Million Miles Away (Hanoi Rocks song)
Encyclopedia
"Million Miles Away" is a ballad
by the Finnish hard rock band Hanoi Rocks
.
The song was originally written by guitarist Andy McCoy
in the 70's under the name "Never Get Enough". McCoy worked on the song on the piano for years, but it was never fully completed. In the Fall of 1983, a raw demo version was made, and when the pre-production for the album Two Steps From The Move
started, the song was again brought out. Musician Pete Brown
was also present for some of the writing process for the album and wrote many lyric himself. Although the only piece of lyrics that were used are "Smoked a lot of sky, drank a lot of rain", which are featured in "Million Miles Away".
The song features a saxophone-solo by singer Michael Monroe
and the guitar solo played by Nasty Suicide
, rather than Andy McCoy. At live performances Andy McCoy would often play the piano, while the other guitarist would play guitar.
Even though "Million Miles Away" wasn't released as a single (except in Japan), it still remains as one of Hanoi Rocks' most popular and well-known song's. After the death of the band's drummer Razzle
, the song was dedicated to him.
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
by the Finnish hard rock band 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...
.
The song was originally written by guitarist Andy McCoy
Andy McCoy
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....
in the 70's under the name "Never Get Enough". McCoy worked on the song on the piano for years, but it was never fully completed. In the Fall of 1983, a raw demo version was made, and when the pre-production for the album 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:...
started, the song was again brought out. Musician Pete Brown
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown is an English performance poet and lyricist.Best known for his collaborations with Jack Bruce, Brown also worked with The Battered Ornaments, formed his own group Pete Brown & Piblokto!, and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scores and formed a film...
was also present for some of the writing process for the album and wrote many lyric himself. Although the only piece of lyrics that were used are "Smoked a lot of sky, drank a lot of rain", which are featured in "Million Miles Away".
The song features a saxophone-solo by singer 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...
and the guitar solo played by 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...
, rather than Andy McCoy. At live performances Andy McCoy would often play the piano, while the other guitarist would play guitar.
Even though "Million Miles Away" wasn't released as a single (except in Japan), it still remains as one of Hanoi Rocks' most popular and well-known song's. After the death of the band's drummer Razzle
Razzle
Nicholas Dingley, alias Razzle , was the drummer of Hanoi Rocks from 1982 until his death.-Biography:...
, the song was dedicated to him.
Personnel
- Michael MonroeMichael MonroeMatti 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...
– Lead Vocals, Saxophone - Andy McCoyAndy McCoyAntti 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....
– Guitars - Nasty SuicideNasty SuicideNasty 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...
– Guitars - Sam Yaffa – Bass
- Razzle – Drums
- Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert 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:...
- Keyboards, percussion