Former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe sets up new band

Also on board are ex-Hanoi bassist Sami Yaffa and Wildhearts guitarist Ginger Walls

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By Markus Nordenstreng
     
      Michael Monroe, a Finnish rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who rose to a measure of international fame as the vocalist and frontman for the glam punk outfit Hanoi Rocks, has set up a new band.
     
The new band, named simply Michael Monroe, was unveiled at a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday. The band is rehearsing for their upcoming tour and a new album.
      In addition to the Finn himself, the Michael Monroe band features bassist and formar Hanoi Rocks colleague Sami Yaffa, guitarist David ”Ginger” Walls from The Wildhearts, guitarist Todd Youth, and drummer Jimmy Clark.
      Even though the new band carries Michael Monroe’s name, the rocker says that all members of the band will participate in the creative work and business decisions on an equal basis.
      ”My name just happens to be familiar to people. Besides, now we will have a good reason to also present older Demolition 23 and Hanoi Rocks material in addition to the new pieces and my solo stuff”, Michael Monroe says.
     
Sami Yaffa played with Michael Monroe in both Hanoi Rocks and in Demolition 23, which also included Jimmy Clark.
      Monroe and Yaffa say that they have already written enough material for one album. The new pieces will get their first real test in their upcoming live performances, including a gig at Helsinki’s Tavastia Club in April. The first live dates will be on the U.S West Coast and in Las Vegas in March.
     
Monroe promises further that in the summer the band is likely to be on stage at some Finnish festivals.
      Later in the spring, the band is set to enter the studio to record a new album for the fall.
      Hanoi Rocks broke up for the last time early in 2009 after a turbulent and often-interrupted career stretching back to the early 1980s.
      The other prominent member of the original group Andy McCoy also formed a new group last year, but this venture proved to be short-lived.
     
     
Helsingin Sanomat / Edited from an article first published in print 26.1.2010


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Hanoi Rocks to break up (again) in the spring (22.10.2008)
  Hanoi Rocks bids farewell with series of eight concerts (14.4.2009)

See also:
  Break-up of The Real McCoy Band blamed on swine flu (12.11.2009)

Links:
  Michael Monroe (Wikipedia)
  Michael Monroe - a new band

MARKUS NORDENSTRENG / Helsingin Sanomat
markus.nordenstreng@radiohelsinki.fi