The first punk single in Finland was released by Briard, featuring a 14 year old Andy McCoy in 1976. They notched up 4 singles during three years. In Briard's last year Andy's schoolmate Nasty Suicide joined. McCoy had met Michael Monroe as early as 1977 and he admired Michael's style - "His hair almost covered his whole arse and even in winter he wore t-shirts."
Hanoi Rocks emerged in the spring of 1980 in Helsinki, at this time featuring Michael Monroe, Nasty Suicide, and three other members. In February 1980 Andy and 17-year old Sam Yaffa (having previously been in punk band Suopo) also joined. Almost immediately, Michael, Andy, Sam and Nasty moved to Stockholm, Sweden, where Gyp Casino joined them. The first tour began in December 1980, and they played gigs in even the smallest Finnish villages. The guys were so outrageous with their make-up, dyed hair and colourful clothes that the local rednecks assumed Hanoi were a weird bunch of homosexual junkies, and fights broke out. Nevertheless, their fanbase started to grow rapidly.
Finnish label Johanna Records released the first single 'I Want You / Kill City Kills' in November 1980. The debut album 'Bangkok Shocks Saigon Shakes Hanoi Rocks' (originally called Some Like It Hot), was recorded in Stockholm and released in March 1981. In October they headed for England to do six gigs supporting Wishbone Ash. The progressive rock audience wasn't that keen on Hanoi Rocksī style or content, but word began to spread in the UK about this exciting live act.
The next album was recorded in London, and 'Oriental Beat' (originally titled 'Second Attempt For Suicide'), received praise from British music magazines Melody Maker, Kerrang! and Sounds, who commented in June 1982 that they were "born to be superstars, there is no doubt that Hanoi Rocks will one day be as famous as Coca Cola and Big Macs."
Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, born Isle Of Wight (UK), had seen Hanoi Rocks perform, and after a gig at the Marquee Club he went backstage and told them he wanted to join even if it meant he had to break their drummers arms. Gyp Casino had already caused problems for the band so he was sacked, and Razzle took his place (Gyp's band Road Rats would later play support slots for Hanoi in Finland). Before joining, Razzle had played with London based punk group The Dark. (The only recording he played on was a mini-album 'The Living End' recorded at the band's last gig at the 100 Club.)
In March 1982 the single 'Love's An Injection' reached number 1 in the Finnish charts. After a couple of gigs in Finland, Hanoi Rocks moved permanently to London, settling in Tooting Bec.
The next step on the world conquest was the Far East with a tour of India, Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan. An Indian newspaper Bombay Daily wrote in January 1983: "The scandinavian punk metal rock'n'roll quintet gets to you with a pounding mixture of raw energy and pure genius as they transcend musical genres and deliver a set packed with the energy and aggression of the Damned, with latent sexuality and the sheer excess of star quality oozing from every pore."
They were hugely successful in Asia, especially in Japan. Hundreds of fans followed the band during their stay, and in a Toyko club it is alleged David Coverdale (vocalist of Deep Purple and Whitesnake) lost all his groupies when the Hanoi guys arrived.
Around this time, a compilation album of singles, b-sides and out takes was released, titled 'Self Destruction Blues'. After the Far East tour Hanoi Rocks started to record their third album , but before the release of 'Back To Mystery City' they did a few gigs in Israel. By now a few major record companies were interested in the band, and they signed a six-figure deal with CBS.
In January 1984, recordings for their major label album began in New York with the finishing touches being applied in Toronto. During these sessions, Hanoi Rocks played their first North American concerts and celebrated the end of recordings with two sold-out shows at New York's Danceteria. CBS had demanded that a song with hit potential be included on the album, so a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Up Around The Bend' was chosen. After finishing the 'Two Steps From Move' (originally called 'Silver Missiles and Nightingales') album Hanoi Rocks did their second Japanese tour which was an even bigger success than the first, evoking scenes that the west could only equate with Beatlemania.