Whenever a band announces that they’re calling it quits, I always gleefully think back to the news reports of girls crying their eyes out after the demise of TAKE THAT. I doubt whether the recent announcement by HANOI ROCKS will spark a similar reaction, but in truth, considering the band has done remarkably well since their 2002 reunion, it is a disappointing surprise that for the second time, the band members of one of Finland’s finest exports are heading their separate ways.

Before the band officially hang up their instruments, they do have a few final shows to play, and luckily enough for their fans in the UK, that involves a full UK tour, which stopped tonight at the Academy 2 in Birmingham. Sunday crowds are never too great, but a few hundred turned up in Birmingham to catch their last glimpse of a legendary rock’n'roll band, that has influenced so many of it’s followers over the years, namely the likes of GUNS ‘N’ ROSES and MOTLEY CRUE.

We all know Andy McCoy likes a drink, or six, or seven, but if he was intoxicated tonight, you certainly couldn’t tell by his guitar playing. Likewise, frontman Michael Monroe was on the top of his game. He really is one of the last great frontman still vying his trade – assuming he continues his solo career post-Hanoi. The supporting cast of Conny Bloom, Andy Christell and George Atlagic were reliably solid, as you’ve come to expect in recent years as HANOI ROCKS have continued to maintain a healthy live following.

In terms of the setlist, new single ‘Teenage Revolution’ was a surprise omission, but the rest of the set featured some of the other best songs from latest and now final studio album ‘Street Poetry’, with a number of post and pre-reunion classics crammed into the gaps, including a typically moving ‘Don’t You Ever Leave Me’, and a bouncy ‘A Day Late, A Dollar Short’ both outstanding. The latter featured Monroe playing the saxophone melodies to ‘A Million Miles Away’ - surely a final tribute to perished drummer Razzle, the unfortunate victim of Vince Neil’s fatal car crash 24 years ago.

As the classic John Fogerty penned CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL cover ‘Up Around the Bend’ brought a close to proceedings, the crowd applauded and gave the band their final salute. As I fully anticipated, HANOI ROCKS had bowed out in style with another fantastic show to add to their long, long history. This band will be remembered for various reasons, but lets hope above all that they are remembered for being one of the greatest live rock’n'roll bands since the ROLLING STONES.

HANOI ROCKS Setlist: Obscured / Hypermobile / Street Poetry / Fashion / Back to the Mystery City / People Like Me / Power of Persuasion / A Day Late, A Dollar Short / Bad News / Self Destruction Blues / Boulevard of Broken Dreams / Don’t You Ever Leave Me / Malibu Beach / High School / Tragedy / Oriental Beat / Powertrip / Up Around the Bend

Photography by Alexander Shaw (click here)