Page 7 - Black Velvet Issue 87

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initially he said no to the show. “At first I said no but then
ichael Monroe is an inspiration to many – whether you were a the leader of the band in the show called me as he’s a good
Mrock fan of the 80s or 90s, or growing up today. And now living friend and he explained a bit more about it. I was like, “Oh,
back in his native Finland, he’s a well recognized and respected treasure I see. Well, if it’s about helping out singers…” – ‘cause I
– so much so that he was asked to be a coach on The Voice Of Finland can’t stand shows that choose bad singers on purpose and
on TV. Michael tells Black Velvet, “I must say that The Voice of Finland is make a mockery of them, and say, “Don’t quit your
very different to The Voice in America and The Voice in other countries. dayjob!” and stuff like that. I really can’t stand that. I don’t
We really help out the singers. We’re coaches and not judges. I would like that at all. This is a nice positive way – kill them with
never go on the show and judge anybody’s work. It’s constructive advice kindness!”
Michael is still on the show for the fifth season in Fin-
land and says, “As long as it’s fun I’m going to keep doing
it.” He also tells us, “I learn all the time from the new
singers about today’s music.”
nd after spending his earlier years in London, and
Athen New York, Michael is now living back in Fin-
land of course – and on his new album is a song with a
Finnish reference. ‘Under The Northern Lights’ was given
to him by Dee Dee Ramone. “Because I was from Finland,
he thought I should do that song,” says Michael of Dee
Dee. “He liked me. I have a couple of audio cassettes of his
stuff.” Dee Dee gave Michael demos of songs on cassette
as a gift. “‘Under The Northern Lights’ I never had a demo
of it but I remember him playing it to me. I considered it for
each album that I made but there was never the right time
for it until now. Me and Dee Dee were hanging out in
1990/91, around that time… 92… and he took a liking to me.
We hung out quite a bit and were good friends. We had a
good time. He was like “You’re from Finland, right? You
should do this song” as he refers to Finland. “And the grey
Finnish sky is frozen, like her ice cold eyes that say no”.
He’s talking about Finland. I used all the lyrics that he had
for the song. I kind of modified the last verse to make it a
bit more positive. ‘Maybe there’s always been enough of
me on this earth’.”
He adds, “I always try and end on a positive note and
leave hope.”

The final song on ‘Blackout States’ is ‘Walk Away’. In
‘Walk Away’ Michael sings, ‘you’re walking, you’re stalking’
and ‘you’re always at my favourite haunts’. It sounds like
the song is about a stalker. Michael tells us, “The lyrics
were written by Steve Conte but it was written in a good
way I guess.” Of his own fans, Michael says, “I believe that
what you put out you get back and my fans are pretty sen-
sible. If you’re sporting an image that’s blood and guts and
“I eat raw meat” I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of sickos
after you but my fans are very intelligent so I don’t have
many stalkers like that. But the privacy’s your choice. I
keep my privacy to myself, my private life. I would never
let anybody into my house, any press person, to show how
I live or anything like that. I’ve got my wife and my two cats
and my home. My privacy’s mine. I don’t think it’s any-
body’s business. I don’t write on Facebook when I go and
take a shower or when I go shopping and stuff like that.”
It’s almost refreshing to hear this – in an age when peo-
ple like Professor Green are posting photos of their part-
ners in the shower naked on Instagram and not seeming
to know when to use the ‘off’ button.
Even with being on The Voice of Finland on Finnish TV
things don’t get too crazy, although Michael says, “In Fin-
land people recognise me and stuff. People stare at me
everywhere anyway… everywhere I go.” Although he does-
n’t get any bad comments or remarks about how he looks
these days. “In the early days it was tougher, from Finland
especially. They didn’t like anybody looking different…
These days I get more people recognising me, but it’s
nicer.”
It would be hard not to recognise Michael. He definitely
does not dress down. He has a distinct style, his own artis-
tic expression – no doubt a result of rock ‘n’ roll being in
his blood and a part of his life. The art that Michael pro-
that we give to singers and I put a lot of rock ‘n’ roll into that show and duces oozes from every pore, it’s clear to see, his rock and
really care for the singers. Even after the season’s over I keep helping roll creativity never losing its edge. Buy ‘Blackout States’,
my singers and I’ve become good friends with most of them and really out on Spinefarm Records, out now – and go see the man,
have lasting relationships with them. This way I can also present good the myth, the legend, Mr. Michael Monroe, in the flesh, in a
music and rock ‘n’ roll to Finnish people. For example, Cheap Trick is to- city near you, soon.
tally unknown in Finland and I had three Cheap Trick songs on there over Visit www.michaelmonroe.com for more info.
the last few seasons.”
He tells us he really enjoys working on The Voice of Finland, although Words & Photo By Shari Black Velvet
MICHAEL MONROE