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
High School
Michael Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well the kids want a little action
The kids want a little fun
The kids all have to get their kicks
Before the evening's done
CHORUS
Cause they're going to
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
Highschool Hey Hey Hey
You better let them have their way. Yeah!
They only want to shake it up baby
Dance to the rockin' band
They only want a little excitement
They like to get a little out of hand
REPEAT CHORUS
Now! Uh!
Let's go!
The kids know what the deal is
They're getting farther out every day
We're gonna be takin' over
You better get out of the way
REPEAT CHORUS:
Cause they're going to
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
Highschool Sis Boom Bah
Highschool Hey Hey Hey
You better get out the way
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
Highschool Cha Cha Cha
Highschool Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I said
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
Highschool My, My, My
Highschool Sis Boom Bah
Highschool Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Highschool Hey Hey Hey
etc.
The lyrics to Michael Monroe's song "High School" can be interpreted as an anthem for teenage rebellion and the desire for a little excitement and adventure before growing up and entering the real world. The song's opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the track, with the singer urging the listener to join in on the fun and embrace the chaos of youth.
The first chorus emphasizes the importance of high school as a place to let loose and find one's identity, with the repeated chant of "Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah" and "Sis Boom Bah" evoking the spirit of school spirit and camaraderie. The second verse further emphasizes the idea that high school is a time for experimentation and pushing boundaries, with the line "They only want to shake it up baby / Dance to the rockin' band" suggesting that the kids just want to have a good time.
The final chorus takes a more defiant tone, with the repeated phrase "You better get out of the way" implying that the kids are taking over and won't be held back by anyone. Overall, "High School" is a catchy, energetic track that encapsulates the spirit of youth and the desire for a little excitement and rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Well come on!
Encouraging the listener to join in and feel excited.
Well the kids want a little action
The young people desire some excitement and activity.
The kids want a little fun
They seek entertainment that is enjoyable and pleasurable.
The kids all have to get their kicks
The youngsters crave experiences that are thrilling and exhilarating.
Before the evening's done
They want to have an enjoyable night and not waste it.
CHORUS
Repeating the chorus of the song.
Cause they're going to
They are headed to
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
They are heading towards high school
Highschool Sis Boom Bah
High school is filled with spirit and enthusiasm
Highschool Hey Hey Hey
High school is also exciting and thrilling
You better let them have their way. Yeah!
The listener should permit and encourage the youngsters to enjoy themselves and do what they want to do.
They only want to shake it up baby
The youngsters want to have some fun and dance.
Dance to the rockin' band
The young people are looking for a beat to move their feet.
They only want a little excitement
They are asking for a bit of thrill and stimulation.
They like to get a little out of hand
They enjoy engaging in activities that are unconventional or wild.
REPEAT CHORUS
Repeating the chorus of the song.
Now! Uh!
An abrupt shift in tone, likely indicating the start of a new part of the song.
Let's go!
Encouraging the listener to participate and move ahead.
The kids know what the deal is
The young people are aware of the situation and what's going on around them.
They're getting farther out every day
They are becoming more adventurous and seeking more excitement each day.
We're gonna be takin' over
The listener is likely part of the young people and they intend to take control of the situation and have some fun.
You better get out of the way
Everyone else should move aside and let the youngsters have their way.
Highschool Rah, Rah, Rah
Repeating that they are going to high school.
Highschool Cha Cha Cha
High school is also fun and celebratory.
Highschool My, My, My
High school is a place of many pleasant surprises.
Highschool Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
High school is a source of joy and happiness.
Highschool Sis Boom Bah
High school is a place of energy and enthusiasm.
Highschool Hey Hey Hey
Repeating that high school is a place of fun and excitement.
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.