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)
boulevard of broken dreams
Hanoi Rocks Lyrics
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have made me see
That I'm strung out somebody rescue me
Well, do I have to tell you that I love you
Do I have to tell you that I care
Do I have to tell you that I need you to be there
Cause' in the middle of the night
You know you're such a welcome sight
In the middle of the night, yeah!
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Yeah, I talk so bad and I act so mean
On the boulevard of broken dreams
I gotta get back on my feet
And was it only yesterday
you came my way
Or was it just a while ago
and do I have to tell you, you're my lover
Do I have to tell you, I'm you're slave
and do we have to dance until
you're dancing on my grave
And my lips are turning white
And my jaw is getting tight
And the sun is burning bright
In the middle of the night, yeah!
On the boulevard of broken dreams
She'll eat your heart and she'll eat your face
On the boulevard of broken dreams
I gotta get back on my feet
Do I have to tell you that I need you
Do I have to show you that I care
Do I have to love and steal to have you
Do I have sell myself somewhere
We're gonna dance all night together
You'll be my queen, I'll be your slave
We're gonna stay away forever
Until we're dancing on my grave
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
The lyrics to Hanoi Rocks's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" express the feeling of being lost and broken, but also the desire for rescue and love. The singer is struggling with addiction or some other kind of problem that has left them feeling weak and hopeless. They reach out to someone for help, asking if they need to express their love and need for that person. The chorus suggests that the singer is aware of their harsh attitude, but is trying to get back on their feet.
The second verse follows a similar pattern, with the singer questioning the timing of their love and submission to their lover. The line "and do we have to dance until you're dancing on my grave" is a powerful metaphor for the destructive nature of their relationship. The song culminates in the third chorus with an invitation to dance together until death.
Overall, the lyrics are a poignant expression of pain and longing, with a hint of hope for redemption and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
All these broken dreams
have made me see
That I'm strung out somebody rescue me
The singer is struggling with their unfulfilled dreams and feels helpless, hoping for someone to rescue them from the emotional pain caused by their shattered aspirations.
Well, do I have to tell you that I love you
Do I have to tell you that I care
Do I have to tell you that I need you to be there
The singer is unsure if they need to explicitly express their love, affection, and dependence on their lover for emotional support and stability.
Cause' in the middle of the night
When I'm much too weak to fight
You know you're such a welcome sight
In the middle of the night, yeah!
The singer reveals that they rely on their partner for comfort and solace during their moments of vulnerability, especially at night when they struggle to cope with their broken dreams.
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Yeah, I talk so bad and I act so mean
On the boulevard of broken dreams
I gotta get back on my feet
The artist reflects on their negative behavior that stems from their frustration and failure, but ultimately they want to overcome their obstacles and move forward with their life.
And was it only yesterday
you came my way
Or was it just a while ago
and do I have to tell you, you're my lover
Do I have to tell you, I'm you're slave
and do we have to dance until
you're dancing on my grave
The artist reminisces about the early stages of their relationship, questioning if they still need to verbalize their love and subservience to their partner, and expressing a desire to remain together until the end, even if it means their own demise.
And my lips are turning white
And my jaw is getting tight
And the sun is burning bright
In the middle of the night, yeah!
The singer continues to describe their emotional and physical distress, as they feel tension, anxiety, and despair, even at night when the world is supposed to be quiet and peaceful.
On the boulevard of broken dreams
She'll eat your heart and she'll eat your face
On the boulevard of broken dreams
I gotta get back on my feet
The singer acknowledges the danger of falling into the trap of their broken dreams, represented as a predatory female figure who devours them, and stresses the importance of overcoming adversity and rebuilding their life again.
Do I have to tell you that I need you
Do I have to show you that I care
Do I have to love and steal to have you
Do I have sell myself somewhere
We're gonna dance all night together
You'll be my queen, I'll be your slave
We're gonna stay away forever
Until we're dancing on my grave
The artist asks the same questions as before, reinforcing the notion that verbal and physical expressions of love are paramount, and presents a dystopian vision of an eternal dance with their partner, where they willingly submit themselves until death.
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
Boulevard of broken dreams
The song ends with a repetition of the title, emphasizing the theme of shattered hopes and lost opportunities that permeate the lyrics, and revealing the futility of dwelling on one's past mistakes and regrets.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Ezrin, Hulkko Antti, Ian Patterson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jg-rv6qm
RIP Razzle.
@foxy2858
juan giraldo thank you I’m happy this says 2 years ago becuase now people but this becuase the dirt
@martinadler2444
😢😢😢razzle ❤💔
@MSneberger
I had tickets for a show the weekend after the crash.
@thir671
I was 15 y old when i listened to this at firt now 54 and i fell young again
@danmccormack5928
Rip razzle
@Sator69
these guys are basically the connective tissue between 70s glam rock and 80s glam rock
@davidadams2395
As Peacemaker said, this is the best band in the world. But truthfully, they were an incredible band.
@harrilahdensuo3164
Peacemaker knows some shit
@lordrathut
Ayo Peacemaker gave these guys credit? Hell yeah