Hanoi Rocks will be played by Michael Monroe at the concert in Helsinki
Hanoi Rocks will celebrate Michael Monroe’s 60th birthday at the Helsinki Ice Hall on September 23. In the grand finale, Monroe will be joined by Andy McCoy, Sami Yaffa, Nasty Suicide and Gyp Casino in the original lineup of Hanoi Rocks. The support band will be reunited again on Demolition 23.
“It’s going to be something special,” Michael told MetalTalk’s Kahmel Farahan at this year’s Hellfest festival. “A big one-off! I can’t name names, but… if you’re a music fan, you won’t want to miss it.”
But now the cat is out of the bag. This lineup of Hanoi Rocks last performed at Tavastia in Helsinki on July 27, 1982.
“This is the only appropriate time and place for all five original members of Hanoi Rocks to take the stage to play together after a gap of over forty years,” said Michael. “This is not a Hanoi Rocks reunion, but a unique part of the anniversary concert. At first I thought it would be a surprise, but after a little more thought I realized that it wouldn’t be fair, especially to the fans, not to announce this in advance and that everyone should have a chance to be there.”
Hanoi Rocks, who influenced bands like Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses and Skid Row, were formed in the late 1970s, and this line-up was formed in 1980. They were the first Finnish rock band to make an international breakthrough, recording their first three albums with the original line-up , Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981), Oriental Beat (1982) and Self Destruction Blues (1982).
Gyp Casino was replaced in 1982 by Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley, who became an integral member of Hanoi Rocks. Razzle died in a tragic accident in 1984. Sadly, this led to the band’s untimely demise in early 1985.
Demolition 23 is set as a support band. Under Monroe’s leadership, they rose to a major cult following, although they only released one album, Demolition 23, in 1994 and disbanded soon after. This is the band’s first appearance since 1995.
The nearly three-hour party show will feature Monroe mostly accompanied by her longtime band Sami Yaffa, Karl Rockfist, Rich Jones and Steve Conte, with several guests expected. The lights and visuals were designed by the internationally acclaimed, worldwide phenomenon Mikki Kunttu.
Tickets are available from https://www.lippu.fi/event/michael-monroe-60-vöytjuhlakeikka-helsingin-jaeaehalli-15236385/