Finnish glam heroes Hanoi Rocks were pissed-up, junked-up white trash, and had all the moves and tunes of a 1980’s New York Dolls, with slightly healthier livers.
Although their influence today may be perceived as minimal, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe and their LA ilk all admit that they stole bits of Hanoi Rocks and recycled them for huge personal gain – but they did it without the flash and sparkle, the ambiguous sexuality, the wit and the eccentricity (visiting Israel, they offended devout Jews by appearing at the Wailing Wall dressed as women).
After four albums for independent labels, the band signed a major deal with CBS in 1983.
It all came to a sticky, unpleasant end when drummer Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley was killed in a car crash in California while on a beer run with Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil at the wheel.
But until that point, this was a band of some style and competence.
After Razzle’s death, Hanoi Rocks fell apart.
Guitarist Andy McCoy and vocalist Mike Monroe reformed the band in the 21st Century. Amazingly, it sounded like they had never been gone.
Mike Monroe (Matti Fagerholm) Vocals Andy McCoy (Antti Hulkko)
Guitar Nasty Suicide (Jan-Markus Stenfors)
Guitar Sami Yaffa (Sami Takamäki)
Bass Nicholas ‘Razzle’ Dingley Drums Gyp Casino (Jesper Sporre)
Drums
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Although their influence today may be perceived as minimal, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe and their LA ilk all admit that they stole bits of Hanoi Rocks and recycled them for huge personal gain – but they did it without the flash and sparkle, the ambiguous sexuality, the wit and the eccentricity (visiting Israel, they offended devout Jews by appearing at the Wailing Wall dressed as women).
