Famed Hanoi Rocks guitarist and songwriter Andy McCoy taps into the rich musical history that inspired him on his highly-addictive new covers album, Jukebox Junkie.
Featuring an eclectic mix of songs originally by reggae legends Toots & The Maytals, David Bowie, ‘80s hitmakers Squeeze, rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson and more, Jukebox Junkie reveals the influences that allowed Andy McCoy to write all those great Hanoi Rocks songs.
Hanoi Rocks were never shy about recording cover songs that seemed to come from out of the blue, whether it be Hoyt Axton’s “Lightning Bar Blues” or Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Up Around The Bend,” and they always made them their own. So, it’s not really a surprise to find McCoy recording an entire album of them.
Andy McCoy himself explains why he made a covers record: "These are songs that everyone ought to know. I chose them from a list of 60 that I thought deserved to be bigger hits. I think this is the most colorful album I have ever done."
Unfortunately, Andy McCoy and Hanoi Rocks didn’t get the same amount of love for their amazing “11th Street Kids” moment in HBO Max’s Peacemaker as Kate Bush did for “Running Up That Hill” in Stranger Things, but that pretty much sums up Hanoi’s history. Always the underdogs but never the top dogs. Guns N' Roses made it clear early on that Hanoi were a huge influence on them, then went on to sell a gazillion records while Hanoi Rocks remained a “cult” band and faded into obscurity. We’re talking about the same band that came to the US for their first tour, their big break, only to lose drummer Razzle who was riding with a drunk Vince Neil when he lost control of his car and crashed into another vehicle, killing Razzle and seriously injuring the occupants of the other car. That was pretty much the end for Hanoi Rocks. They had great songs, they had a great image, and they never had a chance.