Michael Monroe is a real Rock N’ Roll treasure. As the lead singer for the legendary band Hanoi Rocks, Michael and his mates influenced many up and coming bands including a little band from Hollywood called Guns N’ Roses. After Hanoi Rock’s demise after the sad passing of drummer Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley, Michael Monroe would return to the game in 1989 with the stellar solo album, Not Fakin’ It. Since then, Monroe has released 7 solo albums including his latest one, Blackout States.
It was an honor to talk to Michael on the phone and he was every bit as sweet, kind, and as humbled as I hoped he would be. We had a great time talking about Hanoi Rocks, the trials and troubles behind his Not Fakin’ It album, and just what it was that made him want to play music in the first place. Getting to know more about Michael Monroe was a real treat for this longtime fan and I hope you will enjoy reading this one as much as I did conducting it.
Michael, thank you so much for taking the time out to talk to me. How are you today?
Hey there, Don. I’m doing fine, thank you!
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I wish I could go back in time and tell my 17 year old self that I would be talking to you today!
[laughs] Well, the you of today is just fine I’m sure!
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The new album is absolutely fantastic, Michael. It’s yet another timeless collection of great songs.
Thank you so much, Don. I just try to make albums that are all killer and no filler. That’s my motto. I don’t want to have one weak song on the album. Why would you do that? This band has a great chemistry and I just encouraged everyone to write as much as possible if they wanted.
The band you’ve assembled is fantastic, Michael. What a great line up with you and Sammi Yaffa!
Thank you, Don. Me and Sammi started this band and then Steve Conte and Karl Rosqvist joined and we four have been the same since 2010. Rich Jones replaced Dregen when he decided he couldn’t handle his solo thing and our band at the same time. Rich is a welcome addition to the band. He had something to do with the new album being a bit more punkier and more melodic. We have a good time and we’re the best of friends and there’s no wankers in this band.
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There’s a song on Blackout States that was written by Dee Dee Ramone. How did this come about?
“Under the Northern Lights” was offered to me by Dee Dee 25 years ago. In my time in New York in the early 90’s there was a time where I was hanging out with Dee Dee quite a bit. He had left the Ramones and he had a bunch of songs and he especially wanted me to do this song because I am from Finland. I loved that guy. He was great. It’s an honor and privilege to have his song. I saved it for all these years and when it finally came time to record that song we got in touch with his widow Barbara and his estate and they didn’t even know about this song. They were really pleased when we sent them our version and they loved it and were really happy that we’re keeping Dee Dee’s name alive.
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Hanoi Rocks had such a distinct image and even sound. I was always curious to ask you if when you first saw Guns N’ Roses did you feel like that was a little too close for comfort?
Well, not exactly. When I first saw the video for “Welcome to the Jungle” I thought it was cool. I mean, we borrowed stuff from the bands that we admired. As long as you make it your own thing, than it’s cool. Axl told me later that it was actually Izzy (Stradlin; Guns N’ Roses guitarist) that told him he should do his hair like me and to try and look like me [laughs]. I guess he was trying to do that at first but then he found his own thing and ended up looking nothing like me [laughs]. Axl always said that he thought that we should’ve been the biggest band.
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Hanoi Rocks was literally on the brink of breaking it big when Razzle (Hanoi Rocks drummer) was tragically killed in that car crash with Vince Neil.
We were on the verge of that and there was a time when we could’ve become a very big band but we had some bad luck. Our drummer [Razzle] gets killed and Sammi [Yaffa; bassist] left the band and me, Andy (McKoy; guitar) and Nasty (Suicide; guitar) couldn’t keep it together and we were too devastated. It never occurred to us to take a break for like a half a year or something. Just taking a break from everything might have saved the band. I wanted to preserve the integrity of the band. The two people that were supposed to be joining the band, the drummer and the bass player, were completely wrong for the band. I wanted the memory of Hanoi Rocks to be preserved as it was and with the integrity intact. There should be one band in the world that didn’t sell their souls for money. I didn’t know what to do with my life afterwards. Stiv Battors from the Dead Boys was the only friend I really had. He encouraged me and was very supportive of me going solo.
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Your solo album, Not Fakin’ It, to me, was such a monumental album that really brought you back in to the light as not just an amazing front man but as an equally amazing songwriter. That album still sounds amazing and holds up well. How important of an album was that for you to make?
Oh it was very important and thank you for saying what you did. I agree that it still sounds good and it’s stood the test of time. I think it’s one of the best albums of my solo career. Not Fakin’ It was my first worldwide album. It probably could’ve been a huge album but of course they made this horrible ad that said, “Michael Monroe: The brains behind Hanoi Rocks.” I saw that on TV and I was shocked. They were ruining everything. Hanoi Rocks had no brains. That was the best thing about the band [laughs]. I called the label and told them I wanted it stopped. I didn’t want to become famous off of that and it was important for me to be presented in the right way. I told them to pull that ad and then they pulled the plug on the whole album.
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One of my all time favorite songs by you is “Man with No Eyes.” It’s cool yet sad at the same time that a song like “Man With No Eyes” can still be so relevant and current after over 20 something years.
Thank you, man. That was a heavy video to. The title comes from my favorite Paul Newman movie, Cool Hand Luke. The guard that never talks was wearing his mirrored shades and George Kennedy’s character says, “Don’t mess with the man with no eyes.” Then I thought of how a lot of the dictators wear shades and that’s where it came from. MTV censored the video very heavily and took out some powerful footage that I feel like ruined the rhythm of the video. It really pissed me off. They’ll show all these tits and ass in the beer commercials.
Michael, at what point did you know that you wanted to be a musician?
Well, i started taking piano lessons when I was about five because my mom made me [laughs]. I’m from a family of classical musicians. My grandfather was a cello player and my mother was always very musical. I was into classical music before I discovered rock n’ roll then I saw Black Sabbath, live in Paris on TV in 1970. It hit me and I wanted to be like that crazy guy with the long hair going nuts onstage [laughs]. That’s what I want to do. Then I got Alice Cooper’s Love it To Death album. I thought that was just the coolest band. I wanted to wear makeup and I wanted to be a rock singer. I was about 9 years old and I stayed on that road.
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What song do you just have to sing along with every time you hear it?
Oh man. The Meters’ “Give It What You Can.” How about that for some funk [laughs]?
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If Hollywood was to make a movie about your life, who would play the role of Michael Monroe?
I wouldn’t allow it to be made. I’d rather have a documentary made about my life and my career. Movies always get stupid no matter who’s acting in it. They always end up corny. From the Buddy Holly movie to The Doors movie. They’re nauseating [laughs]. One of the greatest documentaries is The Who’s The Kids Are Alright.
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Has anyone ever approached you about doing a documentary about Hanoi Rocks?
Not really. People have approached me about doing a play or a movie with somebody acting my role about Hanoi Rocks and I always say no. I couldn’t see anyone acting me or anyone else. It’s just corny. I just love great documentaries and I would love a great documentary made about Hanoi Rocks. Get all of that great footage out!
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Michael, thank you so much again for doing this. Your music both solo and with Hanoi Rocks has been a big part of my life and it’s been a real pleasure speaking with you today.
Don, thank you so much. I had a great time talking to you and it really means a lot that you appreciate the music so much. You’ve made me very happy.
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