Michael Monroe
Harmonica
About
Michael Monroe, a Finnish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, rose to fame as the frontman of the influential glam rock band, Hanoi Rocks, before going on to a successful solo career. Distinguished by their embrace of flamboyant attire and makeup, Hanoi Rocks formed in Finland in 1979 and by 1983 the group was gaining international attention. Tragically, the band's drummer was killed in a car accident in 1984 and although they tried to persist, Hanoi Rocks ultimately disbanded a year later. Monroe went on to release several solo albums, including 1989's well reviewed "Not Fakin' It." He teamed up with some of his old Hanoi Rocks band mates formed several short lived bands and rebooted Hanoi Rocks. Since 2010 Monroe has been performing and releasing albums with The Michael Monroe Band.
Trivia
Michael Monroe participated in the music video for "Sun City," an anti-apartheid anthem orchestrated by Steven Van Zandt in 1985. Michael Monroe appeared on several Guns N Roses albums where he sang, played the saxophone and the harmonica. Michael Monroe chose his stage name because Michael was similar to his childhood nickname "Makke" and Monroe after Marilyn Monroe who died the summer he was born and who he always thought was "classy, beautiful and cool."
Early Life
Born Matti "Makke" Fagerholm in Helsinki, Finland, in 1962, Michael Monroe was introduced to music at a young age. His father was a popular radio announcer and his mother insisted he study piano from the age of five. But it wasn't until the sight of Black Sabbath on his television screen at the age of eight that Monroe truly embraced music. He delved into the piano and also learned to play the guitar, flute, saxophone and harmonica. As a teen, Monroe played guitar and saxophone in several Finnish bands but really dreamed of being a singer. He met guitarist Andy McCoy in a shared rehearsal space and the two hit it off and went on to form the band Hanoi Rocks in 1979.
Michael Monroe Solos
1991
Harmonica solo - Bad Obsession - 1991
4/4 rock in G♭ major at 125 BPM