In the leather-bound history of heartfelt rock 'n' roll, not only will Michael Monroe have at least one chapter all to himself, but his name will be colourfully threaded throughout, such has been his impact, his appeal and his ongoing never-surrender story; a powerful, inspirational tale told in detail on 'The Best' – the first official collection of his (ongoing) solo musical exploits, featuring prime tracks from 1987 right up to 2017.
Michael Monroe.
Icon, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist, media personality, flamboyant force of nature and one of rock's most celebrated and uber-kinetic front-men, Michael, has been a name and a (much-photographed) face on the scene since 1979, when he played a central role in the formation of Hanoi Rocks – legendary Finnish glam-punk heroes who came within a rolling paper's width of taking the world by glitter-storm.
In a perfect world, Michael Monroe would have been one of the leading frontmen of the '80s glam metal movement -- leaving most of his unbearable contemporaries in the dust -- but sometimes things, especially in rock music, don't always go according to plan. In 1984, the much-publicised car accident that killed the drummer Razzle (behind the wheel was an inebriated Vince Neil), as well as other comings and goings, marked the beginning of the end for Hanoi Rocks. Despite Monroe and company attempting to carry on with replacements, the promising band was laid to rest later the next year.
Not phased, and even more determined, Monroe relocated to New York City and began to pick up the pieces, embarking on a solo career. From vinyl to digital, Michael Monroe is now in his fourth decade of performing nationally in concert, festival, corporate and educational settings. He also took part in many all-star collaborations including with Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.
As a frontman, very few could match Monroe's energy, substance and on-stage charisma, particularly when he was in the groove. He had (has) a certain swagger and a look that influenced many future frontmen like Axl Rose. But what really separates the Finnish icon from his counterparts, is his level of consistency and longevity.
If you paid your hard earned money to see Michael perform (in whatever band, solo, or line-up setting), then you just knew you were in for a good night. And isn't that the whole point of being a great rock 'n' roll frontman -- to entertain a crowd and send them home buzzing?
Michael Monroe doesn't often get mentioned in this group, and neither do Hanoi Rocks. Who knows, had things panned out differently in the early '80s, we might have seen him rank a lot higher on this list. But, that shouldn't be the point, or something to judge him on.
As the late great John Lennon once said -- There's no point looking back and saying you were unlucky --- and I don't think anyone can accuse Michael of doing that. Not one bit.
Michael Monroe.
Icon, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist, media personality, flamboyant force of nature and one of rock's most celebrated and uber-kinetic front-men, Michael, has been a name and a (much-photographed) face on the scene since 1979, when he played a central role in the formation of Hanoi Rocks – legendary Finnish glam-punk heroes who came within a rolling paper's width of taking the world by glitter-storm.
In a perfect world, Michael Monroe would have been one of the leading frontmen of the '80s glam metal movement -- leaving most of his unbearable contemporaries in the dust -- but sometimes things, especially in rock music, don't always go according to plan. In 1984, the much-publicised car accident that killed the drummer Razzle (behind the wheel was an inebriated Vince Neil), as well as other comings and goings, marked the beginning of the end for Hanoi Rocks. Despite Monroe and company attempting to carry on with replacements, the promising band was laid to rest later the next year.
Not phased, and even more determined, Monroe relocated to New York City and began to pick up the pieces, embarking on a solo career. From vinyl to digital, Michael Monroe is now in his fourth decade of performing nationally in concert, festival, corporate and educational settings. He also took part in many all-star collaborations including with Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith.
As a frontman, very few could match Monroe's energy, substance and on-stage charisma, particularly when he was in the groove. He had (has) a certain swagger and a look that influenced many future frontmen like Axl Rose. But what really separates the Finnish icon from his counterparts, is his level of consistency and longevity.
If you paid your hard earned money to see Michael perform (in whatever band, solo, or line-up setting), then you just knew you were in for a good night. And isn't that the whole point of being a great rock 'n' roll frontman -- to entertain a crowd and send them home buzzing?
Michael Monroe doesn't often get mentioned in this group, and neither do Hanoi Rocks. Who knows, had things panned out differently in the early '80s, we might have seen him rank a lot higher on this list. But, that shouldn't be the point, or something to judge him on.
As the late great John Lennon once said -- There's no point looking back and saying you were unlucky --- and I don't think anyone can accuse Michael of doing that. Not one bit.
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