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M: You’re welcome. Before
we talk about the new album can you tell me the reasons that made you re-unite
in 2002? And can you tell me the main problems that you faced during this
reunion? M: We didn’t really reunite – we were reborn! After me and Andy met and reconnected after 16 years of going our separate ways. It was a natural process, one thing lead to another. We wound up in the studio and so on. The rest is history in the making… Well
I’m gonna ask you a question that probably many others had asked you
before but I really want to know why did you call the band Hanoi Rocks and
who’s idea was? M: When me & Andy were about 14 years old, on a bus in Helsinki
thinking of names, he suggested “Chinese Rocks” but I said that’s
already a Johnny Thunder’s Heartbreakers song, so he said – How about
“Hanoi Rocks”?… to which I said – that’s it! That’s the
coolest name for a rock band ever! So,
let me ask you some things about your new work. Why did you name it
“Another Hostile Takeover”? M: Andy picked it out of my lyrics for “Back In Yer Face” and we
figured it sounded good. A nice amount of sarcasm about the music business
in it too. Do
you think that the artwork is related with the music and the lyrics of the
album? And if yes, in which way? M: What do you think? Well, we didn’t have much to work with, in terms of
band shots & stuff and I know we’ve had better covers, so whaddevah... Can
you tell me a few things about each one of the songs? Just a line or two. M: “Intro”: It’s whatever you make of it. “Back
In Yer Face”: Mostly written by me. An old riff I’d had for ages,
actually one of the first things I ever wrote. Andy suggested the breaks
for the harp solo, which worked out pretty cool. “
Insert I”: A fist-fight, that ties in these first two songs in terms of
concept… “
Hurt”: Once again musically written by me, but Andy suggested the title
based on my first demo and we had a lot of fun coming up with the lyrics
together. “
The Devil In You”: Co-written with the “Beats And Styles”-guys DJ
Alimo & DJ Control (Check out www.beatsandstyles.com
“Renegades (Funk You Up)”-video featuring Me & Andy). The song is
about addiction - be it Cocaine, Alcohol, or whatever… A very different
fresh new style & sound for Hanoi – a very healthy experiment, I
thought. “
Love”: Andy had the music for this and asked me to write the lyrics
about Love, so I did. “Talk
To The Hand”: A kind of funky groove we did partly to mess with Lacu,
our drummer, because it’s a bitch of a beat to play on drums. It wound
up being Lacu’s favorite track though. Ha-ha ! On vocals I get to let
off some steam with nice angry lyrics reflecting my feelings about
superficiality and groupies for example… “
Eternal Optimist”: Speaks for itself. “
Insert II”: All of a sudden you’re in the forest surrounded by nature,
birds and all… relaxing. “No
Compromise, No Regrets”: I’d had this song written since about 1998
with a different title. The chorus just came together over the last year
or so. I co-wrote the lyrics with my late wife Jude Wilder… may God rest
her soul. “Reggae
Rocker”: Another fun experiment with the BeatsAndStyles guys. It’s one
of Conny’s favorites and we all like it, though some narrow minded
people seem to think it should’ve been left off the album. Hey,
where’s your sense of humour?! Lighten up, man! “You
Make The Earth Move”: Apparently the most popular song of the record
among fans, and rightfully so. Conny came up with the cool wailing intro
guitar thing that really tied it together. Thank you, Conny. Andy wrote
most of the music, the bridge we wrote together and the lyrics as well. A
nice love song, that rocks. “
Insert III”: A Jet-Plane taking off , as for “High” in the next
title... “Better
High”: Andy’d had the verse & bridge for this one for a long time.
It was about him in L.A. having kicked a heroin habit, and realizing that
none of his “friends” wanted to hang with him anymore (as he had no
more stuff…) I just took chords from another old song idea of his and
came up with the do-do-do-doo’s on top of it & and the chorus line/title. “Dear
Miss Lonely Hearts”: A sincere tribute the late great Phil Lynott, whom
we all love and respect. “
Insert IV”: Maybe the “Santa Ana wind”… and wolves howling… to
get you in the mood for the next song. “
Center Of My Universe”: Mostly Andy’s musically. I wrote some lyrics
but on this one Andy wrote most of them. At the end when the wind fades
out you can hear my father, Pentti Fagerholm reading a weather forecast in
finnish, as he is a well known radio voice in Finland since over 40 years
ago… now retired though. His voice can also be heard in the middle part
of “No Compromise, No Regrets”. “
Heaven Is Gonna Be Empty” (Japanese bonus): One of our old favorites,
originally by Pearl Harbour a cool English female… Rock-a-billy singer,
who wrote this. Brilliant lyrics, in my opinion. Do
you had in mind to create an album that it would be close to what you have
done with Hanoi Rocks back in the 80’s but with a more fresh sound this
time? M: We are not trying to recreate something from the past. It’s all new
and fresh. Hanoi Rocks here and now. Are
you totally satisfied with the album? What are the reactions of the fans
and press so far? M: Yeah, I’m happy with it and already looking forward to the next one.
Now that we have such a killer band together… Fans dig it and we’ve
gotten great reviews everywhere so far. By
the way, how would you characterize the kind of music that you play? M: I call it Rock‘n’Roll. I guess more specifically: Energetic, melodic
hard rock with a punk edge… or something like that… We defy all
categories. Now
let me take you some years back... If you hadn’t disbanded in 1985 how
do you imagine that Hanoi Rocks’ carrier would have been like today? M: If this and if that... no point speculating. How should I know? Everybody
knows that Hanoi Rocks was one of the first bands that begun that the glam,
sleaze, hair metal movement in the 80’s. Although you were not Americans
you influenced every new American band that afterwards became really
popular. Are you pissed off with the fact that after all those years some
big American bands built a carrier upon your music style and your image?
Do you believe that the glam, sleaze, hair metal movement would have
followed another way if you have never existed? M: I dunno. I hate being blamed for that phony “haircut poser band”
movement. I didn’t think it had anything to do with us. I thought they
missed the point completely and wound up giving Rock‘n’Roll a bad name.
I am not in the least envious of anyone’s material success. I’d rather
be me and keep my integrity anytime, over that shit. Nowadays
do you feel that this 80’s hard rock movement has already risen and it
claims its throne among other music styles? M: I don’t think so, I don’t know and couldn’t really give a shit. What
is missing from today’s music industry and most albums have not that
quality that they used to have back in the 70’s and 80’s? M: Today music has no business in the music business and that’s why the
quality sucks more and more. As
far as I know you are releasing also solo albums. Do you believe that this
is vital in order to express yourself and how do you manage to share your
time between Hanoi and your solo projects? M: My solo career is on hold, or should I say “dormant” right now.
I’m 100% dedicated to Hanoi Rocks and I’m quite happy to be. Have
you ever thought of going to a bigger label or not? M: Seen ‘em, done it, right now we’d rather have a bit smaller label
that really works the record as opposed to getting lost in the sauce at a
major label. Well
as I read on your website, Hanoi canceled their show in Wacken Fest this
year. I must say that your fans where very disappointed with that. Can you
tell me the reason that made you canceled your live show in Wacken? M: I’ve explained that in my letter on the website. But ok, basically due
to flight arrangement difficulties. We would’ve not made it back in time
for the Alice Cooper Show opening in Finland, which we had committed to do
long before Wacken. So,
what we should wait from Hanoi Rocks for the future? M: You can expect great honest heartfelt Rock‘n’Roll and killer live
shows... and so on. And
some weird Questions now!!! Which kind of rock music do you prefer the
most? M: Oh, yeah? Ok. The kind that rocks! Which
are the top 5 hard rock albums of all time according to you and why? M: 1. Alice Cooper: “Billion Dollar Babies”. 2.
AC/DC: “Highway To Hell”. 3.
Cheap Trick: “All Shook Up”. 4.
The Ruts: “The Crack”. 5.
Ian Hunter: “Ian Hunter”(1st solo LP). The
reason... listen to them and you’ll see. Do
you prefer the 80’s era of metal music or not? M: Not necessarily. I prefer good rock music, not so much metal either... What
would you tell to someone to convince him to buy your album instead of
hundreds others that are being released every month? M: I’d say Hanoi is better for your mental health and spiritual growth...
but by all means, go ahead and buy whatever you want. If
you were obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that which
would represent the whole human music… which album would it be and from
which band? M: Interesting question! It would have to be Pink Floyd:”The Wall”. Do
you believe that internet has helped the bands to become more popular or
has caused many problems? M:
I have no idea.
I just got the goddam computer... Which
band do you consider that can take a leading part in rock music in the
future? M: Well I hope it’ll be more back to basics and real honest edgy
rock‘n’roll with the right attitude and more individuality. Good songs
with a meaning. For example U2’s new “Vertigo” is a brilliant rock-song... Which
are the things that piss you off from today’s music industry? M: The chasing after money and guaranteed hits & all the business
bullshit and politics that get in the way of the creative process. Which
is the most overrated band today? M: Oh, I dunno. I haven’t kept up with that. There’s always someone
though, isn’t there... Do
you consider yourself a rock star? M: I consider myself a rocker. Imagine
that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for
herself an expensive ring. How would you react? J M: Ha Ha Ha, so funny, I forgot to laugh... That’s
all for now Michael. Thanks for the music, please leave a note to Grande
Rock readers... Take care! M: Thanx for all your support! Don’t miss a chance to experience Hanoi
Rocks live. See ya down the road! Love
& Respect, Michael Monroe. by Thanos Aggelakis |
Hi
Michael... It’s an honor talking with you. Thx for giving us another
great album!!!