The following summer (1993) they also worked together in the studio, recording two songs for the Johnny Thunders Tribute Album "I Only Wrote This Song For You". Thunders was always one of Hanoi's favorites and a good friend, especially to Michael. In the spring 1985 Johnny stayed in Michael's flat in Portobello, London whilst recording his "Que Sera, Sera" solo album, and Michael played saxophone and harmonica on most of the songs. A year before Johnny's death another friend, Stiv Bators, had passed away after being hit by a car in Paris. Following this, Guns n' Roses invited Mike to play sax and harmonica on 'Bad Obsession' from the "Use Your Illusion". The follow-up album "Spaghetti Incident" had also been virtually finished by this time, but Mike gave Axl a tape of the Dead Boys as he wasn't that familiar with their music, and when he listened to the tape, Axl was so blown away by the song "Ain't It Fun" he decided that it had to be recorded for the next record as a tribute to Stiv. Mike and Axl duetted, trading verses and sharing the chorus, and when the single was released it reached the top ten in th UK charts.
Another collabortation came in June 1993, when Slash asked Michael to contribute to the movie soundtrack of the "Coneheads" comedy film. The song they chose was a cover of Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride". Around the same time Guns & Roses were playing at the Milton Keynes bowl in the UK, and asked Michael to join them onstage along with Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) to play "Honky Tonk Women" at the end of their set.
In 1993 Michael went into the studio with Little Steven producing. The album was recorded and mixed in two weeks, and he named the band and album 'Demolition 23'. In early 1994 the album was set for release in Japan, and they were booked for live dates, but guitarist Jay Hening was hit by a car, delaying the tour. They finally started with dates in New York, and a tour of Japan & Europe was planned, however Jay couldn't leave the US due to passport problems. At the last minute Nasty took his place, and as he lived in London, the guys flew in a day early to have one rehearsal before the first gig. After touring in Japan and Scandinavia and planning a UK tour, Nasty announced that he would be leaving the band since he had decided to quit music altogether to study science. Disappointed and disillusioned Michael disbanded Demolition 23. It was around this time that Michael recorded a song with fellow Scandinavians the Backyard Babies, which ended up as a b-side to one of their singles . At the end of April '97 Jay Hening took his own life.
By 1995 Michael had tired of the US music scene, and for a while considered moving back to London, but instead headed home to Finland. During the merciless Finnish winter, he wrote his next solo album "Peace Of Mind". Released in Scandinavia in summer 1996, most of the songs were co-written with friend, collaborator and backing singer Jude Wilder, who is now also Mike's manager. As well as singing, playing saxophone and harmonica, Mike also produced and played bass and guitars on the album. Following the album release, Michael performed at major Festivals in Finland to an ecstatic response, and continued to perform occasional solo gigs until finally reforming Hanoi Rocks with Andy McCoy in 2002.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE MICHAEL MONROE: Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Guns n' Roses, Iggy & the Stooges, Stiv Bators, The Dead Boys, Andy McCoy, Cheap and Nasty, Faster Pussycat, Backyard Babies.
http://www.glampunk.org/stivmmonroe.htm