Iluvthe80s
4-26-03, 08:05 PM
*From:http://www.geocities.com/bubbly68_2000
With their energetic stage performance and strong, pumping rock melodies they looked set to conquer the world with a style all their own. They stood out from the crowd with their own brand of brazen rock 'n' roll, make-up and hairspray. They were by no stretch of the imagination virtuosos but what they lacked in musical ability, they made up for with a double-helping of charisma, attitude and balls. The Sex Pistols may have done it first but Hanoi Rocks did it best. The glam rock world would never be quite the same.
Initially in the early years the band underwent several line-up transformations but the solid foundation of songwriter Andy McCoy and singer Michael Monroe was the mainstay. It was a partnership upon which Hanoi Rocks was built. The most fondly remembered line-up consisted of chisel-cheekboned Michael Monroe (born Matti Fagerholm), leather-clad gypsy Andy McCoy (born Antti Hulkko), the delicately understated Nasty Suicide (born Jan Stenfors), Sami Yaffa (born Sami Takamaki) and loveable rogue Razzle (born Nicholas Dingley) on drums. The story begins in Helsinki, Finland...
Andy McCoy left home aged 13 and formed Briard, his first punk band. Following Briard he enjoyed musical success with a Finnish punk band called Pelle Miljoona Oy. They had a triple platinum-selling album in Scandinavia. However, he'd always harboured a secret desire to form his own band and viewed Pelle Miljoona Oy as a stepping-stone to fulfilling this ambition. He needed money and PMO was a means to an end.
Andy first met Michael in the basement of an old Helsinki church when they were both fourteen. They shared the same love of music and wanted to form a band that would conquer the world. They began to dream up names they would call themselves. Andy suggested Chinese Rocks but decided against the idea because it was the title of a song by Johnny Thunders. It was Mike who suggested Hanoi Rocks and that was the name that stuck. Nasty Suicide, an old school friend of Andy's, was roped in along with a local drummer of Turkish descent called Gyp Casino. It was at this time the band upped sticks and relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. Not long after they were joined by Sami Yaffa, who had been in Pelle Miljoona Oy with Andy. Quite understandably PMO were none too pleased by his sudden departure. Not that Andy cared. This was his dream and he was going to live it no matter what!
The band rehearsed for long hours in a dilapidated subway station which also became their home. Andy lived in relative comfort with his Swedish girlfriend but the others had to fend for themselves on the streets. They did demeaning jobs to earn a bit of money (cleaning toilets being one). Finally the band was ready and they began their first tour of Finland, commencing in Virrat on 31.12.80. They looked so different with their long hair and make-up. Quite understandably it caused hostility. People mistook them for a bunch of good-for-nothing, junkie transvestites and fights broke out.
It was at this time Finnish rock band manager, Seppo Vesterinen, began to take notice. He recognised their huge potential. They had good, strong, melodic songs and an enthusiastic stage presence. They were unafraid to try new ideas and Seppo spotted their star potential. A single, I Want You was rcorded and an album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (recorded in Sweden) followed not long after in 1981. It was received with great critical acclaim and believed by many to be their best. Interest in the band grew, especially in Japan.
The band relocated to London and it was here their second album Oriental Beat was recorded in 1982. The sleeve had the breasts of Andy's girlfriend Anna emblazoned upon it. The music press began to take notice and news about Hanoi Rocks spread fast. It was at this time Gyp Casino, Hanoi Rocks' drummer, got his marching orders. He'd been dragging the band down with talk of suicide and didn't want to tour any more. Andy had had enough and told him to go home. They didn't need the constant worry of his mental well-being. unbeknown, this decision was to play a major part in their fate...
Now without a drummer, they met an Englishman called Razzle at the Zig Zag club in London in 1982. He was full of enthusiasm and kept bugging Andy to let him join the band. They decided to audition him and sure enough, his fate was sealed. Razzle was witty, liked to party and fitted in instantly. The other guys had no trouble accepting him. He lived the rock 'n' rock lifestyle to the full. Finally Hanoi Rocks had THE ultimate line-up and from now on life would only get better...or so they thought. Hanoi Rocks were at their very best.
They recorded the next album, Back To Mystery City in 1983. It was received with as much acclaim as it's predecessor. A compilation of b-sides and out-takes followed, entitled Self Destruction Blues. They toured, the fans went wild and they were idolised in Japan. A concert at the Marquee Club in London was recorded in December 1983 and released as a live album/video entitled All Those Wasted Years. Excellent reviews were to follow.
Hanoi Rocks had REALLY arrived and now major record labels were interested. They signed a deal with CBS and it was stipulated that the next album, Two Steps From The Move (recorded at Phase One in Toronto and produced by Bob Ezrin) should contain a single with hit potential. The song, Up Around The Bend by Creedence Clearwater Revival was chosen. It was a hit in the UK charts in 1984 but was to be their only mainstream chart success.
A tour of the US commencing in November 1984 was next on the schedule. The band were popular on MTV and in the press. Many dates sold out in advance. Mike broke his ankle in Syracuse, New York and the next date in Atlanta had to be cancelled. The band flew from Atlanta to Los Angeles where they attended a party hosted by Motley Crue vocalist, Vince Neil. It was a party that was to end in tragedy. It was December 6th 1984. Neil and Razzle decided to go for a spin in Neil's sports car. Suddenly Neil lost control of the wheel and the vehicle careered into the northbound lanes where it was struck by two oncoming vehicles. Razzle, fatally injured, was taken to South Bay Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7.12pm. Neil was uninjured. He was arrested on charges of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter and released on $2500 bail. In July 1985 he was convicted, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2.6 million in compensation fees. To this day Neil refuses to show remorse for his actions.
Mike, Andy, Sami and Nasty were too shocked to continue with the tour so it was cancelled. In Mike's words, "When Razzle died, our heart, our soul, everything went. When he joined Hanoi we were at a really low point and he saved the band. Razzle was the person who, when I was in a bad place, would always come round and say, 'Alright mate. I know what you're going through'. He was always the one keeping the spirit up, so I was totally devastated. I couldn't think of going on without him". Andy said, "Razzle's drumming got better and better until the day he died and it was a crying shame that he was destined to die so young".
The remaining Hanoi members decided to go ahead with two pre-planned gigs in Helsinki (dedicated to the memory of Razzle) as part of the Europe-A-Go-Go TV event. Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee had promised to step in but it didn't work out. Ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes was recruited and Rene Berg was brought in to replace Sami Yaffa, who had decided to leave. The new line-up was complete. However, the spirit of Hanoi Rocks had died in the crash with Razzle. It just wasn't the same without him. Mike was devastated and couldn't continue. In 1985 he told the band he intended to quit. Razzle's loss weighed heavy and Mike couldn't envisage a line-up without him. Hanoi Rocks' last gig was in 1985.
Today Michael Monroe is a successful solo artist based in Finland where he continues to record and tour. His solo albums are worthy successors to the Hanoi legacy. Sadly, on June 19th 2001 tragedy struck once more when Michael's wife, manager, co-songwriter and backing singer Jude Wilder passed
away at the age of 47 from natural causes. A few weeks later Michael and Andy temporarily reformed Hanoi Rocks under the moniker Hanoi Revisited and played a successful gig at the Finnish Ruisrock festival (summer 2001). Michael and Andy dedicated the song Don't You Ever Leave Me to the memory of Jude. Andy McCoy also enjoys a successful solo career. He fought a long battle with drug addiction, which he overcame in the late 90s. He has been involved with several anti-drugs charities and given lectures to school children on the dangers of drug abuse. Sami Yaffa is currently performing with Mad Juana. Nasty Suicide was last seen working as a pharmacist and is reputed to have given up the music industry entirely.
On March 28th 2002, Michael Monroe announced through his website the reformation of Hanoi Rocks. In reality it is a collaboration between Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy and three little-known musicians: Costello (guitar), Kari 'Lacu' Lahtinen (drums) and Timpa Laine (bass). Die-hard fans were sceptical as to whether the new line-up could recreate the old magic of the early 80s. However, in April 2002 a first single, People Like Me, was released and shot to the No.1 spot in the Finnish charts. It confirmed the fact that glam was back in business and the world was ready for a rekindled and reloaded Hanoi Rocks.
It must also be mentioned that bands from today's rock generation acknowledge the influence of Hanoi Rocks upon their own careers - bands such as Guns 'N Roses, Skid Row, Backyard Babies, Manic Street Preachers etc. There's no doubting Hanoi Rocks made their mark upon the world. They came, they snarled, they conquered!
With their energetic stage performance and strong, pumping rock melodies they looked set to conquer the world with a style all their own. They stood out from the crowd with their own brand of brazen rock 'n' roll, make-up and hairspray. They were by no stretch of the imagination virtuosos but what they lacked in musical ability, they made up for with a double-helping of charisma, attitude and balls. The Sex Pistols may have done it first but Hanoi Rocks did it best. The glam rock world would never be quite the same.
Initially in the early years the band underwent several line-up transformations but the solid foundation of songwriter Andy McCoy and singer Michael Monroe was the mainstay. It was a partnership upon which Hanoi Rocks was built. The most fondly remembered line-up consisted of chisel-cheekboned Michael Monroe (born Matti Fagerholm), leather-clad gypsy Andy McCoy (born Antti Hulkko), the delicately understated Nasty Suicide (born Jan Stenfors), Sami Yaffa (born Sami Takamaki) and loveable rogue Razzle (born Nicholas Dingley) on drums. The story begins in Helsinki, Finland...
Andy McCoy left home aged 13 and formed Briard, his first punk band. Following Briard he enjoyed musical success with a Finnish punk band called Pelle Miljoona Oy. They had a triple platinum-selling album in Scandinavia. However, he'd always harboured a secret desire to form his own band and viewed Pelle Miljoona Oy as a stepping-stone to fulfilling this ambition. He needed money and PMO was a means to an end.
Andy first met Michael in the basement of an old Helsinki church when they were both fourteen. They shared the same love of music and wanted to form a band that would conquer the world. They began to dream up names they would call themselves. Andy suggested Chinese Rocks but decided against the idea because it was the title of a song by Johnny Thunders. It was Mike who suggested Hanoi Rocks and that was the name that stuck. Nasty Suicide, an old school friend of Andy's, was roped in along with a local drummer of Turkish descent called Gyp Casino. It was at this time the band upped sticks and relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. Not long after they were joined by Sami Yaffa, who had been in Pelle Miljoona Oy with Andy. Quite understandably PMO were none too pleased by his sudden departure. Not that Andy cared. This was his dream and he was going to live it no matter what!
The band rehearsed for long hours in a dilapidated subway station which also became their home. Andy lived in relative comfort with his Swedish girlfriend but the others had to fend for themselves on the streets. They did demeaning jobs to earn a bit of money (cleaning toilets being one). Finally the band was ready and they began their first tour of Finland, commencing in Virrat on 31.12.80. They looked so different with their long hair and make-up. Quite understandably it caused hostility. People mistook them for a bunch of good-for-nothing, junkie transvestites and fights broke out.
It was at this time Finnish rock band manager, Seppo Vesterinen, began to take notice. He recognised their huge potential. They had good, strong, melodic songs and an enthusiastic stage presence. They were unafraid to try new ideas and Seppo spotted their star potential. A single, I Want You was rcorded and an album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (recorded in Sweden) followed not long after in 1981. It was received with great critical acclaim and believed by many to be their best. Interest in the band grew, especially in Japan.
The band relocated to London and it was here their second album Oriental Beat was recorded in 1982. The sleeve had the breasts of Andy's girlfriend Anna emblazoned upon it. The music press began to take notice and news about Hanoi Rocks spread fast. It was at this time Gyp Casino, Hanoi Rocks' drummer, got his marching orders. He'd been dragging the band down with talk of suicide and didn't want to tour any more. Andy had had enough and told him to go home. They didn't need the constant worry of his mental well-being. unbeknown, this decision was to play a major part in their fate...
Now without a drummer, they met an Englishman called Razzle at the Zig Zag club in London in 1982. He was full of enthusiasm and kept bugging Andy to let him join the band. They decided to audition him and sure enough, his fate was sealed. Razzle was witty, liked to party and fitted in instantly. The other guys had no trouble accepting him. He lived the rock 'n' rock lifestyle to the full. Finally Hanoi Rocks had THE ultimate line-up and from now on life would only get better...or so they thought. Hanoi Rocks were at their very best.
They recorded the next album, Back To Mystery City in 1983. It was received with as much acclaim as it's predecessor. A compilation of b-sides and out-takes followed, entitled Self Destruction Blues. They toured, the fans went wild and they were idolised in Japan. A concert at the Marquee Club in London was recorded in December 1983 and released as a live album/video entitled All Those Wasted Years. Excellent reviews were to follow.
Hanoi Rocks had REALLY arrived and now major record labels were interested. They signed a deal with CBS and it was stipulated that the next album, Two Steps From The Move (recorded at Phase One in Toronto and produced by Bob Ezrin) should contain a single with hit potential. The song, Up Around The Bend by Creedence Clearwater Revival was chosen. It was a hit in the UK charts in 1984 but was to be their only mainstream chart success.
A tour of the US commencing in November 1984 was next on the schedule. The band were popular on MTV and in the press. Many dates sold out in advance. Mike broke his ankle in Syracuse, New York and the next date in Atlanta had to be cancelled. The band flew from Atlanta to Los Angeles where they attended a party hosted by Motley Crue vocalist, Vince Neil. It was a party that was to end in tragedy. It was December 6th 1984. Neil and Razzle decided to go for a spin in Neil's sports car. Suddenly Neil lost control of the wheel and the vehicle careered into the northbound lanes where it was struck by two oncoming vehicles. Razzle, fatally injured, was taken to South Bay Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7.12pm. Neil was uninjured. He was arrested on charges of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter and released on $2500 bail. In July 1985 he was convicted, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2.6 million in compensation fees. To this day Neil refuses to show remorse for his actions.
Mike, Andy, Sami and Nasty were too shocked to continue with the tour so it was cancelled. In Mike's words, "When Razzle died, our heart, our soul, everything went. When he joined Hanoi we were at a really low point and he saved the band. Razzle was the person who, when I was in a bad place, would always come round and say, 'Alright mate. I know what you're going through'. He was always the one keeping the spirit up, so I was totally devastated. I couldn't think of going on without him". Andy said, "Razzle's drumming got better and better until the day he died and it was a crying shame that he was destined to die so young".
The remaining Hanoi members decided to go ahead with two pre-planned gigs in Helsinki (dedicated to the memory of Razzle) as part of the Europe-A-Go-Go TV event. Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee had promised to step in but it didn't work out. Ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes was recruited and Rene Berg was brought in to replace Sami Yaffa, who had decided to leave. The new line-up was complete. However, the spirit of Hanoi Rocks had died in the crash with Razzle. It just wasn't the same without him. Mike was devastated and couldn't continue. In 1985 he told the band he intended to quit. Razzle's loss weighed heavy and Mike couldn't envisage a line-up without him. Hanoi Rocks' last gig was in 1985.
Today Michael Monroe is a successful solo artist based in Finland where he continues to record and tour. His solo albums are worthy successors to the Hanoi legacy. Sadly, on June 19th 2001 tragedy struck once more when Michael's wife, manager, co-songwriter and backing singer Jude Wilder passed
away at the age of 47 from natural causes. A few weeks later Michael and Andy temporarily reformed Hanoi Rocks under the moniker Hanoi Revisited and played a successful gig at the Finnish Ruisrock festival (summer 2001). Michael and Andy dedicated the song Don't You Ever Leave Me to the memory of Jude. Andy McCoy also enjoys a successful solo career. He fought a long battle with drug addiction, which he overcame in the late 90s. He has been involved with several anti-drugs charities and given lectures to school children on the dangers of drug abuse. Sami Yaffa is currently performing with Mad Juana. Nasty Suicide was last seen working as a pharmacist and is reputed to have given up the music industry entirely.
On March 28th 2002, Michael Monroe announced through his website the reformation of Hanoi Rocks. In reality it is a collaboration between Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy and three little-known musicians: Costello (guitar), Kari 'Lacu' Lahtinen (drums) and Timpa Laine (bass). Die-hard fans were sceptical as to whether the new line-up could recreate the old magic of the early 80s. However, in April 2002 a first single, People Like Me, was released and shot to the No.1 spot in the Finnish charts. It confirmed the fact that glam was back in business and the world was ready for a rekindled and reloaded Hanoi Rocks.
It must also be mentioned that bands from today's rock generation acknowledge the influence of Hanoi Rocks upon their own careers - bands such as Guns 'N Roses, Skid Row, Backyard Babies, Manic Street Preachers etc. There's no doubting Hanoi Rocks made their mark upon the world. They came, they snarled, they conquered!