The Hanoi that Rocks will rock the world

December 6, 2009 10:36 AM

Hanoi Rocks, Helsinki 1981. A year when they played 102 gigs, almost all in small dance halls deep in Finland. They were ready, even if their audience wasn't.[1] For british drummer Razzle, they looked like a band which he wanted to belong to.[2] In next few years they caused chaos in Bombay, got spitted upon at Wailing Wall in Jerusalem because of indecent make up and hair, went big in Japan and had good gigs in London.[3] November 1984, they were ready to conquer America. After Mike twisted his ankle on a bottle broken by Andy on stage in Syracuse, a few gigs got cancelled and instead the band accepted invitation from L.A. scene to party with Mötley Crüe. In December 9th, 1984, the party ran out of alcohol, so Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe and the drummer Razzle went to get more. The car crashed, immediatly killing Razzle. He was Dead by Christmas, and the band broke in May 1985.[4][5]

The band was revived in 2001 and again 2007. At April 2009 they played 8 sold out farewell gigs at Tavastia (the same avenue as in the first link). Happy independence days, Finnish rockers!

posted by Free word order! (11 comments total)

Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivä. I was too busy watching The Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Ball to remember to rock.
posted by incster at 11:29 AM on December 6, 2009

Hanoi Rocks kicked ass. They were one of those outfits perfectly situated in the fertile crescent between trad hard rock and punk. RIP, Razzle.
posted by jonmc at 11:33 AM on December 6, 2009

Oh my God. In 1984, those guys were pretty much the center of my existence.

I think that was the last band I was a total goon for, the last band I liked as a true kid.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:56 AM on December 6, 2009

The Murder City Devils cover Dead by Christmas.
posted by dortmunder at 12:55 PM on December 6, 2009

I will assume this thread means that enough time has passed that I can freely admit to having owned a Hanoi Rocks album.
posted by MikeMc at 1:20 PM on December 6, 2009

Also, Nasty Suicide cleaned up his act, and with his vast experience with various substances, he studied to became a pharmacist. He is currently a publishing researcher on pharmacology, esp. toxicology and nervous system affecting chemicals.
posted by Free word order! at 2:05 PM on December 6, 2009

I too am coming out as a Hanoi Rocks fan. I even stuck around for Michael Monroe's solo turn.
posted by mykescipark at 3:45 PM on December 6, 2009

Also, Nasty Suicide cleaned up his act, and with his vast experience with various substances, he studied to became a pharmacist. He is currently a publishing researcher on pharmacology, esp. toxicology and nervous system affecting chemicals.

Heh. One of the most drug-addled friends of my young life (story embellishments notwithstanding) became a pharmacist. I wonder how common that actually is...
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:04 PM on December 6, 2009

I'm a fan.
posted by Sailormom at 7:43 PM on December 6, 2009

from Wikipedia:

After the death of Razzle, the drummer for Hanoi Rocks was Terry Chimes, formerly of the Clash, who later went on to play in Black Sabbath, and is now a chiropracter.

If I was an adolescent a few decades ago, I would find these facts virtually incomprehensible.
posted by ovvl at 8:28 PM on December 6, 2009

Wow-- I never would have thought I'd see a Hanoi Rocks post on Metafilter. They were my favorite band throughout my childhood years. When I think back on it, it's a tragedy that they were so hugely influential, and never got the huge payouts of later 80's metal bands. They were two steps ahead of abject poverty, but that's what made them so much more authentic.

So, if you're wondering what makes Hanoi Rocks so awesome, it was songs about making ends meet through male prostitution or living in the subway.

I'd also like to throw in a link to one young woman's story of meeting Razzle's family. Additional photos and info here.
posted by Gable Oak at 9:31 AM on December 7, 2009