It is with sad news that we found out that Rose Tattoo guitarist, Mick Cocks, sadly passed away earlier on today.

Braingell would like to pass on our condolences to his family and all who knew him.

A statement on the band’s website confirmed the death Australian rocker yesterday. “We’re very sad to announce that Rose Tattoo founding member and guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle against liver cancer and passed away today, on December 22nd,”

Mick a legend of Australian music had been battling liver cancer for about a year. The performer passed away in a hospital in Sydney. Describing him as a “true Australian rocker”, Rose Tattoo manager Stephen White said that Cocks’ death was “devastating”.

The band made an announcement in April that Mick Cocks had developed liver cancer to prevent speculation about his illness. Cocks and front man Gary ‘Angry’ Anderson were the founding members of Rose Tattoo. They had an international following with their slide-guitar rock sound.

Cocks is the fourth member of the band that has died from cancer. Ian Rilen and Pete Wells died in 2006, Lobby Loyde in 2007 and Digger Royal died in 1991.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 06:38 and is filed under Music News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.