Rose Tattoo Guitarist Mick Cocks Dies

Posted on Dec 22nd 2009 12:30PM by John D. Luerssen
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Guitarist Mick Cocks -- a founding member of Australian hard rockers Rose Tattoo -- has succumbed to liver cancer. Cocks, who started the band in 1976 with the late guitarist Pete Wells, died today.

"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 Dec. 22,'' read an official statement on the band's website. He had been battling the disease since April this year.

In its heyday, Rose Tattoo spawned hits like 'Bad Boy for Love,' 'We Can't Be Beaten' and 'One of the Boys.' The band also influenced Guns N' Roses, who recorded a cover of their song 'Nice Boys' for the 1988 album 'G N' R Lies.'

As a member of one of Australia's best-loved bands, Cocks was the subject of a benefit gig in Sydney last July. According to the Herald-Sun, that event featured performances by his Rose Tattoo bandmates, Down Under icon Jimmy Barnes and You Am I, among others.

Sadly, Cocks is the fourth member of Rose Tattoo to die of cancer in the past three years. Pete Wells lost his battle with prostate cancer in March 2006, bassist Ian Rilen died of bladder cancer in October 2006 and guitarist Lobby Loyde died from lung cancer in 2007.