Australian frontman, actor and advocate Gary “Angry” Anderson has died after being hospitalised with cardiac arrest.

The 79-year-old rock musician died surrounded by loved ones on Monday evening, his long-time outfit, Rose Tattoo, said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved member of his friends, band mates and the wider music and entertainment community,” the band statement read.

“His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas.”

It comes just weeks after Rose Tattoo was forced to put an early end to its European tour, when Anderson suffered a cardiac arrest in early August.

The One Last Ride tour was set to be the band’s last tour, with Australia slated as its final leg in September.

Anderson, born and raised in the working class Melbourne suburb of Coburg, founded the band in 1976.

Rose Tattoo found early success with 1978 hit Rock’n’ Roll Outlaw and Bad Boy For Love, Nice Boys and We Can’t Be Beaten.

Anderson also found success as a solo performer, actor and latterly as an advocate on prominent social issues.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia on Australia Day, 1992, for his work as a youth advocate.

Anderson courted controversy in the late-2000s for his comments on Islam and asylum seekers, which he later partially walked back.

Rose Tattoo thanked the public for their prayers and messages of support, requesting privacy for Anderson and his family.

-AAP