Hanoi Rocks

Biography

Finland's major export to the world of heavy metal, Hanoi Rocks, drew much of their sound and inspiration from '70s glam-rock and were thought by some to have fused the two styles more successfully than similar acts such as Motley Crue. Hanoi Rocks was founded in 1980 by singer Michael Monroe (born Matti Fagerholm) and guitarist Andy McCoy (born Antti Hulkko); after some lineup changes, the rest of the group consisted of guitarist Nasty Suicide (born Jan Stenfors), bassist Sam Yaffa (born Saki Takamäki), and drummer Gyp Casino (born Jesper Sporre). All members except Monroe had previously played with one or both of the Finnish punk bands Briard and Pelle Miljoona Oy. Their Scandinavian-only (at first) debut album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks, was released in 1981, and the band soon went to London to promote themselves and record Oriental Beat. After it was completed, Casino was fired and replaced by ex-Demon Preacher and Dark drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley. The band signed to CBS in 1983 and began to spread their name in Britain; their remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Up Around the Bend" became their only U.K. chart single the next year, from the album Two Steps From the Move. The band ended the year with a tour of the U.S., but Razzle was killed in a tragic automobile accident while a passenger in Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil's car. (Neil was convicted of vehicular manslaughter.) Razzle was replaced by ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes, but things were never quite the same for Monroe. He gave the band notice early in 1985, and the group broke up in May after a farewell concert. Chimes, McCoy, and Suicide formed the short-lived Cherry Bombz, Yaffa joined Jetboy, and Monroe recorded a solo album, Not Fakin' It, that briefly made the U.S. charts in 1989. Monroe, Suicide, and Yaffa reunited in 1994 as Demolition 23. In 2002, Monroe and McCoy reformed Hanoi Rocks, releasing Twelve Shots on the Rocks on the Major Leiden label and started touring once again. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide