After some lineup tweaking, the "classic" Hanoi Rocks lineup was put in place, consisting of Monroe, guitarists Andy McCoy and Nasty Suicide, bassist Sam Yaffa, and drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley. On the strength of several Euro-only indie releases (1981's Bangkok Shocks, 1982's Self Destruction Blues and Oriental Beat, plus 1983's Back to Mystery City), and European tours (as well as visits to such exotic locales as Israel and Japan), a buzz began to build. Hanoi Rocks was signed to Columbia Records soon after, as U.S. success appeared to be just around the corner -- especially after the release of 1984's Two Steps from the Move. Then came a much-publicized car accident that killed Dingley (behind the wheel was an inebriated Vince Neil) in December of 1984. Despite Monroe and company attempting to carry on with replacements, the promising Hanoi was laid to rest later the next year.
Relocating to New York City, Monroe began to pick up the pieces and embarked on a solo career. His first solo release was 1987's Nights Are so Long (a Scandinavia-/Japan-only release), which was quite Dead Boys-influenced (Monroe had befriended Stiv Bators and covered one of his solo songs, while guitarist Jimmy Zero contributed a pair of songs). An appearance in the star-studded Sun City video followed, as did a worldwide solo deal with Polygram Records. An initial plan of reissuing Nights failed to pan out, resulting in 1989's Not Fakin' It being the first domestically issued solo Monroe release. The album would go on to become Monroe's most successful stateside release (and the only one to appear on the Billboard charts), while all of Hanoi Rocks' albums were reissued on Guns N' Roses' short-lived Uzi Suicide label (Monroe also appeared on GN'R's Use Your Illusion releases and The Spaghetti Incident? ).
Many assumed that Monroe would obtain ever-elusive breakthrough success this second time around, but once more, it was not to be. A planned collaboration with ex-Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens failed to pan out, as it looked like Monroe had vanished. This proved not to be the case, and he continued to issue lower-profile solo releases (1992's Jerusalem Slim, 1996's Peace of Mind, 1999's Life Gets You Dirty, 2002's Take Them and Break Them, and 2003's Whatcha Want). Monroe has also sporadically reunited with his ex-Hanoi bandmates, including Yaffa, under the name Demolition 23 (1995's Demolition 23), and with McCoy as Hanoi Rocks, resulting in the releases Twelve Shots on the Rocks (2002), Another Hostile Takeover (2005), and Street Poetry (2007). In 2010 Monroe issued his first ever live solo LP, Another Night In the Sun: Live in Helsinki via Spinefarm Records, with a new studio album, Sensory Overdrive, dropping the following year. Horns and Halos, his ninth solo long player, arrived in 2013, followed by Blackout States in 2015.
Theres another artist who uses the name Michael Monroe is from Minnesota, USA. His music is a mix of acoustic folk, jazz and reggae. He is not merely 'using' the name Michael Monroe but was born with that name in 1952. He has toured professionally with his music and his own/real name since 1970. There was no internet to check when Matti Fagerholm assumed the 'Michael Monroe' name for his band many years later. Most of MN/USA's Acoustic Michael Monroe's original music and CDs have been listed on the LAST FM web as written and performed by heavy metal Michael Monroe and that is not the case. Michael Monroe/MN/USA/Acoustic's albums are: Summer Rain, Twice In One Day, As Far As I Can See, Abandin My Own Mind, IF, Chased By The Light, Simple Life, Wintersong, Michael Monroe "LIVE" At The Cedar he performs vocals and on hand made guitars from the Gunflint Trail, bamboo/crystal flutes and harmonica using his 'live' looping technique. His web site is listed on this page MichaelMonroeMusic as a source for this information.
Biography by Greg Prato
Calling
Michael Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And before I know what I'm seeing, it's the heartbreaking rust of sunrise.... sunrise.
There's a river deep inside this canyon, and it's calling out my name.
Step by step and turn by turn, she fills my heart till I'm singing
Calling... calling.. calling
There's a bird on the wind, and she's calling out my name.
To be free once again, to be me.... ah that's the game.
There's a longing deep inside my soul, and it's calling out my name.
Calling... calling.... calling
"Calling" is a song by Michael Monroe that captures the essence of a person's search for freedom and the yearning for something more meaningful in life. The song starts with the reference to the light on the horizon that calls out to the singer's name, representing an opportunity or a goal that he wants to reach. However, he soon realizes that with every step he takes towards it, he is met with heartbreak and rust just like sunrise, suggesting that the path to achieving one's dreams could be a tough one.
Then, the song takes the listener on a journey through a canyon where a river that flows deep inside is calling out the singer's name. This river symbolizes a deeper passion that the singer has, which fills his heart, and makes him sing as he feels more connected to his true self, represented by the bird on the wind who flies freely. The chorus of the song repeats the words "Calling... calling... calling," which highlights the persistent pull of the singer's desires and needs that he cannot ignore.
Towards the end of the song, the singer talks about the longing in his soul and how it flows through his life and cuts through his heart, much like the river and sunrise metaphor used earlier in the song. This yearning suggests that the singer is not content with what he has and wants to break free from the constraints that are holding him back.
Overall, "Calling" is a song that taps into the universal feeling of wanting more out of life and the sacrifices one has to make to achieve their dreams. It encourages people to listen to the call of their heart and chase their passion, even if it means going through pain and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light on the horizon, and it's calling out my name
I can see that something good is coming my way, and it's meant for me.
And before I know what I'm seeing, it's the heartbreaking rust of sunrise.... sunrise.
The joy and happiness that I thought was coming has been overtaken by sadness and despair.
There's a river deep inside this canyon, and it's calling out my name.
There's a passion and energy deep inside me that's urging me to move forward.
Step by step and turn by turn, she fills my heart till I'm singing
As I make progress in my journey, the excitement and enthusiasm build up inside me.
There's a bird on the wind, and she's calling out my name.
My goals and dreams are urging me on, inspiring me to overcome any obstacles.
To be free once again, to be me.... ah that's the game.
I want to regain my sense of freedom and individuality, and I'm determined to succeed.
There's a longing deep inside my soul, and it's calling out my name.
I'm driven by a strong inner desire, and I won't rest until I achieve my dreams.
Flows through my life just like the river... cuts through my heart just like sunrise.
The ups and downs of life are like the ebb and flow of a river, and can be just as beautiful and painful as a sunrise.
Calling... calling.... calling
The call of my dreams and aspirations never fades, and I'll keep striving to answer it.
Contributed by Vivian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@debapriyodas1512
This song makes me feel so good and calm