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
Keep It Up
Michael Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Man, I could never turn you in."
Jesus turned the other cheek and said
"You're gonna let the Devil win."
Corruption's still the word today
It's the same old sin
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
You get what you give and you gotta live
Can't you see, you can't stop this crazy scene
Well I've walked the earth for a thousand years
I know the story well
Well you can't go wrong when you live that long
I've done my time in this hell
You wanna see World War Three,
Well, well, well, well, well
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Ain't got much time, better make up your mind
Keep It Up.
Just let it be, you can't stop this crazy scene
When Jesus comes back He's gonna be riding in a shiny limousine
'Cause He's gotta look good for the headline news
And the cover of a magazine
We know money and power is the key to this whole scene
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Ain't got much time, gotta make up your mind
Keep It Up.
It's so obscene, makes no sense to me.
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Ain't got much time, gotta make up your mind
Keep It Up. Uh, uh, uh
Keep It Up, though it makes no sense
You gotta Keep It Up, see what you get!
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Ain't got much time, gotta make up your mind
Keep It Up. Keep It Up. Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
The lyrics of Michael Monroe's song Keep It Up reflect his views on the persistence of corruption and sin in the world, as well as his belief in the importance of perseverance in the face of these problems. The song references the biblical story of Judas betraying Jesus, and suggests that corruption remains just as prevalent in the modern world. Monroe encourages his listeners to keep pushing forward and to not give in to the negative influences around them, stating that "you get what you give and you gotta live".
The song also touches on the themes of money and power, implying that they are the driving force behind much of the world's problems. Monroe seems to be advocating for a more altruistic approach to life, one that is not motivated by material gain but rather by a desire to make the world a better place. Ultimately, the message of the song is one of hope and perseverance despite the challenges and temptations of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well Judas swore to Jesus
Judas made a vow to never betray Jesus.
Man, I could never turn you in.
Judas was claiming that he could never betray Jesus.
Jesus turned the other cheek and said
Jesus chose to forgive and was not fazed by Judas' statement.
You're gonna let the Devil win.
Jesus believes that betraying him would be a victory for the Devil.
Corruption's still the word today
The word corruption is still relevant in today's world.
It's the same old sin
Corruption is nothing but the same old sin.
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Keep fighting against corruption and sin.
You get what you give and you gotta live
You reap what you sow, and you must live with the consequences of your actions.
Can't you see, you can't stop this crazy scene
The world is full of craziness and chaos that cannot be stopped.
Well I've walked the earth for a thousand years
The singer has lived a long and experienced life.
I know the story well
The singer is well-versed in the ways of the world.
Well you can't go wrong when you live that long
Living a long life gives you wisdom and experience that can't be wrong.
I've done my time in this hell
The singer has had his fair share of hardships in life.
You wanna see World War Three,
If you continue down the path of corruption, it will lead to disastrous consequences like a World War Three.
Well, well, well, well, well
The singer is reiterating the severity of the situation.
Ain't got much time, better make up your mind
There's not much time left to change your ways and make the right decisions.
Just let it be, you can't stop this crazy scene
Sometimes, it's best to let things be and accept the chaos of the world.
When Jesus comes back He's gonna be riding in a shiny limousine
When Jesus returns, he will arrive in glory and splendor.
'Cause He's gotta look good for the headline news
Jesus wants to make an impression when he returns.
And the cover of a magazine
His return will be a newsworthy event.
We know money and power is the key to this whole scene
Greedy and powerful people are the root of corruption in the world.
It's so obscene, makes no sense to me.
The corruption in the world is appalling and senseless.
Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Don't give up the fight against corruption and greed.
Keep It Up. Uh, uh, uh
The singer is urging people to keep up the fight with a sense of urgency.
Keep It Up, though it makes no sense
Continue to fight against corruption, even if it seems senseless.
You gotta Keep It Up, see what you get!
If you keep fighting, you will eventually see results.
Keep It Up. Keep It Up. Keep It Up. Keep It Up.
Repeating the message to keep fighting against corruption and sin.
Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.