Recorded and mixed by Petri Majuri at E-Studio in Sipoo, Finland over three weeks in March 2018, the 12-song record was mixed that following Autumn with Monroe and band-mates Rich Jones and Steve Conte on production duties.
With stunning presence, Monroe’s vocals blaze their unique trail across catchy, low-slung guitars mixing with saxophones, harmonicas and trumpets, plus a smorgasbord of exciting hooks and melodies One Man Gang is old-skool strut with rudely fresh vigour.
The title-track’s bombastic bar-room blitz (featuring a guest appearance by Captain Sensible of The Damned) is a valuable reminder that even if born in the gutter, you must always look to the stars.
“It sometimes seems like everybody’s pissing on their own parade,” says Monroe, “whether that’s voting stupid people into power and then complaining about them or whatever, but I’m all about living with a P.M.A. – positive mental attitude – and I’ll never allow myself to be forced away from that.”
Then there’s ‘Last Train To Tokyo’, with the sort of sticky-yet-crispy riff that was designed to take over radios from Japan to Jamaica.
“In the ‘80s, Hanoi Rocks had a very special relationship with Japan,” explains Monroe, “and it will always be one of my favourite countries. Plus, they still live for rock ‘n’ roll as it should be celebrated, they still have physical product, they still make it crazy, exhausting and really exciting every time you go there, which I am really grateful for.”
With the further electric likes of ‘Junk Planet’, ‘Hollywood Paranoia’ and ‘Wasted Years’ on board, One Man Gang is going to smash down doors and give the rock ‘n’ roll scene a swift, and necessary, kick up the ass.
Michael Monroe will soon be striding back towards the arenas he was born to be in, and everything you see is everything you get.
“I do what I do and I’ll never change,” says Monroe, “I don’t dress any different on or off stage because this is who I am… this is the real me.”
2019 TOUR DATES:
| Aug 02 | Sieravuori | Eura, Finland |
| Aug 03 | Kaisla | Tampere, Finland |
| Aug 10 | Vesileppis Hotel | Leppävirta, Finland |
| Aug 16 | Summer Sonic | Tokyo, Japan |
| Aug 18 | Summer Sonic | Osaka, Japan |
| Oct 22 | John Dee Live Club & Pub | Oslo, Norway |
| Oct 23 | Pustervik | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Oct 24 | Fryshuset Klubben | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Oct 25 | High Voltage Rock Club | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Oct 26 | HeadCRASH | Hamburg, Germany |
| Oct 27 | FRANNZ Club | Berlin, Germany |
| Oct 29 | La Maroquinerie | Paris, France |
| Oct 30 | 02 Academy Islington | London, United Kingdom |
| Nov 01 | Brudenell Social Club | Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Nov 02 | The Craufurd Arms | Wolverton, United Kingdom |
| Nov 03 | Engine Rooms | Southhampton, United Kingdom |
| Nov 04 | The Mill, Digbeth | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Nov 05 | The Garage | Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| Nov 06 | Manchester Club Academy | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Nov 07 | The Fleece | Bristol, United Kingdom |
| Nov 08 | The Sugarmill | Stoke-on-trent, United Kingdom |
| Nov 09 | Hard Rock Hell Chapter XIII | Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom |
ONE MAN GANG TRACK LISTING:
1. One Man Gang
2. Last Train To Tokyo
3. Junk Planet
4. Midsummer Nights
5. The Pitfalls Of Being An Outsider
6. Wasted Years
7. In The Tall Grass
8. Black Ties And Red Tape
9. Hollywood Paranoia
10. Heaven Is A Free State
11. Helsinki Shakedown
12. Low Life In High Places
Available on CD, Coloured Vinyl, Digital formats and as special D2C editions, pre-order live as of Aug 9th
RECORDED AND MIXED AT: E-Studio in Sipoo, Finland
PRODUCED BY: Michael Monroe, Rich Jones and Steve Conte.
RECORDED, MIXED AND ENGINEERED BY: Petri Majuri
BAND LINE-UP:
Michael Monroe - vocals, sax and harmonica
Rich Jones - guitar and vocals
Steve Conte - guitar and vocals
Sami Yaffa - bass
Karl Rockfist - drums
Guest appearances from Captain Sensible (lead guitar on ‘One Man Gang’), Nasty Suicide (lead guitar on ‘Wasted Years’), Eicca Toppinen (cello on ‘Low Life In High Places’) and Tero Saarti (trumpet on ‘Heaven Is A Free State’).
