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Demolition 23
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 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2019) |
Demolition 23 (stylized Demolition 23.) is a rock band formed in 1993 in New York by former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe and former Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa following the ending of Monroe's Jerusalem Slim project with Steve Stevens and Sami Yaffa.[1]
Key Information
History
[edit]After the breakup of Jerusalem Slim in 1992, Monroe decided to form a new band with Yaffa, Jimmy Clark and ex Star Star guitarist Jay Hening.
Initially, Demolition 23. was a cover band, playing live shows in New York. Their shows were notable for guest appearances by music industry friends, such as Ian Hunter, Joey Ramone, Sebastian Bach, and Kory Clarke.[1] They also went on tour in Japan and Europe.
Demolition 23.'s eponymous first album, Demolition 23., was recorded at Power Station Studios in New York City and produced and largely penned by Little Steven.[1] Monroe's former Hanoi Rocks bandmate Sami Yaffa played bass guitar on the album. The music was a return to Monroe and Yaffa's punk roots with tracks such as "Same Shit Different Day", "Hammersmith Palais" and covers of songs by Johnny Thunders, UK Subs and The Dead Boys. The album was dedicated to the memory of Stiv Bators and released on the Music for Nations label in 1994.[1]
Hening announced his departure in 1994 and was replaced by former Hanoi rhythm guitarist Nasty Suicide. In March 1995, Suicide announced his departure from the band much to the surprise of Monroe, who then decided to end the band.
On October 14, 2022, the album was reissued on Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records.[2] Apart from the original listing it included three bonus tracks: demos of "Hammersmith Palais", "Dysfunctional", and "The Scum Lives On".
The band reunited at the Helsinki Ice Hall with the final lineup, with the exception of Clark, who was replaced by Danzig drummer Karl Rockfist. They went on to a small tour of Finland and have remained active, planning to tour Japan, Europe and America.
Band members
[edit]Current
[edit]- Michael Monroe – lead vocals, saxophone, harmonica, additional acoustic guitar (1993–1995, 2023–present)
- Nasty Suicide – lead guitar, backing vocals (1994–1995, 2023–present)
- Sami Yaffa – bass guitar, backing vocals (1993–1995, 2023–present)
- Karl Rockfist – drums (2023–present)
Former
[edit]- Jay Hening – lead guitar, backing vocals (1993–1994) (died 1997)
- Jimmy Clark – drums (1993–1995)
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Demolition 23. (1994) – Music for Nations CDMFN 176[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
- ^ "Demolition 23. - Demolition 23". Discogs.com. 1994. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
External links
[edit]
Demolition 23
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Formation and Early Years
Origins in Hanoi Rocks
The tragic death of Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley on December 8, 1984, in a car accident involving Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil marked a devastating turning point for the band.[8] Razzle's loss, combined with internal tensions, prompted bassist Sami Yaffa to leave shortly thereafter, leaving the group unable to continue.[9] The remaining members, including frontman Michael Monroe and guitarist Andy McCoy, officially announced the band's dissolution in June 1985, ending a career that had blended glam rock with punk energy during the early 1980s.[10] In the wake of the breakup, Michael Monroe channeled his grief and creative drive into solo endeavors, seeking to maintain his musical momentum amid personal turmoil. He relocated to Los Angeles and released his debut solo album, Nights Are So Long, in 1987, followed by Not Fakin' It in 1989, which included guest appearances from emerging rock figures like Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose.[11] Monroe also collaborated closely with punk icon Stiv Bators, who provided emotional support during this period and influenced Monroe's shift toward rawer, more authentic expressions of rock.[9] By the early 1990s, after projects like the short-lived Jerusalem Slim with guitarist Steve Stevens collapsed due to label issues, Monroe expressed a strong desire to revive the punk ethos that had originally fueled Hanoi Rocks, prioritizing unpolished energy over the glam excesses of the 1980s.[12] Sami Yaffa, meanwhile, formed the short-lived band Chain Gang with guitarist Pelle Almgren in Stockholm, releasing the EP Pelle Almgren & Sam Yaffa in 1986 that echoed punk influences.[13] He relocated to the United States around 1987 to join the hard rock band Jetboy, immersing himself in the New York rock scene from c. 1988 to 1990.[14] Yaffa then joined Love Pirates from 1990 to 1993 and contributed to singer Alison Gordy's band from 1991 to 1994, experiences that kept him connected to underground rock circuits while honing a stripped-back style.[15] These pursuits, alongside Monroe's, laid the groundwork for a collaborative return to their shared punk origins, inspired by the post-glam era's call for more visceral, rebellion-driven music.[16]Assembly of Initial Lineup
Demolition 23 was formed in New York City in 1993 by Michael Monroe on vocals and harmonica and Sami Yaffa on bass, building on their prior collaboration in Hanoi Rocks as a return to punk roots.[4][17] The duo recruited guitarist Jay Hening, formerly of Star Star, and drummer Jimmy Clark, a session musician, to complete the initial lineup, initially envisioning the project as a Michael Monroe solo effort before solidifying it as a full band.[18][19] Bassist Sami Yaffa proposed the band's name, "Demolition 23.", drawing from William S. Burroughs' 1973 short story collection Exterminator!, where the phrase appears in a narrative about a covert operation, aligning with the group's punk-inspired aesthetic.[18][20] The band began rehearsals in New York, focusing on covers of punk classics, and quickly transitioned to live performances at local venues like The Grand, honing their sound through early shows and demos before entering the studio.[17][21]Career Highlights
1993–1995 Debut Period
In 1993, Demolition 23 signed with the British independent label Music for Nations, marking a key step in their professional launch.[1] The band, featuring Michael Monroe on vocals and harmonica, Jay Hening on guitar, Sami Yaffa on bass, and Jimmy Clark on drums, entered Power Station Studios in New York to record their self-titled debut album later that year.[22] The sessions, completed in just five days under the production of Stevie Van Zandt (Little Steven), captured the group's raw, high-energy sound with a mix of original punk tracks and covers.[7] The album Demolition 23 was released in 1994 in Europe via Music for Nations, with a Japanese edition following on the Renegade Nation label; it included standout tracks such as "Nothin's Alright," "Hammersmith Palais," and "The Scum Lives On," dedicated to the late Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys.[23] Critics praised its unpolished punk attitude and infectious energy, hailing it as an underappreciated gem that blended rock and punk influences effectively, though it achieved limited commercial traction.[7][24] To promote the record, the band embarked on tours across Europe and Japan in 1994, including a high-energy performance at London's Astoria, but faced setbacks when original guitarist Jay Hening departed due to a road accident and subsequent denial of entry to the UK.[25][7] Hening was replaced by Nasty Suicide, enabling a continuation of live dates that extended into a world tour reaching the US.[26] However, internal tensions escalated, culminating in Nasty Suicide's retirement announcement in March 1995, which led to the band's dissolution amid ongoing struggles with commercial success.[27][28] The band performed a notable one-off show in Helsinki on February 14, 1995, featuring four surviving Hanoi Rocks members—Monroe, Yaffa, Suicide, and Andy McCoy as a guest—which served as their closest approximation to a full reunion.[1]2022 Reunion and Tours
In September 2022, Demolition 23 reunited for a special performance as the opening act at Michael Monroe's 60th birthday concert held at the Helsinki Ice Hall on September 23.[29] The reunion was prompted by Monroe's reflections on his punk roots, drawing from his time in New York where his passion for the genre deepened amid the Lower East Side's vibrant rock scene.[30] This one-off show honored the band's origins as a punk tribute to Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys. The initial reunion lineup featured Michael Monroe on vocals and saxophone, Sami Yaffa on bass, Nasty Suicide on guitar—a Hanoi Rocks alumnus—and Karl Rockfist on drums, who began as a guest before becoming a core member.[31] On October 14, 2022, the band's self-titled debut album was reissued digitally and on vinyl by Wicked Cool Records, presenting a remastered edition with enhanced production, including stronger drum presence, alongside three bonus demo tracks such as "Hammersmith Palais (demo)," "Dysfunctional (demo)," and "The Scum Lives On (demo)."[32][33] Building on the momentum, Demolition 23 performed additional shows in Finland later that year and announced a full tour of six dates across the country for fall 2023, including stops at Tavastia in Helsinki and Lutakko in Jyväskylä.[4] The band continued with European engagements, such as their appearance at the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, on June 21, 2024, and two shows at Tavastia Club in Helsinki on October 3–4, 2024. As of 2025, they have scheduled performances at festivals including Kuopiorock, Jytäkesä Go-Go, and Rockfest.[5][34] In 2023, Karl Rockfist solidified his role as the permanent drummer, contributing to the band's high-energy live sets that blended original material with punk covers.[35]Musical Style
Punk and Glam Influences
Demolition 23's core sound fuses high-energy punk rock with distinctive glam elements, characterized by fast tempos, raw vocals, and straightforward riffs that evoke the urgency of live performances.[36] This blend creates a sleazy, energetic aesthetic that prioritizes melodic hooks and aggressive delivery over technical complexity.[7] The band's influences draw heavily from first-wave punk acts such as the Ramones and Dead Boys, incorporating their raw, no-frills approach to songwriting and performance.[36] Additionally, glam rock elements stem from the Hanoi Rocks heritage of frontman Michael Monroe and bassist Sami Yaffa, infusing the music with flamboyant flair and 1970s New York scene vibes reminiscent of Johnny Thunders' work.[7] Covers on their debut album, including tracks by the Dead Boys and UK Subs, further highlight this punk foundation while nodding to the gritty undercurrents of early glam-punk hybrids.[7] In terms of production, Demolition 23 adopted a lo-fi, garage-punk style for their 1994 self-titled album, recorded quickly at New York’s Power Station Studios under producer Little Steven to preserve an authentic, unpolished live feel.[7] This raw aggression defined the original release's 11 tracks, emphasizing distortion and immediacy over refinement.[36] The 2022 remastered and expanded reissue, however, introduces a more polished sound with crisper vocals and instrumentation, adding three demo tracks while retaining the album's punk essence but enhancing its accessibility.[36]Dedication to Stiv Bators
Demolition 23. formed as a punk rock supergroup in 1993, with its self-titled debut album explicitly dedicated to the memory of Stiv Bators, the influential frontman of the Dead Boys and Lords of the New Church, who died in 1990.[37] The dedication underscored the band's intent to honor Bators' legacy within the punk scene, reflecting a collective tribute from members who shared roots in the era's raw, rebellious music culture.[2] Central to this homage was Michael Monroe's deep personal connection to Bators, forged through their overlapping paths in the late 1970s and 1980s New York and London punk communities. Monroe described Bators as a late friend and collaborator, having collaborated with him on tracks like "Deadtime Stories," which appeared on the album as a poignant original co-written by the two.[20] This friendship shaped the band's song choices, including covers such as the Dead Boys' "Ain't Nothin' to Do" and the original "Hammersmith Palais," the latter serving as a nod to the broader punk ethos Bators embodied through his anti-establishment stance and charismatic performances.[37] Thematically, the album channeled Bators' defiant spirit in originals like "The Scum Lives On," whose lyrics directly reference him—"Stiv Bator went to catholic school / Turned his sins into something cool"—capturing his transformation of personal rebellion into enduring punk anthems.[38] This track, among others, highlighted anti-authority sentiments and a celebration of punk's underdog vitality, aligning with Bators' own lyrical themes of societal critique and unapologetic excess.[7] The tribute extended into the band's 2022 reunion, when the album was remastered and reissued digitally for the first time, complete with bonus demos of tracks like "The Scum Lives On" and "Hammersmith Palais." This release reaffirmed Demolition 23.'s commitment to preserving Bators' influence, positioning the project as an ongoing punk rock memorial amid renewed tours and performances.[2][20]Band Members
Current Members
The current lineup of Demolition 23 was assembled for the band's 2022 reunion at Michael Monroe's 60th birthday concert in Helsinki, with performances and tours in 2023, 2024, and 2025 confirming its ongoing stability as of November 2025.[31][4][5][6] Michael Monroe handles lead vocals and harmonica (1993–1995, 2022–present).[39][23] Sami Yaffa plays bass (1993–1995, 2022–present); he is a founding-era member of Hanoi Rocks alongside Monroe.[4][40] Nasty Suicide provides guitar (1994–1995, 2022–present); a Hanoi Rocks alumnus, he joined the reunion to complete the revamped roster.[35][1] Karl Rockfist is on drums (2022–present), having performed the role from the initial reunion show onward.[31][35]Former Members
Jay Hening served as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Demolition 23 from its formation in 1993 until mid-1994.[41] His departure was prompted by personal issues stemming from a road accident and subsequent refusal of entry to the UK for the band's European tour.[42] Hening, formerly of the glam-punk band Star Star, tragically died by suicide on April 18, 1997.[43] Jimmy Clark handled drums for the band throughout its original 1993–1995 run, contributing to their debut album and live performances as a session musician known for his work with artists like Michael Monroe.[44] No interim or guest drummers are documented during the 1994 tours.[7]Discography
Studio Albums
Demolition 23's only studio album is the self-titled Demolition 23, originally released in 1994 by Music for Nations in Europe and Renegade Nation in Japan.[45] Recorded at Power Station Studios in New York City during the band's 1993–1995 debut period and produced by Little Steven, the album features 10 tracks, including 8 originals blending punk and glam influences along with covers of "Ain't Nothin' to Do" by the Dead Boys and "I Wanna Be Loved" by Johnny Thunders, dedicated to the late Stiv Bators.[37] The tracklist is as follows:- "Nothin's Alright"
- "Hammersmith Palais"
- "The Scum Lives On"
- "Dysfunctional"
- "Ain't Nothin' to Do"
- "I Wanna Be Loved"
- "You Crucified Me"
- "Same Shit Different Day"
- "Endangered Species"
- "Deadtime Stories"[37]
- "Nothin's Alright"
- "Hammersmith Palais"
- "The Scum Lives On"
- "Dysfunctional"
- "Ain't Nothin' to Do"
- "I Wanna Be Loved"
- "You Crucified Me"
- "Same Shit Different Day"
- "Endangered Species"
- "Deadtime Stories"
- "Hammersmith Palais (Demo)"
- "Dysfunctional (Demo)"
- "The Scum Lives On (Demo)"[47]