#12 Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps From the Move: The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

ROCKTOBERFEST: A Most Excellent Countdown of the 31 Most Bitchin Glam Metal Albums

#12 Hanoi Rocks– Two Steps From The Move (Released 1984) 

Michael Monroe (Godfather of Glam)– Vocals

Andy McCoy - Lead Guitar

Nasty Suicide – Rhythm Guitar 

Sami Yaffa - Bass

Razzle – Drums

The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

The biggest band that never was. The best band you’ve never heard of. The missing link between glam rock, punk and glam metal. They were friends with fellow glam rockers, Motley Crue. Michael Monroe inspired Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose. Axl has gone so far as to say “If there was no Hanoi Rocks, there would be no Guns N Roses”. This is not a glam metal, I know that. This is a glitter punk band, but they deserve respect for what they accomplished and have gone far too long without being noticed. Plus this album is wicked bitchin. Michael Monroe’s look inspired the hooker-look of the early 1980’s glam metal bands. The band was poised to finally make in big in the USA when tragedy struck in late 1984. Vince Neil, leader singer of Motley Crue, got into a car crash killing good friend, Razzle, drummer of Hanoi Rocks. This killed Hanoi Rocks momentum dead in the water and the band decided to break up in 1985. Axl Rose attempted to help his idol, Michael Monroe, by appearing in his music video for his solo band. The damage was done and Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe never achieved the success and fame they deserved based off the killer songs that they have crafted.  The Finnish five-piece rocked out 10 classic tracks and I hope I can do them justice with the following review.  

We begin with the sleazy, dark, edgy Underwater World which describes life on the streets of rock n roll. The chorus includes the phrase “Welcome to the Jungle” hmmmm where I have I heard that before. Axl has great taste in music. Monroe’s vocals are among the best punk vocals I have ever heard. He doesn’t have that reedy sneer that most glam artists have. Instead he has the deeper punk vocals that you would hear on a Clash album or even a New Wave album. It makes for a haunting affair on this one. Of course there is nothing punk about the brilliant solo played by McCoy on this track. Definitely give this song a spin, it will demonstrate that Monroe is not just another pretty face and Hanoi Rocks is one tough band.

Next up is the incredibly punky, but very fun, High School, which look any good punk song is all fast-paced rhythm with catchy vocals before breaking into gang-harmonized “High Schooooooooool”. A great lyric, “There will be no ugly girls in my high school” Amen, brutha, ugly people suck the meat missile. The best part about this being a glitter punk band is that the guitarists can actually play their instruments and so it is still a tight affair. This also means there is a guitar solo on every song and most are fun melodic bursts of energy.

Cutting Corners features a lyric that I just love, “I am look a mess, but I am dressed to get my way.” That is definitely one of my mantras. This is a fun, high-energy song with a great opening riff. The chorus is fuckin huge and definitely would make for a great party anthem in the 80’s.

The final song on the review is the second single off the album, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. This is an role-reversal of sorts. Instead of a woman being described as an addiction, his drug addiction is being described as a woman. I am a big fan of Michael’s outfit in this video and am thinking of getting me a similar cop hat for my attire. Sadly the song rings all too true as excessive partying and drug abuse killed Razzle and led to the broken dreams of the band.  Cant find the music video for this one or the song at all for that matter. Cryin Shame. So here is the cover of the CCR classic, Up Around the Bend, which was the first single off the album. 

Also, on this album is a surprisingly fun, upbeat cover of the CCR classic, Up Around the Bend, a couple good power ballads and the really unique, celtic punk pub soccer chant song, Boiler. I love the chorus on that. Hanoi Rocks is definitely a recommendation for any fan of punk rock, glam rock or Guns N Roses or early Motley Crue. To end this review I am ending with one of my favorite songs of all time, but unfortunately it was not on this album and I think it is one of the best songs ever written. This is Tragedy: