DEMOLITION 23 [Michael Monroe] – Demolition 23. [Digitally Remastered +3] (2022)

Michael Monroe has been a consummate workaholic ever since his early days fronting Finnish glam-punk band Hanoi Rocks as a fresh-faced twentysomething. The singer launched a solo career in the mid-’80s and subsequently collaborated with several rock ‘n’ roll heavy hitters, including Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens and E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt.
The latter produced and co-wrote the bulk of DEMOLITION 23, the eponymous 1994 debut album (and sole release) from the no-frills rock n’ roll band of the same name featuring Monroe and former Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa.
Initially Demolition 23 was a covers band playing live shows in New York, with Monroe and co-founder Jay Hening (ex-Star Star guitarist) joined by accomplished session drummer Jimmy Clark. Their shows were notable for guest appearances by music industry friends such as Sebastian Bach and Kory Clarke.
Now “Demolition 23.” has been remastered including three previously unreleased demos, which in fact are live takes into the studio showcasing how hot the band was playing together.

Demolition 23’s eponymous first album, ”Demolition 23.” was recorded at Power Station Studios in New York City and produced and largely penned by Steven Van Zandt a.k.a Little Steven, and released 1994.
Having Monroe & Jaffa here is half-Hanoi Rocks and the sound reflects that, some kind of a return to their punky glammy roots with tracks such as “Same Shit Different Day”, “Hammersmith Palais” and covers of songs by Johnny Thunders, UK Subs and The Dead Boys.
However, for the most part, the songs are accessible rockers with a rebel attitude.

Demolition 23. is dedicated to the late Stiv Bators, who fronted seminal first-wave punk band the Dead Boys and post-punk supergroup the Lords of the New Church, which also included the Damned guitarist Brian James.
The band pays homage to Bators with a cover of the Dead Boys’ “Ain’t Nothin’ to Do,” as well as late New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders with a rendition of “I Wanna Be Loved,” which Thunders released with his band The Heartbreakers. (The reissue is also dedicated to late Demolition 23. guitarist Jay Hening)

“Hammersmith Palais,” meanwhile, is a tribute to the bygone, now-defunct venue of the same name. “Hammersmith Palais was this great club in London where we saw a lot of brilliant, legendary shows by some of the coolest bands ever,” Monroe says in a statement. “I played there once guesting on sax and harp with the Lords of the New Church. Unfortunately in later years, the place was closed down and replaced by a boring office building. The song also refers to some great, fun times in the past that will never return.”

Decided to concentrate in his solo career, Michael Monroe dissolved DEMOLITION 23 in 1995, with this self-titled album as their only record, a nasty rockin’ LP.
Highly Recommended

01 – Nothin’s Alright
02 – Hammersmith Palais
03 – The Scum Lives On
04 – Dysfunctional
05 – Ain’t Nothin’ to Do
06 – I Wanna Be Loved
07 – You Crucified Me
08 – Same Shit Different Day
09 – Endangered Species
10 – Deadtime Stories
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Hammersmith Palais (Demo)
12 – Dysfunctional (Demo)
13 – The Scum Lives On (Demo)

Michael Monroe – Vocals, harmonica
Sami Yaffa – Bass, Backing Vocals
Jay Hening – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jimmy Clark – Drums, Backing Vocals
Little Steven, Kory Clarke, Jude Wilder – Backing Vocals

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www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demolition-23-demolition-23/38739611