Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish glam rock band formed in 1979, whose most success… Read Full Bio ↴Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish glam rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after their drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley died in a car accident a year earlier. Original members vocalist Michael Monroe and guitarist Andy McCoy reunited in 2001 and were active with the new line-up of Hanoi Rocks until 2009.

In the 80s, Hanoi Rocks were the most successful Finnish band internationally and are still popular in the United States, Japan, and the UK. They were also one of the first rock bands to tour in Asia, and were the first western rock band to play in Delhi. According to Finnish radio and TV personality Jone Nikula (who was also Hanoi Rocks' tour manager in the 2000s), Hanoi Rocks' albums have sold between 780,000 and 1,000,000 copies around the world, but mostly in Scandinavia and Japan. Although their album sales are strong, they are more widely known for their energetic live performances.

Hanoi Rocks was formed in Helsinki in 1979 and the first line-up included vocalist and saxophone player Michael Monroe (Matti Fagerholm), guitar player Nasty Suicide (Jan Stenfors), guitar player Stefan Piesnack, bass player Nedo and drummer Peki Sirola. The following year Piesnack, Sirola and Nedo were replaced by guitar player Andy McCoy (Antti Hulkko), bass player Sam Yaffa (Sami Takamäki) and drummer Gyp Casino (Jesper Sporre). In 1981 they moved to Stockholm and in 1982 to London to take advantage of the livelier music scene in these cities. Later that year Casino was fired and replaced by Razzle (Nicholas Dingley).

Although the band never gained significant commercial success, they have a considerable cult following and critical acclaim for their 'sleazy' yet melodic style of music. They have been cited as an influence by major bands such as Guns N' Roses and Manic Street Preachers. The re-release of Hanoi Rocks' albums on CD was in large part due to efforts by Guns N' Roses via their own record label UZI Suicide. In Finland, however, Hanoi Rocks is known as the Finnish rock band who at their time had come closest to real international fame, only much later giving way to such groups as HIM.

In 1983 the band signed to CBS Records and appeared to be on the cusp of gaining commercial acceptance. They recorded their fifth album in January 1984 with producer Bob Ezrin in his home town Toronto. The album had just been released when disaster struck in December of that same year: Razzle was killed in a car accident (the driver was Vince Neil, singer with the band Mötley Crüe). Although replaced by Terry Chimes, drummer on The Clash's first album, and René Berg from the Idle Flowers, the band never recovered; first Yaffa and then Monroe left, and in 1985 the band folded. The members spent the next 15 years in various short-lived projects, and although they worked with numerous artists including Iggy Pop, Stiv Bators, Steve Stevens, Little Steven, Samantha Fox, Sebastian Bach, Sylvain Sylvain, Nicky Hopkins, Joan Jett and Guns N' Roses they never achieved anything resembling their earlier success

In 2002 Monroe and McCoy reformed the band, with two members of the Electric Boys, and a drummer who had previously featured in Monroe's solo project. They have released two new albums and toured heavily since then.

2005 and beyond: Nasty Suicide works as a pharmacist. Sami Yaffa now plays in a band called Mad Juana with his wife, Karmen Guy, and is based in New York City. Yaffa is also touring and recording with the reformed New York Dolls. Suicide and Yaffa have appeared onstage with the reformed Hanoi although not at the same time. The single "Fashion", released in May, went straight to #1 in the Finnish singles chart. On the 8th of August, a the single 'This One's For Rock'n'Roll' was released to be downloaded from selected sites. This was featured on the album 'Street Poetry', which was released early September 2007.

In October 2008, the band announced that they will be splitting up for good in spring, 2009. The band will play their farewell tour in Japan and end their career with a gig in Tavastia, Helsinki where they originally started playing. According to Mike Monroe and Andy McCoy, the band has reached its full potential now and has gone as far as it will ever go.

Michael Monroe - lead vocals (1979-1985, 2002-2009)
Andy McCoy - guitar, backing vocals (1980-1985, 2002-2009)
Conny Bloom - guitar (2004-2009)
Andy "A.C." Christell - bass (2004-2009)
Lacu - drums (2002-2008)

Magic Carpet Ride
Hanoi Rocks Lyrics

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I'm gonna take a ride on a magic carpet, gonna fly back to you
I'm traveling in time through black and stormy skies
My mission is a mystery, I'm recreating history
I'm following the stars across the misty hills and the sea
Its a long way into your heart, when a million miles keep us apart
I'm on the edge of ecstasy, my carpet is my dream mobile
I do it over, do it over, do it over, one more time
And I make it better, make it better, make it better, day by day

When the paradise is burning, the heaven comes tumbling down...on me
My carpet is my dream mobile, it takes me away, takes me away
No one's seen what I have seen and no ones been where I have been
I do it over, do it over, do it over, one more time
And I make it better, make it better, make it better, day by day
Magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride
I do it over, do it over, do it over, one more time
And I make it better, make it better, make it better, day by day
Magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride

I'm on a magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride
I fly, I fly, I fly far away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hanoi Rocks' song "Magic Carpet Ride" describe the singer's journey back to a loved one through time and space. The singer rides on a magic carpet, weaving through "black and stormy skies" and "across the misty hills and the sea." The singer's "mission is a mystery," but the goal is to "recreate history" and reach their loved one's heart, despite being "a million miles" apart.

The carpet serves as a "dream mobile," allowing the singer to experience moments of "ecstasy." The lyrics suggest the singer has seen and experienced things that no one else has, making the journey a unique and personal one. The refrain repeats the phrase "I do it over, do it over, do it over, one more time / And I make it better, make it better, make it better, day by day," suggesting that the singer's journey is ongoing and a constant work in progress.

Overall, the lyrics to "Magic Carpet Ride" convey a sense of longing, adventure, and ambition, with elements of fantasy and imagination woven throughout.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna take a ride on a magic carpet, gonna fly back to you
I am going on an imaginary journey towards my loved one.

I'm traveling in time through black and stormy skies
I am traveling through time and facing hard times to make this journey.

My mission is a mystery, I'm recreating history
My aim for this journey is unknown, and I am trying to change history.

I'm following the stars across the misty hills and the sea
I am being led by the stars towards my destination.

Its a long way into your heart, when a million miles keep us apart
It is a difficult journey to get to your heart, as we are separated by a long distance.

I'm on the edge of ecstasy, my carpet is my dream mobile
I am excited and my carpet is my way of fulfilling my dreams.

I do it over, do it over, do it over, one more time
I keep repeating the journey, trying to make it perfect each time.

And I make it better, make it better, make it better, day by day
I am trying to make the journey better and improve it every day.

When the paradise is burning, the heaven comes tumbling down...on me
When everything seems to be falling apart, I feel the weight of the world on me.

My carpet is my dream mobile, it takes me away, takes me away
My carpet is my way of escaping reality and living my dreams.

No one's seen what I have seen and no ones been where I have been
My journey is unique and no one has experienced what I have experienced.

Magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride
The journey I am on is a magical one.

I'm on a magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride, magic carpet ride
I am enjoying the magical journey that I am on.

I fly, I fly, I fly far away
I am soaring towards my dreams and leaving my current reality behind.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID BYRON COLE, NORMAN COOK, ROBERT MANUEL CLIVILLES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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