There is something about every Michael Monroe show that lights up a night, and tonight was no exception. On a miserable Brighton evening, the very best place to be was the small Concorde 2 club on the seafront.
Michael Monroe
Concorde 2, Brighton – 27 May 2025
Words And Photography: Adrian Stonley
This really is the perfect venue to see a great rock and roll band. Small, intimate, dark and absolutely perfect for Michael’s punky glam rock.
The man is a livewire. From the moment he hit the stage to the end of the show, ninety minutes later, he did not stop high kicking, leaping around and twirling his microphone stand, bedecked with a scarf a la Steve Tyler.
Monroe is a rock ‘n’ roll whirlwind, and the enthusiasm and intensity of this show was overwhelming. There is no holding him back. If someone was born to rock ‘n’ roll, then that person would be Michael Monroe.
With a high energy, high intensity set this was the perfect night out. Opening with Dead, Jail Or Rock ‘n’ Roll, followed rapidly by I Live Too Fast To Die Young, Michael Moonroe set out his intent from the start—great, intensive, raucous punk ‘n’ roll.
The band were down and dirty, and the music edgy enough to embrace all persons here tonight in a euphoric display of good-time madness.
The set was perfectly split between his own solo material, Demolition 23, Hanoi Rocks and a few perfect covers. This was a lesson about having a good time, and everyone in the audience clearly passed. 
On stage, Michael is a whirling dervish, whether twirling his mike, reaching out to the audience, or showing his own musical ability with deft and melodic ventures built in as he introduced his saxophone and some bluesy harmonica breaks.
Michael is the ultimate performer. He knows exactly what his audience wants to hear and it was clear that he intended to deliver. No one was going home disappointed tonight.
Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics was dedicated to the drinkers in the audience, unsurprisingly receiving a relevant response and raised beer glasses in recognition.
Stained Glass Heart saw the band slow proceedings down for a while, which enabled him and the band to take a very brief breather before tearing into audience favourite Old Kings Road.
With ex-Hanoi Rocks band member Sami Yaffer on bass, there were times that it seemed as though the ’80s had never ended. The long road trip started by Hanoi is still rolling, and the clock was certainly rolled back tonight.
Nothin’s Alright and Hammersmith Palais saw the band delve back into 1990’s Demolition 23 territory, with both songs coming from the band’s only studio album.
The set ended with two Hanoi Rocks staples, Malibu Beach Nightmare, followed by Up Around The Bend, the Creedence Clearwater Revival song that, back in the ’80s, Hanoi Rocks had made their own anthem.
Returning for three encores, they continued in the same vein, with a storming Taxi Driver before an extended cover of the Iggy and the Stooge’s I Feel Alright with an interjection of Golden Earrings’ Radar Love, which had the audience in full voice.
This show was the perfect antidote to a miserable night, and those who did not venture out missed out on a perfect evening of sleazy, punky rock ‘n’ roll shenanigans. Bloody marvellous.
