Michael Monroe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Monroe
Monroe at the 2011 Ilosaarirock festival
Background information
Birth name	Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm
Born	(1962-06-17) 17 June 1962 (age 63) Helsinki, Finland
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Hard rock, glam metal, glam punk, glam rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, saxophone, harmonica, guitar, keyboards, drums
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Johanna Kustannus, Lick, Nippon Phonogram, CBS, Major Leiden, Backstage Alliance, Mercury, Yahoo!

Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm (born 17 June 1962), known as Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician. He became famous as the singer and saxophone player for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks. He has also led other bands like Demolition 23 and Jerusalem Slim.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Michael Monroe was born Matti Fagerholm on June 17, 1962. His father, Pentti Fagerholm, was a well-known radio personality in Finland. Michael first discovered rock music when he saw Black Sabbath perform on TV in 1970. He also liked bands such as Alice Cooper and Led Zeppelin.

From 1976 to 1979, Monroe played in a band called Madness. During this time, he met guitarist Andy McCoy. Later, Monroe played saxophone in Maukka Perusjätkä's band.

Music Career

Monroe & band performing in Barcelona, Spain, in May 2014

Monroe performing with his band in 2010

Monroe performing at the Ilosaarirock festival in 2008

Monroe performing at the Stockmann building, Helsinki, in 2005

Monroe playing the saxophone on stage

Hanoi Rocks: The Early Years (1979–1985)

Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy had the idea for Hanoi Rocks. Monroe started the band, and McCoy joined later in 1980, bringing bassist Sami Yaffa with him. The band also added drummer Gyp Casino.

Their first album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks, came out in 1981. Monroe and McCoy produced it together. In 1982, Hanoi Rocks moved to London and released their second album, Oriental Beat. The band later felt this album was not mixed well. After this, they hired a new drummer named Razzle.

The band released Self Destruction Blues in 1982, which was a collection of older songs. Razzle was on the cover, but he didn't play on the album. They toured Asia for the first time. In 1983, they released Back to Mystery City.

In 1984, Hanoi Rocks worked with producer Bob Ezrin on their fifth album, Two Steps from the Move. This album was meant to help them become known in the US. The magazine Sounds voted Hanoi Rocks as the second best band in the world that year.

During their first big US tour, Monroe hurt his ankle. While the band was in Los Angeles, Razzle was in a car accident and sadly passed away.

After Razzle's death, the band performed in Helsinki, Finland. This show was seen by over 500 million viewers in Europe. It was their first show with new drummer Terry Chimes and their last with Sami Yaffa, who left the band. Hanoi Rocks tried to continue with new members, but it "didn't feel the same," and the band broke up after a short tour in Poland.

Solo Career and Other Bands (1985–2001)

After Hanoi Rocks split up in 1985, Monroe started his solo career. He also worked with his friend Stiv Bators. In 1985, they recorded backing vocals for Steven Van Zandt's song "Sun City" and appeared in its music video.

In 1986, Monroe formed his first solo band. His first solo album, Nights Are So Long, was released in 1987. In 1988, he signed with Mercury Records. His second solo album, Not Fakin' It, came out in 1989. This album was Monroe's first to be released worldwide and reached number 161 on the US Billboard Chart. Music videos were made for the songs "... Jail or Rock 'N' Roll" and "Man With No Eyes." Axl Rose appeared in the video for "... Jail or Rock 'N' Roll."

Guns N' Roses also helped re-release Hanoi Rocks albums in America. Slash from Guns N' Roses played with Monroe at his Los Angeles shows in 1989. Steven Tyler from Aerosmith also invited Monroe to perform with Aerosmith at a special event in New York. Monroe played saxophone on "Big Ten Inch Record." He spent most of 1989 and 1990 touring.

In 1990, Monroe formed a new band called Jerusalem Slim with former Billy Idol-guitarist Steve Stevens and Sami Yaffa. In 1991, Guns N' Roses asked Monroe to play harmonica and saxophone on their album Use Your Illusion I for the song "Bad Obsession." Monroe also sang on their 1993 album, "The Spaghetti Incident?", on the song "Ain't It Fun." He also performed "Honky Tonk Women" on stage with Guns N' Roses and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones.

Jerusalem Slim released one album but broke up in 1992. Monroe then formed another band called Demolition 23. The band released an album and toured successfully, but ended when one of its members decided to stop making music.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Monroe released four more solo albums before getting back together with Andy McCoy to reform Hanoi Rocks.

Hanoi Rocks Returns (2002–2009)

In 2002, McCoy and Monroe decided to bring Hanoi Rocks back together. They added new members and released Twelve Shots on the Rocks in 2003. In 2005, they released Another Hostile Takeover with new members Andy Christell and Conny Bloom. Their last album, Street Poetry, came out in 2007.

In 2008, McCoy and Monroe decided to end Hanoi Rocks. In April 2009, they played eight sold-out farewell shows in Helsinki, Finland.

A book about Hanoi Rocks, All Those Wasted Years, was published in Finland in 2009.

After Hanoi Rocks, Monroe performed with Duff McKagan's band Loaded and Ginger's band, The Wildhearts. He also shared the stage with Sami Yaffa when Yaffa's band, the New York Dolls, played in Helsinki. These performances led Monroe, Ginger, and Yaffa to decide to form a new band together.

Michael Monroe Band (2010–Present)

On January 25, 2010, Michael Monroe announced his new band in Los Angeles. It included Sami Yaffa on bass, Ginger on guitar, Todd Youth on a second guitar, and Jimmy Clarke on drums. The band started touring in March. Later, Todd Youth and Jimmy Clark were replaced by guitarist Steve Conte and drummer Karl Rosqvist.

In summer 2010, the Michael Monroe band played at many festivals worldwide, including Helsinki Live with Guns N' Roses and the Download Festival in England. At the Ruisrock festival in Finland, Monroe joined Slash on stage to perform "We're All Gonna..." and "Up Around the Bend."

In September 2010, the band released their first live album, Another Night in the Sun: Live in Helsinki. They then recorded their first studio album, Sensory Overdrive, which was produced by Jack Douglas. The album was released on March 14, 2011. In November 2011, Sensory Overdrive won "Album of the Year" at the Classic Rock magazine awards.

In 2012, the band began recording a new album. In August 2013, they released Horns & Halos, which quickly became number 1 in Finland and was certified Gold.

In March 2014, guitarist Dregen left the band to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Rich Jones.

Personal Life

Michael Monroe has become good friends with many music stars, including Steven Van Zandt, Axl Rose, Slash, and Alice Cooper.

Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks have inspired many rock artists and bands, including Guns N' Roses. Axl Rose has said that Hanoi Rocks inspired him. Slash had tickets to Hanoi Rocks' sold-out shows that were canceled after Razzle's death. Many bands from the 1980s, like Mötley Crüe and Poison, were influenced by Hanoi Rocks' style.

Monroe met his first wife, Jude Wilder, in 1985. They married in 1989 and lived in Los Angeles and New York before moving to Turku, Finland. Jude Wilder passed away on June 19, 2001, due to a serious illness. Michael Monroe married his second wife, Johanna, on July 3, 2003.

Discography

Solo albums

• Nights Are So Long (1987)
• Not Fakin' It (1989)
• Peace of Mind (1996)
• Life Gets You Dirty (1999)
• Take Them and Break Them (2002)
• Whatcha Want (2003)
• Another Night in the Sun: Live in Helsinki (live album) (2010)
• Sensory Overdrive (2011)
• Horns and Halos (2013)
• Blackout States (2015)
• One Man Gang (2019)
• I Live Too Fast to... Young! (2022)

Singles

• "Keep It Up" (1987)
• "Nights Are So Long" (1987)
• "She's No Angel" (1987)
• "... Jail or Rock 'N' Roll" (1989)
• "She's No Angel" (1989)
• "Not Fakin' It" (1989)
• "Man With No Eyes" (1989)
• "While You Were Looking At Me" (1990)
• "Magic Carpet Ride" (Featuring Slash, 1990)
• "Make It Go Away" (1996)
• "Stranded" (2003)
• "Superpowered Superfly" (2010)
• "'78" (2011)
• "Trick Of The Wrist" (2011)
• "Ballad Of The Lower East Side" (2013)
• "Eighteen Angels" (2013)
• "Stained Glass Heart" (2013)
• "Old King's Road" (2015)
• "Goin' Down With The Ship" (2015)
• "One Foot Outta The..." (2017)
• "One Man Gang" (2019)
• "Last Train To Tokyo" (2019)
• "... The Summer Of Love" (2022)
• "Can't Stop Falling Apart" (2022)
• "Everybody’s Nobody" (2022)

Hanoi Rocks albums

• Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981)
• Oriental Beat (1982)
• Self Destruction Blues (1982)
• Back to Mystery City (1983)
• All Those Wasted Years (Live) (1983)
• Two Steps from the Move (1984)
• Rock & Roll Divorce (Live) (1985)
• Twelve Shots on the Rocks (2002)
• Another Hostile Takeover (2005)
• Street Poetry (2007)

Jerusalem Slim albums

• Jerusalem Slim (1992)

Demolition 23. albums

• Demolition 23. (1994)

Fallen Angels

• Fallen Angels 1984

Guest appearances

• London Cowboys: Street Full of Soul (1983)
• Hook, Line and Sinker: Hook, Line and Sinker and Saigon (1983)
• Tall in the Saddle (1984)
• It Takes Time (1985)
• Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City (1985)
• Que Sera Sera – Johnny Thunders album (1985)
• Long Time Coming (1986)
• Dance Crazy (1987)
• Guns N' Roses: Use Your Illusion I (1991)
• WOW! WOW! OUI! OUI! (1992)
• Chinese Rocks – Ultimate Thunders Live Collection (1993)
• Guns N' Roses: "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993)
• Various artists: Coneheads: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack (1993)
• Warrior Soul: Chill Pill (1993)
• Johnny On Rocks featuring the whole Hanoi Rocks (1996)
• Dogtown Balladeers: A Tale Worth Hearing (1996)
• Countdown Love (1997)
• Backyard Babies: Total 13 (1998) on the bonus track 'Rocker'
• Kerma: Kerma plays Rolling Stones (1998)
• The 4 Faces: Best Of Both Worlds b/w Poison Heart (single) (2002)
• I Only Wrote This Song For You – A Tribute to Johnny Thunders (2003)
• White Flame: Swimsuit Issue Centerfold (single) (2007)
• Mikko Herranen: Kylmä Maailma (album) (2012)
• Tarja Turunen: "Your Heaven and Your Hell" (2016)
• Lordi: Killection (2020) on the track "Like a Bee to the Honey"
• Rock-Criminals: "Get Yourself Together" (2023)

Live Band

Current Members

• Michael Monroe – lead vocals, saxophone, harmonica, guitars, tambourine (1985-Present)
• Steve Conte - guitars, backing vocals (2010-Present)
• Sami Yaffa - bass, backing vocals (2010-Present; special guest 1989)
• Karl Rockfist - drums (2010-Present)
• Rich Jones – guitars, backing vocals (2014-Present)

Current Touring Members

• Lenni-Kalle Taipale - keyboards (2021-Present)

Former Members

• Ginger - guitars, backing vocals (2010 - 2011)
• Dregen - guitars, backing vocals (2011 - 2014)
• Jari Paulamäki - bass, backing vocals (1998 - 2000)
• Pete Lehtelä - drums, backing vocals (1998 - 2000)
• Jude Wilder - guitars, backing vocals (1998 - 2000)

Special Guest Appearances

• Axl Rose - lead and backing vocals (1989)
• Nasty ... - guitars, backing vocals (2010, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022)
• Slash - guitars, backing vocals (1989, 2010, 2015)
• Lemmy - bass, lead and backing vocals (2011)
• Sebastian Bach - lead and backing vocals (2011)

After Hanoi Rocks broke up in 1985, Lemmy from Motörhead offered to be Monroe's backing band. However, this never happened.

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

with Hanoi Rocks

with Demolition 23

See also

In Spanish: Michael Monroe para niños