Forty fucking years! Forty fucking years. I’m a grown up adult now who was devastated when ‘Two Steps’ was originally released seeing as it was the album that was on a major label and going to catapult my favourite band at the time to the top of the fuckin pops and everybody was gonna hear and see what I could and then disaster pointed the ficke hand of fate in our direction and it was all to be snatched away in a matter of months and my favourite band was to implode and leave behind an album that’s like a painful memory that was often visited but still to this day has scars that have been buried deep. Every time I play the record from start to finish I remind myself that, Fuck me it’s got everything. The coolest band, the best musicians, the ultimate rock n roll stars and the most talented musicians who did things on their terms and only danced to their tune but it was all snatched away.

I always think about what could have been, no, what should have been with ‘Two Steps’ but now some forty years later I was getting the chance to exercise some of those demons and finally pay tribute to the greatest band with fans who hopefully feel and felt the same as well as some members of the band who it must also be a bittersweet moment and churn up many many memories. Tonight was all about the celebration in one of London’s original iconic venues, which was a haven of cool back in the early to mid-eighties, and which isn’t a block of flats or a coffee shop/mobile phone shop. Ladies and gentlemen please join me as I fanboy and indulge in celebrating Hanoi Rocks and forty years of ‘Two Steps From The Move’.

I’ve only been in the Electric Ballroom twice in the last two decades but the previous two decades I was a regular, especially on a weekend for record fairs where funnily enough I picked up a pristine test pressing of ‘Two Steps’ back in the day but first CJ Wildheart takes to the stage to warm up the audience on this crisp Novembers evening.

From the off CJ knew what his job was tonight and with some cheeky banter he proceeded to entertain with a tight, crisp set from all corners of his musical CV (ok with the exception of a Tattooed Love Boys tune) we had Honeycrack tunes and some off the new soon-to-be-released album that is exceptional. ‘Butterfingers’ and his new single ‘Baddest Girl In The World’. CJ has struck a rich vein of form recently, making some of his best music so far and tonight he brought more than a tray of cans to the party he brought plenty of cheer and a support set that set the tone and managed to warm us up nicely.

‘Two Steps From The Move’ Ladies and Gentlemen I think I’ve laid out where I am and the bitter-sweet memories I have of the record now it was time for Monroe and Yaffa and the rest of the 2024 crew to dive in and make this an unforgettable evening of music.

As the band kick off with ‘Up Around The Bend’ they aren’t messing about and changing the running order it’s business and these cats are getting on with it. There are beaming smiles from the Cheshire cats on the stage to the drunks at the bar all singing along and having the best time. Man I love ‘High School’ and ‘I Can’t Get It’ and by the time we’ve all warmed up ‘Don’t You Ever Leave Me’ has received a massive ovation and that saxophone has just sent a shiver down my spine the length of the Thames.

Jonesy suggests we flip it over and get right into ‘Million Miles Away’ and the pain of the Helsingin Kulttuuritalo performance is wiped away in slow motion and such a beautiful song takes on new meaning and the tragedy of the past can now be replaced. Sure I’d love to have seen Andy and Nasty but it’s not that evening and this is special. Steve Conte puts his heart and soul into his solo and it works really well as does the interplay between the entire band the overwhelming feeling is one of celebration of what we have and not what could have or should have been. It was the songs we never get to hear that stood out and were shining like diamonds in the cold winter night – ‘Boiler’ was Rich Jones’s moment and it was so cool the way they all sang the harmony before an epic ‘Futurama’ gave way to the realisation that it was only ‘Cutting Corners’ and we were done.

We can all debate to infinity what the best Hanoi album and so on and so forth but there is no escaping tonight’s amazing vibe in The Electric Ballroom and the fact that there can be no complaints that was a stonking album performed with pride, panache, professionalism and a whole heap of love. Long Live Hanoi Rocks and their epic and original legacy. There was truly only one.

Seconds out round two and we are given a few minutes to collect our thoughts get a grip and ready ourselves for the second half and a run through some much-loved songs from the catalogue as Demolition 23s pair ‘Hammersmith Palais’ and ‘Nothings Alright’ show there was plenty of life in the old dog yet. These songs make up a big part of Michael’s solo shows and rightly so alongside newer material from ‘One Man Gang’ and everything besides, ending the night with the standard ‘Dead Jail Or Rock n Roll’. Now we can all moan and groan about why they didn’t play this or that but tonight was special and I’ll take it all no matter what they play, nothing is off limits as far as Monroe is concerned. Michael has such a rich catalogue and tonight this band is untouchable. I’ve seen thousands of bands and pretty much all the greats in a lot of venues around the globe but tonight I felt privileged to have been in the room for this and witnessed such a special show that was Rock n Roll boys and girls and I defy anyone to not have been bowled over by that.

Man, I love Rock n Roll and even in my more mature years, I’m happy to be a fanboy when it’s deserved and this was one of those nights that will live long in the memory and I can say I was there.

Now if I could make a request can we get a Demolition 23 tour and an original lineup show, maybe if you like we can go through the catalogue and play them all in their entirety I’m up for it. Nights like this is why writing about nights like this so special, they don’t come around often but when they do I’m so privileged to have been able to say I was there.

Author: Dom Daley