Hanoi Rocks was a rock band from Finland

Hanoi Rocks was a rock band from Finland, originally formed in 1979. They gained distinction as the first Finnish group to make it onto the UK charts and also found significant success in Japan. By 1984, they seemed poised for a global breakthrough, having signed with CBS to release their first major-label album and preparing to embark on their debut tour in the United States.

Tragically, the tour was cut short in December 1984 when their drummer, Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley, was killed in a car crash involving Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, who was driving under the influence. The loss deeply affected the band, and they officially disbanded in June 1985.

Following the breakup, lead vocalist Michael Monroe made history in 1989 by becoming the first Finnish solo artist to enter the American Billboard 200. Monroe later reunited with original guitarist Andy McCoy in 2001, forming a new version of Hanoi Rocks that continued until 2009.

Though their music leaned more toward classic rock and punk, Hanoi Rocks had a profound impact on the glam metal scene, influencing bands like Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, and Poison. According to Finnish media personality Jone Nikula who worked as their tour manager during the 2000s the band’s global album sales are estimated to be between 780,000 and one million copies, with most sales coming from Scandinavia and Japan.

On September 23, 2022, the original members Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy, Nasty Suicide, Sami Yaffa, and Gyp Casino came together once again for a reunion performance during Monroe’s 60th birthday celebration at Helsinki Ice Hall.