MICHAEL MONROE Has 'Suffered Enough' For His Art

Former HANOI ROCKS singer Michael Monroe was interviewed by rock journalist Mitch Lafon for a recent edition of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast (Facebook page). You can now listen to the chat using the Spreaker widget below.

Asked if he still finds inspiration in the same places as before for his lyrics, Monroe responded: "Well, partly it's the same. The basic thing is I get inspired by everyting I hear and see — my life in general. The more mileage you have, the more experience and more stuff you have to write about. The songs are mainly about my, or our personal experiences, and our lives in the past and the present. I actually feel pretty happy. I've never been complacent. Some people say you have to suffer for good art. I've suffered enough to… I mean, I've got enough character; I don't need to build any more character, I think. I've seen enough hardship to… You don't have to really be in dire straits to write a good song. To me, basically, it's positive energy. I like to write about things that make people maybe… maybe raise some questions. You don't have to turn your brain off to have a good time. Rock and roll, I mean, it's entertainment, but still, I believe that you should be aware your surroundings and be… I like to say things that tell the truth and be truthful and honest and not bullshit. You can't bullshit. So… Just be for real and that's it."

Monroe will release his new studio album, "Blackout States", on Friday, October 9 via Spinefarm Records. The 13-track follow-up to 2013's "Horns And Halos" was produced by Chips Kiesbye (HELLACOPTERS, NOMADS) in Gothenburg, Sweden, and mixed by Petri Majuri in Helsinki, Finland.

With "Blackout States", Monroe's current touring and recording outfit — comprised of bassist Sami Yaffa (ex-HANOI ROCKS, NEW YORK DOLLS),guitarist Steve Conte (ex-NEW YORK DOLLS, COMPANY OF WOLVES),guitarist Rich Jones (ex-BLACK HALOS, AMEN),and drummer Karl Rockfist (ex-CHELSEA SMILES, DANZIG) — provided strong creative support for a groundbreaking artist whose reputation continues to flourish. Many of rock's most noted performers, including Dave Grohl and Slash, have cited Monroe's unwavering drive and three-decade-plus career as a genuine source of inspiration.

As with "Horns And Halos", the new recordings see Monroe both toasting the future and honoring the past, occasionally giving the nod to glam punk pioneers HANOI ROCKS, the group with which he forged his name in the early-to mid-'80s.

Monroe will hit the road this fall for a co-headlining tour with Sweden’s sleazemongers HARDCORE SUPERSTAR and some very special U.K. shows with ALICE COOPER.