MICHAEL MONROE Connecting With 'Cool' U.S. Musicians For Upcoming Solo Album

Former HANOI ROCKS vocalist Michael Monroe has issued the following update:

"My recent trip to the States was very productive as far as my solo thing is concerned. Over there I connected with some cool musicians. This could be the start of a great new rock band. There's very good work in progress, that's all I will say for now.

"I also had fun in my spare time. I hung out mostly with Sami [Yaffa, former HANOI ROCKS bassist] and we went to see a few shows together too.

"SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND's last show at Giants Stadium was a good one. Amongst other stuff, they played the entire 'Born In The U.S.A.' album from top to bottom. The previous night they had played the 'Born To Run' album and 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town' on another night etc. Also, KISS at Madison Square Garden with BUCKCHERRY opening up was very entertaining.

"BUCKCHERRY are a cool rock band and got a very good response from the crowd as well, considering that they were the opening act. Their bass player, Jimmy Ashhurst, is a good old friend of Sami's and mine and it was great to see him. The rest of the guys in the band are very nice too.

"KISS did their extraordinary show which is still fun to watch. Last time both me and Sami saw KISS was in Stockholm in 1980.

"Anyway, things are looking good and promising for the future.

"The weather is pretty chilly in Finland and just getting colder, but it's still nice to be back home. My cat was really missing me!"

HANOI ROCKS filmed its final show on April 12, 2009 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland for a forthcoming DVD. Monroe previously stated about it, "It's sounding pretty good. Surely it's got some rough spots, but what the hell, it's live — no overdubs! Considering that it was the eighth show in six days, my voice was holding up quite well..."

A release date for the DVD has not yet been announced.

HANOI ROCKS' last album, "Street Poetry", was released in September 2007 in Finland by WolfGang Records and in Europe by U.K.-based Demolition Records. The Japanese pressing via Victor Entertainment/JVC Music contained bonus tracks. The special edition included a bonus skull bandana and three-fold box design.