MICHAEL MONROE Collaborating With Ex-HANOI ROCKS Bassist SAMI YAFFA

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

“I'm still working away on new material and it's coming along quite good. I'd rather take my time as there's really no point rushing the creative process. Like I often say, better to wait than to have nothing much to wait for.

There's been some speculation amongst people about Sami Yaffa [ex-HANOI ROCKS bassist] and me working together and I'm very happy to confirm that yes, Sami Yaffa will indeed be the bass player in my new band and on the new record. We're also writing some songs together and so on.

“We're both really excited about this new project, especially because it's definitely coming together as a band, as opposed to me and some backing musicians, even though the name is Michael Monroe.

“The rest of the guys will be revealed to you in time. All I can say right now is that it's gonna be a really cool band with a great bunch of guys.”

A preview of “Buried Alive”, the forthcoming DVD from HANOI ROCKS, can be viewed below. (Note: The song featured in the clip is “Motorvatin”). Due on November 18, the disc was filmed at the band's final show on April 12, 2009 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. Monroe previously stated about the effort, “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…”

To buy the DVD, go to www.backstagerockshop.com.

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 contain bonused tracks. The special edition included a bonus skull bandana and three-fold box design.