Michael Monroe
The Viper Room
March 12, 2010
By Lucky
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
Photos by Genie Sanchez
(totallylikeduh.com)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Rock and roll dreams come true and mine started a while back with a simple press release announcing that none other than the mighty Michael Monroe was back in action, had assembled an ultra rad array of musicians for his new assault, and was going to rock like fuck in Hollywood, what, 20 years since he last descended upon the Sunset Strip.
Now I may be wrong, but the last time I remember 
Michael playing in Hollywood was at The Whisky a Go-Go in like 1989. What a night of rock and roll debauchery that was, culminating in the most memorable act of fellatio performed on me by ..well.. we'll leave her out of it. If Michael played Hollywood any time between that night and tonight, I must have missed it due to a blur some call the 90’s.
But it was all about to happen, and I was going to be there hell or high water. I even bought a ticket in advanced in case my reputation as the world’s greatest rock and roll journalist did not precede me. I was not going to get shut out.
The night started after, what else is new, a long ass day at the mundane day job. I think the fucking clock was going backward. When the hour of 6pm finally arrived, I high tailed it back to the mansion on the hill to clean off the day’s shite, don the rock duds, and blast off.
Hitting Hollywood running I stashed the vehicle in the 9000 building and proceeded over to
The Rainbow Bar and Grill for a quick run through. Familiar faces Shugsters! Familiar faces! Then it was off to an early set by Casper and the Bad Spirits at the Key Club. There I hooked it with Victoria Joyce (SugarBuzz Hollywood) and had my first meet and great with the most awesome rock photographer to hit the strip, Genie Sanchez.
Timing was of the essence and the Gods of rock were with me as we walked on down the road. Hitting the Viper Room I stood in like a three minute line, just long enough for this blonde beauty from Germany to start a chit chat. She didn’t have a ticket and the show was sold out. I wished her luck and entered the dark entrance hall.
I was immediately crushed by a solid wall to wall of 
rockers, punkers, freeks, geeks, speedos and wierdos packed in like sardines. But I am an old pro at the weasel and being short is my advantage as I slipped past most without even being noticed. Try that you Amazon fuckers! I got where I wanted and could see awesome. Instant mood enhance by some solid punk tunes courtesy of DJ Jamie Scrap. (Great seeing you my brother!)
The curtain opened and with an explosion of rock Michael Monroe and the boys kicked it with “Nothin’s Alright” from the sole Demolition 23 release. Instant wood Shugsters! Instant wood! “You’re a seventies baby and nothin’s alright” Holy crap, somebody pinch me, no wait, cause if I am dreaming, I don’t wanna wake up!
Now for those that are keeping score, Michael’s line up had a shake up of some sort. No longer on the tour was Todd Youth or Jimmy Clark. I was hoping to get the scoop, but alas, I got nothing. But the heavy hitters replacing them were spectacular. Steve Conte (The Contes, New York Dolls) on guitar and Karl Rockfist (Chelsea Smiles) on drums. Also in the band, for those living in a cave, are Ginger (The Wildhearts) on guitar and Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Mad Juana) on bass. Talk about a real fucking super group.
Without missing a beat we were, well, motivated by the Hanoi
Rock classic “Motorvatin”, and then the crowd went nuts with another Demolition 23 release “Hammersmith Palais”. Conte unleashed his white Les Paul Custom on the masses and took no prisoners.
Michael told us that his new band was not going to be just an oldies jukebox as new material was in the works and we were treating to a brand new song entitled “You’re Next”. Man that song will not disappoint, a solid straight ahead rocker to wet your appetites.
“Not Fakin’ It” and “Dysfunctional” riled the packed house, Monroe all over the tiny stage up front and personal. What a consummate showman. Still got it, never lost it, and never faking it. Rock and roll runs thick in this man’s blood.
New song “Another Night in the Sun” is proof the band has 
been cranking out more material to fill a CD with absolute kick ass. The room was becoming stifling hot, and the air felt like it was being sucked out. Michael was feeling it as well and beseeched the side doorman to open the door and let in some air. “What are the neighbors gonna do? Complain?” he bellowed. The doorman obliged and you could feel an instant rush of cool air.
Johnny Thunders “I Wanna be Loved” and Hanoi’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” kept it straight ahead, the latter being received with complete mayhem. Around this time I felt the tug of someone and low and behold the blonde girl from Germany had made it in. She was yelling something in my ear, but unable to make out what she was saying, I just smiled and kept on rocking.
Yet another new song was debuted, “Motoheaded for a Fall”. The jist of this song seems to me to be you better slow down, or crash and burn. Get it, got it, good.
A menois a trios of Hanoi Rocks was bestowed upon the flock with the likes of “Back to Mystery City”, “Tragedy” and “Malibu Beach Nightmare”. Guaranteed to
cure what ails you. Ginger and Sami had continuous fun sharing a microphone on backing vocals and joshing at what only must have been inside jokes. Sami kept sneaking up to Gingers amp when Ginger wasn’t looking and kept turning up his volume. Shit, is was so loud as it was, I can only deduce Sami had some devious incentive, or the thunder of Karl Rockfist was making it difficult for Sami to hear Ginger’s guitar parts.
What has become many a rocker's anthem, “Death, Jail, Rock and Roll”, sounded triumphantly with crowd participation instigated by Michael driving the sweat drenched into an absolute frenzy. With the last note of sonic sustain, Michael ran across the top of some adjacent cocktail tables and was gone in a flash. However his bandmates were like, yeah right and stood their ground for the ensuing encore.
Michael returned to again encourage the side door monitor to “Open the door and let in some air!” The doorman again obliged and upon seeing some
people out on the sidewalk Michael exclaimed, “Come on in, we have a few more songs, cause there “Ain’t nothing to Do”. Nice lead in to of course yet another classic from the Demolition 23 release.
With a complete animated that only Michael can convey, the night ended with Hanoi’s “Taxi Driver” and “I Feel Alright”. I can’t imagine anyone didn’t. What a great fucking show. I have seen many spectacular and historic concerts in my day, and this one rates high Shugsters, rates high.
I spilled out into the night for much needed fresh air and hung around a bit to see if I could say hello to the band. Not an easy task, indeed. I did manage to see Sami after a while, but I really had my sights on Ginger, whom I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with a while back, and Steve, whom is well acquainted with
our friend Christopher Duda (SugarBuzz Toronto). I really wanted that man’s impression of Duda. But alas, it was not meant to be. Perhaps the band and I can have a nice sit down next time round.