Breaking: Australian rock legend Angry Anderson dies, aged 79

Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson has died just weeks after being admitted to a hospital in Germany during the Australian rock band's European tour.

The 79-year-old singer spent 50 years in the music industry and also became a television presenter, charity worker and youth advocate.

Rose Tattoo's hits included Bad Boy for Love, Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw and We Can't Be Beaten, while Anderson found solo success with the song Suddenly.

Rock singer, actor, youth advocate and charity ambassador Angry Anderson has died.

Anderson's family and band mates announced in a statement today that the 79-year-old had died on Monday, surrounded by loved ones in Australia.

"Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved bandmate, friend, and member of the wider music and entertainment community," the statement said.

It comes after Anderson suffered a cardiac arrest in August while on tour with his band.

Anderson was admitted to a German hospital during the European leg of Rose Tattoo's 50th anniversary tour, prompting the band to cancel a concert on August 9.

The next day, it announced it could not go ahead with the rest of the European tour.

Rose Tattoo was to due to return for another Australian leg of the tour in September.

As well as achieving international acclaim with the band, Anderson had a successful solo career, with his hit Suddenly finding chart success in Australia, the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

He had multiple television and movie roles, was well known for his charity work and later courted controversy for anti-Islam views.

Gary Anderson was born in Melbourne on August 5, 1947, and grew up in what was then the working class suburb of Coburg.

His mother had moved to Australia from Mauritius when she was 19 and pregnant with him.