Michael Monroe – Interview

Michael Monroe – Interview

13 Giugno 2014 1 Commento Alessandro Lifonti

interview by Alessandro Lifonti

italian version

MR: Michael, you started Hanoi Rocks in 1979, can you still remember the first days of the band and if you do, what would you like to tell us about those days?
MM: It all started when me and Andy MCcoy met. We were planning to start a band and you know, it took a few years. We met in 1976 or 1977 and it took us two or three years before we got started. And the first days there were a couple of other members. Nasty suicide was in. Me and nasty and three other finnish guys did some gigs under the name Hanoi Rocks. Andy was in a different band at that time. He was making a lot of money….they were selling gold in Finland. The plan was leaving Finland. That was the first step. We wanted to go away from Finland. So we first moved to Stockholm. We lived on the streets. Me, Nasty, and Sammy lived on the streets, Andy lived in a house. Me and Sammy we are still like brothers. That’ s the way I still feel. Nasty doesn’ t play rock ‘n’ roll anymore. I had no idea what I was doing, all I knew I had to follow my heart. Go that way. I was homeless with nothing to lose. All I had was a box and a suitcase and in a way that was the happiest time in my life. I knew I had to make a living with that band. I don’ t need much to be happy.

MR: You moved to NYC back in 1985. You wrote several songs about the big apple. What does New York mean to you?
MM: It is still one of the gretest cities in the world. It is my hometown in a way. I lived 10 years in Manhattan in the same flat. That was the best time in my life. I love New York, and it will always be part of me.

MR: You worked and played with awesome musicians along your career and of course you are one of them. Any memories you want to share with us?
MM: One of the coolest things was when Steven Tyler called me out of the blue. He got my phone number from my sound guy in the early years. “Michael Monroe? It’ s Steven Tyler! I wanna work on some stuff!” I said “what?????”. Then his boss called me and said: “we gave Steven your phone number. I hope you don’ t mind”. Of course I don’ t mind….lol! Then Steven called me again and asked : “would you like to come and play saxophone with Aerosmith?” They were Jamming at Les Paul’ s 76th birthday at the hard rock café in New York City. I went there and I played saxophone. That was a huge honour and one of the greatest experiences in my life. Jamming with Aerosmith….doesn’ t get much better than that. Also Alice Cooper invited me 3 times to sing a few songs when he played in Finland.

MR: When you take a look back at your incredible career, are you fully satisfied with all the things that you have done, or is there maybe one little thing that you would change?
MM: If I had known better back then, probably I would have done something differently, but I did the best I could with the knowledge that I had at that time, so there is no turning back thinking “why why why?”! I like to think that I have no regrets. Of course there are a lot of things that you would change later, but you know you only have one shot. I am pretty happy I haven’ t sold myself and my soul. I’ m glad I maintened my integrity.

MR: I wanna ask you now about a song called “Keep our fire burning”. I think it’ s one of the greatest Hanoi Rocks songs. Why didn’ t you put that song on any albums?
MM: Well, Andy wrote that song in the early eighties. Andy gave it to a Japanese guy. Years later when me and Andy restarted Hanoi Rocks that song came to my mind and I said: “what about that song?”. So we took it and put it as a bonus track of a single. (Now Michael starts singing “Keep our fire burning”LOL).

MR: We know Phil Lynott is your all time hero. Did you ever meet him? How much his music inspire you?
MM: His music still continues to inspire me. I never had the opportunity to meet him. He passed away too soon. He has a huge influence on me. There is a Thin Lizzy cover band in the city where I live, and I went to jam once with them just for fun. We played “killer on the loose” “Johnny the fox”. Phil was one of a kind. The way he used to sing it was kinda like talking telling the stories. And also Elvis Presley I think was a big fan of Phil Lynott. He was one of the greatest ever…such a shame he went away so fast. (At this point Michael starts singing a Phil Lynott’ s track from his solo album ;-).

MR: If you could play a role in an 80′ s movie, which movie would it be and why?
MM: I wouldn’ t! I’ m not an actor, I’m a rocker! I would just be in a movie that talks about my life!

MR: You are here to promote your new album called “Horns and Halos”. What would you like to tell your italian fans about it and what’ s your plan for the future?
MM: Ohhh, just keep doing what I’ m doing and trying to get better. Horns and Halos is the second album of this band. This album is more a whole band album than Sensory overdrive. It sounds more natural and simple. I gave much more space to the band. Fans seem to like it. A lot of people like it more than the previous one. We will start writing the new album in the fall.

MR: Lately your solo albums have a tougher sound than the previous ones. “Life gets you dirty” “whatcha want” were a bit more melodic closer to the hanoi rocks sound. How can you keep switching from one sound to the other?
MM: Well, on my last two solo albums there is a band. There is chemistry. We put our influences together. I think it just has to do with the players. Now I really have a band. It’ s more defined. That’ s what it is. I’ m really happy you appreciate this record ” whatcha want”.

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