp” and  “Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw” are delivered with an energy that puts younger bands to shame. Angry’s lascivious smile and single entendre humour endear him to the faithful as he takes a sip from a cheap bottle of plonk. The rasping, bratty snarl is still there along with that cocksure stance. The band’s rough, blues rock heritage shines as they slow the pace for the street grime tale of “The Butcher and Fast Eddy”. This lineup is tight – there’s real meat on those bones and the temperature inside the Limelight continues to rise. The gathered raise their voices for “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King” and “Bad Boy For Love” with Dai Pritchard’s burning slide guitar but the fists are truly raised for the closing blasts which include “Scarred For Life”, the defiant “We Can’t Be Beaten” and perennial favourite “Nice Boys”. This is rough-as-guts Aussie pub rock, full of edge without fluff; the raw emotion on an icon’s face says it all. Angry is at once all conquering titan and supremely humble hero, thankful to this crowd in a moment that would make the hardest heart melt. He quotes his Mum as the sweat beads off that bald head: “don’t be afraid of the dark…it’s the only time you can see the stars”.

I clutch the t-shirt I bought; the snake entwined Tat’s logo on front, on the back T.F.F.T…Tats Forever Forever Tats. They can’t be beaten.

(Review and photos Johnny Zed)