Andy McCoy
Encyclopedia
Antti Hulkko better known as Andy McCoy, is a Finnish musician
. He is most famous for his role as the lead guitarist and main songwriter of Hanoi Rocks
, but has also played with Iggy Pop
.
Artistically McCoy's works cover a wide range of music forms, including rock 'n' roll, punk rock
, flamenco
, glam punk
, glam rock
, blues rock and hard rock
.
, Finnish Lapland to Finnish parents. At the age of 9 his family moved to Stockholm
, Sweden
, where he grew fluent in Swedish
and basic English language
(his neighbor was half-Jamaican). At the age of 14 his family remigrated back to Finland - this time to Helsinki
. Hulkko has said that this was something of a cultural shock to him - he had started to forget the Finnish language
. In Helsinki his family lived in the suburb of Vuosaari
, where Antti went to Botby Högstadieskolan school.
, McCoy had become well known in his home country, Finland
, due to his work in the punk rock
band Pelle Miljoona Oy. During this time McCoy was talking with Matti Fagerholm (better known as Michael Monroe
) to start a band of their own, but because McCoy was currently in Pelle Miljoona Oy, he told Monroe to start the band without him in 1979. After McCoy left Pelle Miljoona Oy, he joined Monroe in Hanoi Rocks, with another former-Pelle Miljoona Oy member, Sam Yaffa. At this point, the Hanoi Rocks line-up consisted of Michael Monroe (lead vocals), Andy McCoy (lead guitar), Nasty Suicide
(rhythm guitar), Sam Yaffa (bass) and Swedish Gyp Casino
(drums).
Band released their first album in 1981 titled Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
, with 8 out of 10 tracks written by McCoy. The album was produced by Andy McCoy and Michael Monroe who were known as "The Muddy Twins". In 1982 Hanoi Rocks recorded and released their second studio album Oriental Beat
in London
. The original cover's back side featured Andy McCoy's then girlfriend Anna's naked breasts painted blue and red with "Hanoi Roxx" written across it. After the albums release the band moved to London the same year and fired drummer Gyp Casino and hired drummer and Hanoi Rocks fan Nicholas Dingley better known as Razzle
. When Razzle joined the band, that line-up is considered the classic and definitive Hanoi Rocks line-up. Later that year the band released Self Destruction Blues
, which had Razzle on the cover, but he didn't play on the album, because it was actually a compilation of old singles. The tour for the album took the band to Asia for the first time. The next year 1983, the band released Back to Mystery City
and after that, in 1984, the band and got together with legendary producer Bob Ezrin
, and released Two Steps from the Move
. Before this, McCoy had written most of the song's by himself, but for this album Bob Ezrin helped McCoy with the writing, along with Monroe. He also got some help with the lyrics from legendary Ian Hunter
(of Mott The Hoople
). After the Razzle's tragic death, Sam Yaffa left the band due to personal differences with McCoy (amongst other reasons he was now engaged to Anna, McCoy's former girlfiend known from the Oriental Beat
cover. The band tried-out new members (amongst them The Clash
ex-drummer Terry Chimes
and bassist René Berg
), but things didn't work-out so the band disbanded in 1985.
In 2001 McCoy and Michael Monroe started working together again and decided to reform Hanoi Rocks with two new members on guitar and bass, with Michael Monroe's solo career drummer, Lacu
. They released Twelve Shots on the Rocks
that same year. In 2005 they released Another Hostile Takeover
with new members Andy Christell
on bass and Conny Bloom
on guitar (both formerly of the Electric Boys
). In 2007 the band released the album Street Poetry
. In 2008 Andy McCoy and Michael Monroe stated that they had taken the band as far as they could and so they decided to end the band. Hanoi Rocks played 8 sold out farewell gigs in 6 days at Tavastia Club
, Helsinki
. The original guitarist Nasty Suicide appeared as a special guest on 3 of the last gigs.
, bassplayer Timo Kaltio and vocalist Anita Chellemah of Toto Coelo
popfame (a hit with "I Eat Cannibals"). The band sparked new around the world as being the inherit of Hanoi Rocks. The music of The Cherry Bombz was actually very similar to that of Hanoi Rocks'. The band did toured around the world, and released numerous singles and an EP, but never a full-length album. In 1986 Timo Kaltio was replaced by bassist Dave Tregunna, but the next year, 1987, the band broke-up.
McCoy also worked with Nasty Suicide under the moniker "The Suicide Twins
" and released the album Silver Missiles And Nightingales
(which was the original working tile for Two Steps from the Move) in 1986, which also featured a guest appearance by René Berg. "The Suicide Twins" project disbanded in 1987
McCoy spent the rest of 1987 not doing much, except releasing his memoir titled "Andy McCoy - From Hanoi to Eternity", but nothing else. In 1988 McCoy released his first solo-album, titled Too Much Ain't Enough, but the album didn't succeed very much, due to McCoy's heroin addiction had risen and he wasn't in any shape for the making of the album. For the rest of 1988 McCoy did some acoustic gigs in Finland, moved to London and then to Los Angeles. Next McCoy struck a record deal with BMG. McCoy also became the first Finnish artist to have a gold record in the US, when Samantha Fox
recorded a cover of The Suicide Twins' song "The Best Is Yet to Come". The rest of 1988 and some of 1989 McCoy spent touring as the guitarist for Iggy Pop
. In 1989 McCoy appeared on the U.K. Subs' album Killing Time.
In the beginning of the 90's, McCoy lived in mansion in L.A. with his son and new girlfriend, Johnny Thunders
' cousin Angela Nicoletti
(former girlfriend of Izzy Stradlin
). McCoy was also starting to focus more on his music after kicking heroin in August 1991. After getting sober, McCoy formed the band Shooting Gallery
and married Angela in October 1991. Shooting Gallery toured as an opening act for Kiss
during a U.S. tour and also released an album in 1992, before breaking-up that same year. Shooting Gallery shortly came back and toured in Finland with Gyp Casino on drums in 1994, but again disbanded that same year.
After Shooting Gallery, people thought McCoy was a lost cause, but in 1995 McCoy's second solo-album Building On Tradition was released, and besides Hanoi Rocks, it McCoy's biggest success. The album's biggest hit "Strung Out" was originally meant for Shooting Gallery, but it was never recorded. For the tour's for Building On Tradition, McCoy assembled the band Live Ammo, which featured McCoy (guitar, vocals), Angela McCoy (vocals), Dan Lagerstedt (guitar, vocals), Andy Christell (bass), Gyp Casino (drums) and Christian André (keyboards). Christell had to soon leave the band for family reasons, so Lagerstedt started to play bass. André was also fired from the band, and they soon broke-up.
Also in 1995, McCoy appeared on The 69 Eyes
' songs "Vietnamese Baby" and the song "Wild Talk from the album Savage Garden (The 69 Eyes album). Next McCoy returned to his childhood passion: painting (which he still does).
In '96, McCoy and Pete Malmi reformed their old band Briard
after 20 years. The new Briard (which also included Angela McCoy) released a new album simply titled Briard. That same year filmmaker Pekka Lehto started the filming for the movie The Real McCoy, a half-real, half-fictional bio-pic on McCoy. The film was released in 1999.
After Hanoi officially ended in 2009, Andy McCoy formed a band called "The Real McCoy Band", but this band broke-up after just three shows, when guitarist Chris Shiflett
returned to the US when his son got ill with swine flu.
(Co-founder along with McCoy and front man for Hanoi Rocks) and former "wife" to Stiv Bators of the band `The Lords Of The New Church` (they had a pagan marriage which was not registered).
McCoy and Anastacia also had a son named Sebastian. He is living in the UK studying Method Acting today.
In 1989 McCoy and Stacy divorced. Stacy passed away from Bronchial problems in 1990. In 1991 McCoy married Angela Nicoletti
. She has since appeared on almost every project by McCoy.
McCoy was well known for his excessive drug and alcohol use in the 80's and 90's.
Besides music, McCoy is an avid painter and he also makes a lot of his own and his wife's clothes, along with designing jewelry, scarfs and other accessories. Ivo De Lange At Team IQ [www.iq.nl], whom is McCoy's creative consultant, liked his paintings. McCoy had his first Art Exhibition last May 2010 at The Cable Factory In Helsinki, Finland titled `Pure McCoy Hits Canvas´.
The Art Exhibition was a great success protected by The Kingdom Of The Netherlands. Team IQ and McCoy plan to have another one in the near future.
On July 27, 2009 a statue of McCoy (Sculpted in Wood by Matti Hulkko) was put up in Pelkosenniemi
, Finland in the main square. All proceeds went to charity for newcomers in the music business.
McCoy's autobiography Sheriff McCoy: Outlaw Legend of Hanoi Rocks was published in English translation on September 17, 2009 by Bazillion Points Books.
was asked Who is the best guitarist in rock right now? He replied: Andy McCoy. Period. When Dave Grohl met Andy McCoy he said "I have met my first Rockstar." That's a pretty good reason.
Samantha Fox
was attracted to Andy McCoy in 80's, when seeing Hanoi Rocks
live at England.
McCoy is also known as friend of Bam Margera
(professional skater
and jackass
star), McCoy made his appearance in Viva la Bam
, Bam Margera Presents: Where the#$&% Is Santa? and several times is heard on radio Bam
. Andy McCoy is tattooed on Bam Margera's right arm.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is most famous for his role as the lead guitarist and main songwriter of Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, but has also played with Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
.
Artistically McCoy's works cover a wide range of music forms, including rock 'n' roll, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
, glam punk
Glam punk
Glam Punk is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock ....
, glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
, blues rock and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
.
Early life
Antti Hulkko was born in PelkosenniemiPelkosenniemi
Pelkosenniemi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Finnish Lapland to Finnish parents. At the age of 9 his family moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he grew fluent in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
and basic English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(his neighbor was half-Jamaican). At the age of 14 his family remigrated back to Finland - this time to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. Hulkko has said that this was something of a cultural shock to him - he had started to forget the Finnish language
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
. In Helsinki his family lived in the suburb of Vuosaari
Vuosaari
Vuosaari is a neighbourhood in the City of Helsinki, Finland. It is located by the sea in East Helsinki, and with its area of 15.38 km² is geographically the largest district in the city. It also has two Helsinki Metro stations, Rastila and Vuosaari...
, where Antti went to Botby Högstadieskolan school.
Hanoi Rocks (1979-1985, 2001-2009)
Before Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, McCoy had become well known in his home country, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, due to his work in the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Pelle Miljoona Oy. During this time McCoy was talking with Matti Fagerholm (better known as Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
) to start a band of their own, but because McCoy was currently in Pelle Miljoona Oy, he told Monroe to start the band without him in 1979. After McCoy left Pelle Miljoona Oy, he joined Monroe in Hanoi Rocks, with another former-Pelle Miljoona Oy member, Sam Yaffa. At this point, the Hanoi Rocks line-up consisted of Michael Monroe (lead vocals), Andy McCoy (lead guitar), Nasty Suicide
Nasty Suicide
Nasty Suicide is the ex-rhythm and lead guitarist for Hanoi Rocks between 1979-1985. Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band that combined elements of punk, glam rock, rock and roll, and blues. Before his tenure in Hanoi Rocks, Suicide played guitar in a Finnish punk band called Briard in the late...
(rhythm guitar), Sam Yaffa (bass) and Swedish Gyp Casino
Gyp Casino
Gyp Casino is a Swedish rock drummer. He played in Warheads and was the original drummer for Hanoi Rocks. He was replaced by Razzle in 1982...
(drums).
Band released their first album in 1981 titled Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
- Personnel :* Michael Monroe – vocals, piano, saxophone, harmonica* Andy McCoy – guitars, backing vocals* Nasty Suicide – guitars, backing vocals* Sam Yaffa – bass* Gyp Casino – drums- External links :*...
, with 8 out of 10 tracks written by McCoy. The album was produced by Andy McCoy and Michael Monroe who were known as "The Muddy Twins". In 1982 Hanoi Rocks recorded and released their second studio album Oriental Beat
Oriental Beat
Oriental Beat is the second studio album by the Finnish glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, recorded in London and released in 1982. Oriental Beat also opened markets in England and Japan, where Hanoi eventually became very popular.-Background:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The original cover's back side featured Andy McCoy's then girlfriend Anna's naked breasts painted blue and red with "Hanoi Roxx" written across it. After the albums release the band moved to London the same year and fired drummer Gyp Casino and hired drummer and Hanoi Rocks fan Nicholas Dingley better known as Razzle
Razzle
Nicholas Dingley, alias Razzle , was the drummer of Hanoi Rocks from 1982 until his death.-Biography:...
. When Razzle joined the band, that line-up is considered the classic and definitive Hanoi Rocks line-up. Later that year the band released Self Destruction Blues
Self Destruction Blues
-Personnel:* Michael Monroe – vocals* Andy McCoy – guitars* Nasty Suicide – guitars* Sam Yaffa – bass* Gyp Casino – drums...
, which had Razzle on the cover, but he didn't play on the album, because it was actually a compilation of old singles. The tour for the album took the band to Asia for the first time. The next year 1983, the band released Back to Mystery City
Back to Mystery City
- Personnel :* Michael Monroe – lead vocals, saxophone, harmonica* Andy McCoy – lead guitar* Nasty Suicide – rhythm guitar* Sam Yaffa – bass* Razzle – drums- Additional personnel :* Morgan Fisher - Keyboards* Miriam Stockley - Background vocals...
and after that, in 1984, the band and got together with legendary producer Bob Ezrin
Bob Ezrin
Robert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
, and released Two Steps from the Move
Two Steps from the Move
Two Steps From The Move is the fourth studio album by the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks, released in 1984. The album was their last before disbanding after drummer Razzle's death in a car accident on December 8, 1984.-Album information:...
. Before this, McCoy had written most of the song's by himself, but for this album Bob Ezrin helped McCoy with the writing, along with Monroe. He also got some help with the lyrics from legendary Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (singer)
Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
(of Mott The Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
). After the Razzle's tragic death, Sam Yaffa left the band due to personal differences with McCoy (amongst other reasons he was now engaged to Anna, McCoy's former girlfiend known from the Oriental Beat
Oriental Beat
Oriental Beat is the second studio album by the Finnish glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, recorded in London and released in 1982. Oriental Beat also opened markets in England and Japan, where Hanoi eventually became very popular.-Background:...
cover. The band tried-out new members (amongst them The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
ex-drummer Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. He originally played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from May 1982 to February 1983. He was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks in 1985, before the band broke-up that same year...
and bassist René Berg
René Berg
René Berg was an English musician, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who recorded and performed in a number of bands starting in the late 70's until his death in 2003...
), but things didn't work-out so the band disbanded in 1985.
In 2001 McCoy and Michael Monroe started working together again and decided to reform Hanoi Rocks with two new members on guitar and bass, with Michael Monroe's solo career drummer, Lacu
Lacu
Lacu may refer to:* Lacu , the former drummer of Hanoi Rocks* Lacu, a Romanian skete on Mount Athos* Lacu, a village in Odăile Commune, Buzău County, Romania* Lacu, a village in Geaca Commune, Cluj County, Romania...
. They released Twelve Shots on the Rocks
Twelve Shots on the Rocks
Twelve Shots on the Rocks is the fifth studio album by the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks, released in 2002, however it was their first studio album since the band's break-up in 1985. Critical and commercial acclaim for the album exceeded expectations and the album went Gold in their native Finland....
that same year. In 2005 they released Another Hostile Takeover
Another Hostile Takeover
-Personnel:*Michael Monroe – Lead Vocals, Sax, Harp*Andy McCoy – Guitars & Backing Vocals*Conny Bloom – Guitars & Backing Vocals*Andy Christell – Bass, Backing Vocals*Lacu – Drums & Vocals...
with new members Andy Christell
Andy Christell
Andy "A.C." Christell is a Swedish bass guitarist. He is most notable as formerly playing in glam rock outfit Electric Boys as well as being the current bassist for Hanoi Rocks. He is a very close friend of Conny Bloom's, as they have played together in many bands and also knew each other...
on bass and Conny Bloom
Conny Bloom
Conny Bloom is the stage name for Ulf Conny Blomqvist, who is a Swedish guitarist and songwriter. He was originally the frontman for the late-1980s/1990s funk metal band, Electric Boys. Currently Bloom is best known as a guitarist of the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks...
on guitar (both formerly of the Electric Boys
Electric Boys
The Electric Boys are a funk metal band founded in Sweden in 1988, which enjoyed a cult status in Europe at the end of the decade.They were formed by Conny Bloom and Andy Christell . Originally a duo, they signed for Polygram and scored a local Swedish hit with the single "All Lips and Hips" in...
). In 2007 the band released the album Street Poetry
Street Poetry
Street Poetry is the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks' tenth studio album. The album reached the top 10 on the Finnish charts, and succeeded very well elsewhere in Europe too. The first single spawned was "Fashion", and the second was an internet-only single "This One's For Rock'n'Roll"...
. In 2008 Andy McCoy and Michael Monroe stated that they had taken the band as far as they could and so they decided to end the band. Hanoi Rocks played 8 sold out farewell gigs in 6 days at Tavastia Club
Tavastia Club
The Tavastia Club is a popular rock music club in Helsinki, Finland. The house is owned by Hämäläis-Osakunta, one of the student nations at the University of Helsinki, but since 1991 the club has been operated by a private enterprise renting the house from the nation. It is located in central...
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. The original guitarist Nasty Suicide appeared as a special guest on 3 of the last gigs.
Other work (1985-1999, 2009)
After Hanoi Rocks' break-up in 1985, McCoy continued with his next project "The Cherry Bombz" which featured the last Hanoi line-up (except Michael Monroe), which consisted of Nasty Suicide, drummer Terry ChimesTerry Chimes
Terry Chimes was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. He originally played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from May 1982 to February 1983. He was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks in 1985, before the band broke-up that same year...
, bassplayer Timo Kaltio and vocalist Anita Chellemah of Toto Coelo
Toto Coelo
Toto Coelo was a 1980s British one hit wonder new wave vocal group, masterminded by producer Barry Blue...
popfame (a hit with "I Eat Cannibals"). The band sparked new around the world as being the inherit of Hanoi Rocks. The music of The Cherry Bombz was actually very similar to that of Hanoi Rocks'. The band did toured around the world, and released numerous singles and an EP, but never a full-length album. In 1986 Timo Kaltio was replaced by bassist Dave Tregunna, but the next year, 1987, the band broke-up.
McCoy also worked with Nasty Suicide under the moniker "The Suicide Twins
The Suicide Twins
The Suicide Twins was a rock band, set up by Andy McCoy and Nasty Suicide after the break-up of Hanoi Rocks. The band managed to record only one album, Silver Missiles And Nightingales. This was done with acoustic guitars, with the two sharing vocal duties along with the late René Berg...
" and released the album Silver Missiles And Nightingales
Silver Missiles and Nightingales
Silver Missiles And Nightingales is the first and only album by the collaboration between Andy McCoy and Nasty Suicide...
(which was the original working tile for Two Steps from the Move) in 1986, which also featured a guest appearance by René Berg. "The Suicide Twins" project disbanded in 1987
McCoy spent the rest of 1987 not doing much, except releasing his memoir titled "Andy McCoy - From Hanoi to Eternity", but nothing else. In 1988 McCoy released his first solo-album, titled Too Much Ain't Enough, but the album didn't succeed very much, due to McCoy's heroin addiction had risen and he wasn't in any shape for the making of the album. For the rest of 1988 McCoy did some acoustic gigs in Finland, moved to London and then to Los Angeles. Next McCoy struck a record deal with BMG. McCoy also became the first Finnish artist to have a gold record in the US, when Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
recorded a cover of The Suicide Twins' song "The Best Is Yet to Come". The rest of 1988 and some of 1989 McCoy spent touring as the guitarist for Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. In 1989 McCoy appeared on the U.K. Subs' album Killing Time.
In the beginning of the 90's, McCoy lived in mansion in L.A. with his son and new girlfriend, Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
' cousin Angela Nicoletti
Angela Nicoletti
Angela McCoy is an American actress, who now resides in Finland.-Biography:Her father, born in Brooklyn, New York, is of Italian American descent...
(former girlfriend of Izzy Stradlin
Izzy Stradlin
Jeffrey Dean Isbell , known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy...
). McCoy was also starting to focus more on his music after kicking heroin in August 1991. After getting sober, McCoy formed the band Shooting Gallery
Shooting Gallery (band)
Shooting Gallery was a hard rock band featuring, among others, the former Hanoi Rocks guitarist Andy McCoy, Dave Tregunna and Paul Garisto from The Psychedelic Furs...
and married Angela in October 1991. Shooting Gallery toured as an opening act for Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
during a U.S. tour and also released an album in 1992, before breaking-up that same year. Shooting Gallery shortly came back and toured in Finland with Gyp Casino on drums in 1994, but again disbanded that same year.
After Shooting Gallery, people thought McCoy was a lost cause, but in 1995 McCoy's second solo-album Building On Tradition was released, and besides Hanoi Rocks, it McCoy's biggest success. The album's biggest hit "Strung Out" was originally meant for Shooting Gallery, but it was never recorded. For the tour's for Building On Tradition, McCoy assembled the band Live Ammo, which featured McCoy (guitar, vocals), Angela McCoy (vocals), Dan Lagerstedt (guitar, vocals), Andy Christell (bass), Gyp Casino (drums) and Christian André (keyboards). Christell had to soon leave the band for family reasons, so Lagerstedt started to play bass. André was also fired from the band, and they soon broke-up.
Also in 1995, McCoy appeared on The 69 Eyes
The 69 Eyes
The 69 Eyes are a multi-platinum selling Finnish gothic rock band. They are currently signed to EMI Finland. The band's albums are now distributed worldwide. The End Records acts as the band's official North American distributor, as Nuclear Blast Records provides distribution in Mainland Europe,...
' songs "Vietnamese Baby" and the song "Wild Talk from the album Savage Garden (The 69 Eyes album). Next McCoy returned to his childhood passion: painting (which he still does).
In '96, McCoy and Pete Malmi reformed their old band Briard
Briard
The Briard is a large breed of dog, one of many herding breeds. The Briard has been known for some centuries. Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson, and Lafayette all owned Briards. This ancient sheep guard and herder has also been used by the French Army as a sentry, messenger, and to search for...
after 20 years. The new Briard (which also included Angela McCoy) released a new album simply titled Briard. That same year filmmaker Pekka Lehto started the filming for the movie The Real McCoy, a half-real, half-fictional bio-pic on McCoy. The film was released in 1999.
After Hanoi officially ended in 2009, Andy McCoy formed a band called "The Real McCoy Band", but this band broke-up after just three shows, when guitarist Chris Shiflett
Chris Shiflett
Christopher Aubrey "Chris" Shiflett is best known as the lead guitarist for the rock band Foo Fighters as well as the punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. He is the younger brother of musician Scott Shiflett.-Career:Shiflett joined Foo Fighters after the release of their third...
returned to the US when his son got ill with swine flu.
Personal life
From 1986 to early 1989 McCoy was married to Anastacia (Stacy) Maisoneuve, also former girlfriend to Matti Fagerholm Aka Michael Monroe(Co-founder along with McCoy and front man for Hanoi Rocks) and former "wife" to Stiv Bators of the band `The Lords Of The New Church` (they had a pagan marriage which was not registered).
McCoy and Anastacia also had a son named Sebastian. He is living in the UK studying Method Acting today.
In 1989 McCoy and Stacy divorced. Stacy passed away from Bronchial problems in 1990. In 1991 McCoy married Angela Nicoletti
Angela Nicoletti
Angela McCoy is an American actress, who now resides in Finland.-Biography:Her father, born in Brooklyn, New York, is of Italian American descent...
. She has since appeared on almost every project by McCoy.
McCoy was well known for his excessive drug and alcohol use in the 80's and 90's.
Besides music, McCoy is an avid painter and he also makes a lot of his own and his wife's clothes, along with designing jewelry, scarfs and other accessories. Ivo De Lange At Team IQ [www.iq.nl], whom is McCoy's creative consultant, liked his paintings. McCoy had his first Art Exhibition last May 2010 at The Cable Factory In Helsinki, Finland titled `Pure McCoy Hits Canvas´.
The Art Exhibition was a great success protected by The Kingdom Of The Netherlands. Team IQ and McCoy plan to have another one in the near future.
On July 27, 2009 a statue of McCoy (Sculpted in Wood by Matti Hulkko) was put up in Pelkosenniemi
Pelkosenniemi
Pelkosenniemi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Finland in the main square. All proceeds went to charity for newcomers in the music business.
McCoy's autobiography Sheriff McCoy: Outlaw Legend of Hanoi Rocks was published in English translation on September 17, 2009 by Bazillion Points Books.
Trivia
When Acey SladeAcey Slade
Acey Slade, , is the lead singer and guitarist of the band Acey Slade & The Dark Party. Previous to this he was the lead vocalist and guitarist in the punk rock band Trashlight Vision, which broke up September 12, 2007...
was asked Who is the best guitarist in rock right now? He replied: Andy McCoy. Period. When Dave Grohl met Andy McCoy he said "I have met my first Rockstar." That's a pretty good reason.
Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
was attracted to Andy McCoy in 80's, when seeing Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
live at England.
McCoy is also known as friend of Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
(professional skater
Skater
Skater may refer to:*Skating , various activities:** Skater or skateboarder - someone who practices skateboarding, i.e. someone who rides a skateboard** Skater - someone who rides with rollerskates...
and jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
star), McCoy made his appearance in Viva la Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
, Bam Margera Presents: Where the#$&% Is Santa? and several times is heard on radio Bam
Radio Bam
Radio Bam is a Sirius Radio Station that is aired on Mondays at 7pm, straight after The Jason Ellis Show. On each episode, Bam Margera and his friends tell stories about past times and play music...
. Andy McCoy is tattooed on Bam Margera's right arm.
Solo
- Too Much Ain't Enough (1988)
- Aspects of Andy McCoy (1995)
- Building on Tradition (1995)
- The Real McCoy - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1999)
- R'n'R Memorabilia - The Best Solo Tracks So Far! (2003)
Briard
- I Really Hate Ya - 7" (1977)
- Fuck the Army - 7" (1978)
- Chirpy Chirpy Cheap Cheap - 7" (1979)
- Miss World - LP (1983)
- Briard (1996)
- Miss World - rerelease with 15 bonus songs (2005)
Cherry Bombz
- Cherry Bombz/Hot Girls In Love (Mini-LP) (1985)
- House of Ecstacy (EP) (1986)
- Coming Down Slow (Live) (1987)
Guest appearances
- Maukka Perusjätkä: Ennen kolmatta maailmansotaa (1980)
- Pete Malmi: Malmi Re-released 2005 (1981)
- Urban Dogs: Urban Dogs (McCoy on guitar on A Bridge Too Far and Human Beings) (1983)
- Fallen Angels: Fallen Angels (McCoy on additional guitar) (1983)
- Fallen Angels: In Loving Memory (McCoy on additional guitar) (1986)
- UK SubsUK SubsThe U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
: Killing Time (McCoy plays guitar on Drag Me Down) (1988) - Snatches of PinkSnatches of PinkSnatches of Pink is a rock band based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Current members are Michael Rank , Marc E. Smith , Nikos Chremos and John Howie Jr , with Michael Rank as the chief songwriter.The band was formed in 1985 by Rank with original bassist / lead vocalist Andy McMillan, and Sarah...
: Bent With Pray (McCoy plays guitar on Screams) (1992) - The 69 EyesThe 69 EyesThe 69 Eyes are a multi-platinum selling Finnish gothic rock band. They are currently signed to EMI Finland. The band's albums are now distributed worldwide. The End Records acts as the band's official North American distributor, as Nuclear Blast Records provides distribution in Mainland Europe,...
: Savage Garden (Wild Talk with/by McCoy) (1995) - The 69 Eyes: Velvet Touch (McCoy plays guitar on TV Eye) (1995)
- XL5: Taas Mennään (Guitar by McCoy) (1996)
- 22 Pistepirkko: Downhill City (McCoy on the song Let The Romeo Weep) (1999)
- Hidria Spacefolk: Balansia (McCoy on slide guitar on "Pajas") (2004)