They were one of the great rock’n’roll bands of the 80s but, for all the brilliant music they made, the career of Hanoi Rocks was defined by the tragedy that derailed them at the moment they seemed destined to make it big. Formed in the Finnish capital of Helsinki in 1979, Hanoi Rocks were led by two charismatic figures. Singer (real name Matti Fagerholm) was the most glamorous rock star of his generation, looking like the bastard son of and Brigitte Bardot.
Guitarist and chief songwriter Andy McCoy (born Antti Hulkko) had a darker presence, styled on . The band’s name was inspired by the heroin song , recorded by and The Heartbreakers, and in Hanoi’s decadent sound and image were echoes of Thunders’ other legendary group, the . After relocating to London in 1981, Hanoi Rocks’ raw early records and electrifying live shows saw them hyped as the next big thing by and By 1984 they were riding high, signed to major label Columbia for the album .
But on December 8, 1984, disaster struck. In Los Angeles during a US tour, several band members attended a party at the home of singer Vince Neil. When they ran out of beer, a heavily intoxicated Neil drove to a liquor store, with Hanoi drummer Razzle – Nicholas Dingley, an Englishman – as passenger.
On the way back, . Both occupants of the other car were seriously injured. Neil escaped unharmed.
In the aftermath, Neil was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, for which he served two months in jail and paid out more than $2.