Michael Monroe (a.k.a. Matti Fagerholm), the svelte lead vocalist with Sleaze legends HANOI ROCKS, shied away from the glare of media publicity following the disintegration of the Finnish Glam Rock troupe. Relocating to New York, Monroe began songwriting with Stiv Bators and collaborated with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN associate LITTLE STEVEN on the 'Sun City' project before forming his first post HANOI ROCKS outfit. After a handful of gigs in Finland, Monroe's new band folded leaving the singer to record his debut solo effort 'Nights Are So Long'. The album received enough media attention to warrant a major deal with Phonogram and the resulting 'Not Fakin' It' record. The singer put in a 1988 Los Angeles Scream Club date prior to the album release with a band including HANOI ROCKS colleague Sam Yaffa on bass, Timo Kaltio on guitar and future BLACK CROWES man Marc Ford on second guitar.

'Not Fakin' It' included songwriting contributions from Little Steven on the track 'While You Were Looking At Me' and covers of NAZARETH's 'Not Fakin' It' and the HEAVY METAL KIDS' 'She's No Angel'. Musicians on the album included ex-HANOI ROCKS guitarist Nasty Suicide, guitarist Phil Grande and drummer Thommy Price, both previously with BILLY IDOL, and renowned bassist Kenny Aaronson of DERRINGER, H.S.A.S. etc.

Monroe was to next form an alliance with erstwhile BILLY IDOL guitarist STEVE STEVENS to record the 'Jerusalem Slim' album which only saw a Japanese release initially. The fusion of Monroe and Stevens proved an incompatible one however, with Stevens quickly teaming up with ex MÖTLEY CRÜE vocalist VINCE NEIL for his debut solo album.

Monroe took time out to add saxophone and harmonica to WARRIOR SOUL's 'Chill Pill' album and donate recordings alongside ex HANOI ROCKS bassist Sammy Yaffa and guitarist Nasty Suicide to the JOHNNY THUNDERS tribute album. In 1994 Monroe formed yet another new band with former HANOI ROCKS colleagues Suicide and Yaffa in the shape of DEMOLITION 23. The album was produced by Little Steven.

Monroe's 1999 album 'Peace Of Mind' was originally issued on Poko Records in Finland before being reissued by Event with extra tracks. The album includes numerous covers including THE DAMNED's 'Machine Gun Etiquette', the STIV BATORS 'Not Anymore' and MC5's seminal 'Kick Out The Jams'. The late Stiv Bators appeared on the two 1985 demo tracks included in this collection.

In 2001 American Rockers WARRANT paid tribute by covering 'Dead, Jail Or Rock n' Roll' on their album 'Under The Influence'. By early 2002 it would appear a HANOI ROCKS reformation might be in the offing as Monroe and Andy McCoy reunited for songwriting sessions resulting in the 'Twelve Shots On The Rocks' album. That same year fellow Finnish outfit CRYSTAL EXTASY's 2002 EP 'Back On Your Planet' found Monroe not only manning the desk as producer but also co-writing all four tracks plus add saxophone, harmonica and backing vocals.

Monroe's own January 2003 solo outing 'Whatcha Want?' included a slew of Punk era cover versions including UK SUBS 'I Won't Lie Down And Die', X RAY SPEX 'Germfree Adolescents', EDDIE & THE HOT RODS 'Do Anything You Wanna Do' as well as LEONARD COHEN's 'Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye'.

The erstwhile MICHAEL MONROE band guitar pairing of Daffy and Lamppari formed up part of ex-RAINBOW singer GRAHAM BONNET's touring band for Russian and Baltic gigs in February 2005.

Michael Monroe joined Duff McKagan's LOADED as a guest on stage on Wednesday 3rd June 2009 at Virgin Oil in Helsinki, Finland for the opening show of LOADED's European tour. Monroe again featured with LOADED on stage at the Sauna Open Air festival on Friday 5th June at Eteläpuisto in Tampere to perform three songs, 'It's So Easy' by GUNS N' ROSES, 'Attitude' by MISFITS and 'New Rose' by THE DAMNED.