AJ Johansson

Hanoi Rocks announce new mammoth 6LP and 6CD boxset “The Complete Collection 1981-1984”

Author Benedetta Baldin - 16.9.2026

Originally formed in 1979 in Helsinki by iconic singer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Monroe, Finnish rock superstars Hanoi Rocks are proud to announce “The Complete Collection 1981-1984”, a deluxe compilation of their influential first five studio albums, set for release November 13 via BMG. Featuring the bands much fabled albums “Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks” (1981), “Oriental Beat” (2022 ”The RE(AL)MIX” ), “Self Destruction Blues” (1982), “Back To Mystery City” (1983) and “Two Steps From the Move” (1984), the 6LP and 6 CD set includes a bonus album comprised of rare and unreleased tracks, titled “Motorvatin’!!!.” The bonus album includes songs from rare BBC live sessions as well as never before heard demos.

“The new Hanoi Rocks Box Set includes all the albums by the original band, including the ”Oriental Beat” 40th Anniversary release ”The RE(AL)MIX”, which came out in 2022. There’s also a special extra Bonus LP of rarities with even some previously unreleased tracks. The artwork has been put together nicely and it has a vast amount of great, rare and some never before seen photos. If someone is not familiar with Hanoi Rocks, this is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the band’s unique material.I recommend this Box Set to everybody!!” – Michael Monroe

The physical version of “The Complete Collection 1981-1984” includes a 36-page photobook featuring many previously unseen and rare shots, as well as studio album art cards from Hanoi Rock’s legendary initial run as a band.

Watch an unboxing video for this release HERE

This set allows a timely reappraisal of Hanoi Rock’s hugely potent work. The first Finnish band to chart in the UK and get their music heard around the world, their fusion of punk rock energy and attitude with classic glam rock n’ roll quickly proved hard for the world to disregard. Frontman Michael Monroe was, and still very much is, an electric livewire of red hot energy, his shock of bleached blonde hair, all killer looks and killer hooks, made for an unforgettable live experience. This, combined with two sharp-shootin’ guitar gunslingers Nasty Suicide and Andy McCoy flanking left and right, whilst bassist Sami Yaffa and drummer Gyp Casino (later replaced by Razzle) held down the hefty rhythms, Hanoi Rocks had everything it takes to be one of the biggest rock bands in the world. 

It will always be one of the biggest tragedies in the history of rock that by 1984, when the band were considered to be on the verge of international breakthrough with the release of their first major label album “Two Steps From The Move”, Hanoi Rocks had to disastrously cut their first US tour short when their drummer Nicholas ‘Razzle’ Dingley died in a tragic car accident. The band, reeling from the sudden loss, split in 1985. 

Thankfully, the story didn’t end there and Hanoi Rock’s legacy lived on as a major influence on the glam metal era of Guns n’ Roses, Skid Row and Poison etc, and the band reformed again in the early 2000s until 2009, reuniting their original line-up one more time in 2022 to celebrate Monroe’s 60th birthday at the Helsinki Ice Hall. 

“The Complete Collection 1981-1984” displays in full the enduring impact of Hanoi Rocks’ song-writing craft, ballistic energy and colourful glamourous flair for fans of old and future generations to discover and enjoy. 

The Complete Collection 1981-1984 6LP Boxset tracklisting:

LP 1 – Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
SIDE A
1          Tragedy
2          Village Girl
3          Stop Cryin’
4          Don’t Never Leave Me
5          Lost in the City 
SIDE B
1          First Timer
2          Cheyenne
3          11th Street Kidzz
4          Walking with My Angel
5          Pretender

LP 2 – Oriental Beat ( 2022 ”The RE(AL)MIX”)
SIDE A
1          Motorvatin’
2          Don’t Follow Me
3          Visitor
4          Teenangels Outsiders
5          Sweet Home Suburbia
SIDE B
1          M.C. Baby
2          No Law Or Order
3          Oriental Beat
4          Devil Woman
5          Lightnin’ Bar Blues
6          Fallen Star

LP 3 – Self Destruction Blues
SIDE A
1          Love’s an Injection
2          I Want You
3          Cafe Avenue
4          Nothing New
5          Kill City
6          Self Destruction Blues
SIDE B
1          Beer and a Cigarette
2          Whispers In the Dark
3          Taxi Driver
4          Desperados
5          Problem Child
6          Dead By Xmas

LP 4 – Back to Mystery City
SIDE A
1          Strange Boys Play Weird Openings
2          Malibu Beach Nightmare
3          Mental Beat
4          Tooting Bec Wreck
5          Until I Get You
SIDE B
1          Sailing Down the Tears
2          Lick Summer Love
3          Beating Gets Faster
4          Ice Cream Summer
5          Back to Mystery City

LP 5 – Two Steps From the Move
SIDE A
1          Up Around the Bend
2          High School
3          I Can’t Get It
4          Underwater World
5          Don’t You Ever Leave Me
SIDE B
1          Million Miles Away
2          Boulevard of Broken Dreams
3          Boiler (Me Boiler ‘N’ Me)
4          Futurama
5          Cutting Corners

LP 6 – Motorvatin’!!!
SIDE A
1          Two Steps From The Move
2          Underwater World (BBC Session)
3          Boulevard of Broken Dreams (BBC Session)
4          Oil and Gasoline
5          Shakes
SIDE B
1          Magic Carpet Ride
2          The Beating Gets Faster (I Know You) (Demo)
3          Sailing Down the Tears (Demo)
4          Rebels on the Run (Demo)
5          Malibu Beach (Calypso Version)

Pre-order is available here

The Complete Collection 1981-1984 6CD Boxset tracklisting:

CD 1 – Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
1          Tragedy
2          Village Girl
3          Stop Cryin’
4          Don’t Never Leave Me
5          Lost in the City
6          First Timer
7          Cheyenne
8          11th Street Kidzz
9          Walking with My Angel
10        Pretender

CD 2 – Oriental Beat ( 2022 ”The RE(AL)MIX”)
1          Motorvatin’
2          Don’t Follow Me
3          Visitor
4          Teenangels Outsiders
5          Sweet Home Suburbia
6          M.C. Baby
7          No Law Or Order
8          Oriental Beat
9          Devil Woman
10        Lightnin’ Bar Blues
11        Fallen Star

CD 3 – Self Destruction Blues
1          Love’s an Injection
2          I Want You
3          Cafe Avenue
4          Nothing New
5          Kill City
6          Self Destruction Blues
7          Beer and a Cigarette
8          Whispers In the Dark
9          Taxi Driver
10        Desperados
11        Problem Child
12        Dead By Xmas

CD 4 – Back to Mystery City
1          Strange Boys Play Weird Openings
2          Malibu Beach Nightmare
3          Mental Beat
4          Tooting Bec Wreck
5          Until I Get You
6          Sailing Down the Tears
7          Lick Summer Love
8          Beating Gets Faster
9          Ice Cream Summer
10        Back to Mystery City

CD 5 – Two Steps From the Move
1          Up Around the Bend
2          High School
3          I Can’t Get It
4          Underwater World
5          Don’t You Ever Leave Me
6          Million Miles Away
7          Boulevard of Broken Dreams
8          Boiler (Me Boiler ‘N’ Me)
9          Futurama
10        Cutting Corners

CD 6 – Motorvatin’!!!
1          Two Steps From The Move
2          Underwater World (BBC Session)
3          Boulevard of Broken Dreams (BBC Session)
4          Oil and Gasoline
5          Shakes
6          Magic Carpet Ride
7          The Beating Gets Faster (I Know You) (Demo)
8          Sailing Down the Tears (Demo)
9          Rebels on the Run (Demo)
10        Malibu Beach (Calypso Version)

Pre-order is available here