Rose Tattoo guitarist Pete Wells was a burly, tattooed bloke who may have looked intimidating, but friends today remembered him as a fiercely protective family man and loyal mate.
Musicians Jimmy Barnes, Angry Anderson and Jon Stevens were among the 150 friends and family who farewelled the musician at his Sydney funeral.
Guests gathered at St Brendan's Church at Annandale, in Sydney's inner-west, to celebrate the "rock n' roll outlaw", who died on Monday after a four-year battle with cancer.
For a man known for his contribution to Australian rock music, it was a service that was eerily bereft of the great rock tunes that shot Rose Tattoo to fame in the late 1970s.
Instead, soft blues played as the eclectic crowd, some dressed in black leather and mini skirts, watched.
Other prominent musicians also attended the church service, including Mark Lizotte, also known as Diesel, Billy Thorpe and members of The Angels and The Radiators.
In her eulogy, Wells' daughter Katrina said the burly rocker had a secret soft side to him, playing the "ultimate protector" of the family despite some "sensational boozy times".
He only ever lost his temper twice, she said.
Wells was to celebrate his 60th birthday this year.
"He said 'f---' all the time, but he was a very, very kind, gentle man," fellow Rose Tattoo band member Rob Riley said after the church service.
Rose Tattoo lead singer Angry Anderson wiped away tears during the service, which praised the "gentle soul".
Wells successfully fought prostate cancer after being diagnosed in 2003, but the disease spread to other parts of his body.
"It was going to beat him, I think we both knew that," said an emotional Anderson, who was best friends with Wells for 30 years.
"We grew up together, we grew up into the men we became together because of one another.
"I love my dad, my stepdad that is, I love my brother, I love my boys, my children, but I don't love them any more than I love Pete ... I hope I love them just as much."
Wells received his final standing ovation as Rose Tattoo band members, including Anderson, Riley, Steve Bass and Paul De Marco, carried the musician's casket out of the church.
Mourners burst into applause as the hearse drove away.
-- Edited by Tony on Monday 10th of September 2012 07:24:19 AM
