The Fast Story of Hanoi Rocks
by Jon Reed

Recently cited as "the most important underground rock 'n' roll band of all time" by a music journalist on VH1, Hanoi Rocks was formed by lead singer Michael Monroe, lead guitarist Andy McCoy and three mates from Finland in 1981 - mates who will forever be known to fans as "Sami, Nasty, and Razzle." (In actuality, the band started gelling with various lineups in 1980 and Razzle didn't enter the picture until 1982, but remember this is the quick version of the story). Hanoi put out five celebrated studio albums and one live recording in one furious period between 1981 and 1984. The Hanoi Rocks sound was distinguished by its irreverence and boundary-defying diversity. One apt description of the band's visual impact is "cowboy glam" - a phrase which captures the band's street-tough roots and its image of decadent, outlaw beauty. On December 8, 1984, with the band on the tantalizing brink of worldwide fame, Hanoi's much-beloved drummer Razzle was killed in a car wreck in L.A., with drunk driver Vince Neil of Motley Crue at the wheel and Razzle in the passenger seat. The crash was widely reported, but the impact of the fatal crash on the world of rock music was not generally noted in the United States. At the time of Razzle's death, Hanoi had recently embarked on their first U.S. tour, having created an international buzz throughout Europe and Japan. The surviving members of Hanoi Rocks briefly attempted to carry on, but they soon recognized that the soul of the band was forever altered by Razzle's passing. With one of the crucial parts missing, there was just no way forward. Hanoi thus became a legend "frozen in time," preserved from the mortal process of aging - a symbol of living fast, dying young, and departing the scene in tragic glory. All the maddening questions of fame, fortune, and "what might have been" thus went unanswered, creating hotly-debated questions such as the ones tackled in the Dave Dickson interview. Despite the band's untimely demise, Hanoi Rocks' "glam" look and "dirty rock" sound had a huge impact on the U.S. rock scene in the 1980s. Numerous "hair bands" got their visual inspiration from Hanoi Rocks, and Guns N' Roses ascended to mega-stardom with Hanoi as their major musical influence and visual blueprint, modified to fit their personas and their roots in the U.S. market. On March 28, 2002, Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy announced the "rebirth" of Hanoi Rocks - a decision that created both anticipation and controversy amongst the faithful. Regardless of the future of Hanoi Rocks, they have a place in rock history and in the hearts of their rabidly loyal fans.

If you're looking for more about the bands history and/or current projects, check out my "best of Hanoi Rocks online" web links page.

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