HANOI ROCKS Frontman Publicly Apologizes To NIKKI SIXX, GENE SIMMONS And TRACII GUNS

Saviours of Rock recently conducted an interview with HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Saviours of Rock: Is [MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman] Vince Neil ever redeemable in your book [Vince Neil caused the tragic car accident in 1984 that killed his passenger, HANOI ROCKS drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley]?

Michael Monroe: I do not know what you mean. Who am I to say who's redeemable and who's not? I have nothing ugly to say about him — I never even met him. I mean, c'mon, it's not like the guy went out to intentionally murder somebody! He just made a very big mistakefor which I'm sure he has suffered emotionally at least as much as the rest of us affected by the tragedy. I think all of us would really like to just put it all behind us already it was over 20 years ago!

Saviours of Rock: I mean, how was it losing one your closest friends, right when you guys were about to break big?

Michael Monroe: What do you think? It sucked big-time, of course. It pretty much destroyed our lives back then and consequently led to HANOI's early demise in 1985.

Saviours of Rock: The only reason i asked is because I've seen members of HANOI ROCKS slam Vince in the past.

Michael Monroe: Well, never mind. BUT while on the subject: A few years ago in a kinda "dirt-digging" interview/questionnaire I made some unflattering comments about Nikki Sixx, which was really childish and stupid of me. I just took it a bit personally when they [MÖTLEY CRÜE] called their album at the time "Music to Crash Your Car To". I thought it was inappropriate since it came across as if they were making fun of the accident, which I'm sure was not their intention. I've gotten over it long ago and I would actually like to take the opportunity here to apologize to Mr. Sixx for my ignorant statement back then. I know he's really a nice guy, if you know him. On his last visit to Finland he made a funny comment that made me laugh. He said, quote, "Yeah, I'm willing to bury the hatchet — into Andy McCoy's head!" Now THAT shows great sense of humor. Another mistake I'd like to own up to on that same interview was foolishly insulting Mr. Gene Simmons [of KISS]. I was totally out of order saying what I did about him and apologize for being such a jackass jerk. I had only been fooled by his "sleazy chauvinist" image and I'm personally against the "rock-and-porn" movement he was spearheading at the time. I think it's just defamatory to rockers — one doesn't have to be a "sleazeball" to be a rock 'n' roller and I don't like to be conceived as one. You see, I'm happily married with one woman and I never cheat. Even in my years alone, I was never into "groupies." But neither is probably Gene Simmons. I hear has been married some 15-20 years and that's something to respect. I saw the final episode of his reality TV show called "Rock School" and he really came across as a cool guy. I loved the way he whipped those kids into shape when they got carried away with themselves in L.A. It a lmost reminded me a bit of some moments when Bob Ezrin was producing HANOI back in 1984. Couple of times when we were being real brats, he'd come in and lay down the law. I also thought it was very cool what he gave to those kids a chance for a new life and at least an amazing unforgettable experience. It was very heartwarming and cute. And that makes me feel like even more of a schmuck for my former defamatory statement. Besides, in an interview I read he was even cool enough to take most of what I said as a compliment! Not that I'd expect him to give a shit about who I even am. So right here and now: My sincere apologies to Mr. Simmons, it was uncalled for. Let's face it — talking shit about people makes you feel like shit. That's why nowadays I try to stick to the rule "If you've nothing good to say about someone, don't say anything." Instead, I'll concentrate on looking for the positive qualities in people, because we all do have them!

Saviours of Rock: Have you heard the cover L.A. GUNS did of "Until I Get You"?

Michael Monroe: No, I have not, but I'm sure they did it justice. Any kind of recognition is always flattering. And while on the subject, Tracii from L.A. GUNS was bandmates with Nikki Sixx at the time of my aforementioned statement. He then got mad too and started lashing out at me. That only shows good band spirit, y'know, "stickin' up for yer bro." So here I also want to apologize to Tracii for offending his bandmate. Y'see, the few times that I've met Tracii I remember liking him quite a lot and thinking that he was a cool guy. However, unlike he claimed at the time, as far as I know he had nothing much to do with me getting signed to Polygram Records back in 1987. I was signed by the New York A&R man Jim Lewis (not "Phil") with the help of my lawyer Michael Guido and my first solo LP, "Nights Are So Long", with all due respect.

Read the entire interview at www.savioursofrock.com.