Sami Yaffa
Encyclopedia
Sami Yaffa is a bass guitarist best known for his time in Hanoi Rocks
during the 1980s. He is currently the bassist for the New York Dolls
and the Michael Monroe band. He also plays guitar in his own band "Mad Juana".
band, Suopo, in 1979. They did not record any material and stayed relatively unknown even in the Finnish punk rock scene. Around this time Yaffa also played with another Finnish punk rock band, Pohjanoteeraus.
bandmate Andy McCoy in Pelle Miljoona Oy. The two of them took part in the band's most successful album "Moottoritie On Kuuma". Before the group toured they both decided to leave and to join Hanoi Rocks
.
Hanoi Rocks
became the biggest band in Finland at the time, releasing a string of successful albums. The group moved from Stockholm to London and continued to gain fans and influence the music scene there. In London, Yaffa, along with Hanoi Rocks bandmates Nasty Suicide
and Razzle, as well as Knox of the Vibrators
, recorded an album under the name Fallen Angels. Knox continued to perform as Fallen Angels after, though the Hanoi Rocks members including Yaffa never played with the band onstage.
. They only recorded one EP under the name Pelle Almgren & Sam Yaffa. 1987 saw Yaffa doing a couple of gigs with then London based Johnny Thunders
. Another member of the New York Dolls
, Jerry Nolan, was also in the group. At this time Yaffa considered getting a day job and quitting his music career.
Around this time he was asked to join San Francisco-based band Jetboy. He joined the band and stayed with them until 1990. He recorded two albums with Jet Boy: "Feel The Shake" and "Damned Nation". Although Jet Boy toured all over the States, Yaffa still found time to play with Johnny Thunders' band on his US tour and with a group called Stronzo (Featuring Mark Ford
of the Black Crowes and Craig Ross
of Lenny Kravitz
's band). He also played a gig with Michael Monroe
's solo band in Los Angeles in 1988.
In 1989 Yaffa briefly joined a Finnish band Smack
who had moved to Los Angeles. He played bass on tracks "Can You Dig It" and "Crazy River". He was credited as Ulan Bator because he was still in Jetboy at the time and had been asked not to use his real name.
in 1990 to join Hanoi frontman Michael Monroe in a new band, Jerusalem Slim. The group featured Billy Idol
's guitarist, Steve Stevens
. The band broke up in 1992, because of Michael Monroe's and Steve Stevens' strong musical disagreements. They nonetheless released an album.
Yaffa played in a band called Love Pirates with Gass Wylde of the Pretenders
from 1990–1993. Between 1991–1994 Yaffa also played in Alison Gordy's band. Gordy had earlier played with Johnny Thunders
and had also performed minor roles in several television shows. Yaffa played on Gordy's album Blonde and Blue.
saw Yaffa in another band with Michael Monroe
. This group also featured Jay Henning (Star Star) and drummer Jimmy Clark. Henning was later replaced with Nasty Suicide
. The group broke up with only one album after Nasty left in the middle of a European tour. Henning committed suicide a few years later in 1997.
Earlier in 1993 Yaffa and Monroe recorded Steppenwolf
's song "Magic Carpet Ride
" with Guns N' Roses
guitarist Slash
for the movie Coneheads
.
In 1995 Yaffa formed Mad Juana (briefly known as Lewt Vagrant) with his wife Karmen Guy. Yaffa described the band's sound as "Think of the Pogues
meets (the) Clash
with all acoustic instruments. Beautiful female voice in a Velvet Underground dungeon."http://www.glitzine.net/intervjuer/samyaffa_interview.htm. The following year he played bass on an album by Jan Stenfors, aka Hanoi Rocks' Nasty Suicide.
From around 2000 to 2002, Yaffa played in the NYC-based band Vasquez with former DGeneration guitarist Richard Bacchus. Along with drummer Eric Kuby, this trio released one CD, titled "Two Songs", and also recorded a live record which remains unreleased to this day (Yaffa is in possession of the master tapes).
In 2002 Yaffa toured in the US and in Japan with Murphy's Law
. He then joined up with Joan Jett
and played with her for a year, until 2004.
In 2006, when not working with the revamped New York Dolls, Yaffa also toured as a member of Jesse Malin's backing band.
in 2004 and features on the group's new album One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This. He is still also playing acoustic guitar with his wife in Mad Juana.
In his satirical autobiography, British
writer Seb Hunter states that Yaffa was his hero during the 1980s when he played bass for Hanoi Rocks.
On 25 January 2010, ex-Hanoi Rocks singer Michael Monroe held a press conference is Los Angeles, introducing a new band named after the lead singer. Yaffa was introduced as the band's bass player. The new Michael Monroe band started to tour in March 2010, and continued to tour for the Summer. The band's first live album was released in late September, and their first studio album will be released in 2011.
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...
during the 1980s. He is currently the bassist for the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
and the Michael Monroe band. He also plays guitar in his own band "Mad Juana".
Biography
Yaffa first began playing music when only fourteen years old in 1977 with a band called Babblers. He went along with another member of the Babblers (Pepe Seivo) and formed a punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, Suopo, in 1979. They did not record any material and stayed relatively unknown even in the Finnish punk rock scene. Around this time Yaffa also played with another Finnish punk rock band, Pohjanoteeraus.
Hanoi Rocks
In 1980 Yaffa joined future Hanoi RocksHanoi 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...
bandmate Andy McCoy in Pelle Miljoona Oy. The two of them took part in the band's most successful album "Moottoritie On Kuuma". Before the group toured they both decided to leave and to join 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...
.
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...
became the biggest band in Finland at the time, releasing a string of successful albums. The group moved from Stockholm to London and continued to gain fans and influence the music scene there. In London, Yaffa, along with Hanoi Rocks bandmates 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...
and Razzle, as well as Knox of the Vibrators
The Vibrators
- Early career:The Vibrators were founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his...
, recorded an album under the name Fallen Angels. Knox continued to perform as Fallen Angels after, though the Hanoi Rocks members including Yaffa never played with the band onstage.
Playing with Johnny Thunders and Jetboy
After Razzle's death, Yaffa left Hanoi Rocks and formed Chain Gang with Pelle Almgren in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. They only recorded one EP under the name Pelle Almgren & Sam Yaffa. 1987 saw Yaffa doing a couple of gigs with then London based Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
. Another member of the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, Jerry Nolan, was also in the group. At this time Yaffa considered getting a day job and quitting his music career.
Around this time he was asked to join San Francisco-based band Jetboy. He joined the band and stayed with them until 1990. He recorded two albums with Jet Boy: "Feel The Shake" and "Damned Nation". Although Jet Boy toured all over the States, Yaffa still found time to play with Johnny Thunders' band on his US tour and with a group called Stronzo (Featuring Mark Ford
Mark Ford
-Life:He went to school in London, and attended Oxford University and, as a Kennedy Scholar, Harvard University. He studied for his doctorate at Oxford University on the poetry of John Ashbery, and has published widely on nineteenth- and twentieth-century American writing, including on Raymond...
of the Black Crowes and Craig Ross
Craig Ross
Craig David Ross is an American guitarist best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz.-Biography:Ross was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since...
of Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
's band). He also played a gig with 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...
's solo band in Los Angeles in 1988.
In 1989 Yaffa briefly joined a Finnish band Smack
Smack (Finnish band)
Smack was a Finnish band, which was active 1982-1990. The band's original line-up consisted of singer Claude, guitarists Kartsa and Manchuria, bassist Cheri and drummer Kinde.-Discography:* Smack On You...
who had moved to Los Angeles. He played bass on tracks "Can You Dig It" and "Crazy River". He was credited as Ulan Bator because he was still in Jetboy at the time and had been asked not to use his real name.
Jerusalem Slim
Yaffa moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1990 to join Hanoi frontman Michael Monroe in a new band, Jerusalem Slim. The group featured Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
's guitarist, Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He...
. The band broke up in 1992, because of Michael Monroe's and Steve Stevens' strong musical disagreements. They nonetheless released an album.
Yaffa played in a band called Love Pirates with Gass Wylde of the Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
from 1990–1993. Between 1991–1994 Yaffa also played in Alison Gordy's band. Gordy had earlier played with Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
and had also performed minor roles in several television shows. Yaffa played on Gordy's album Blonde and Blue.
Demolition 23 and Mad Juana
Demolition 23Demolition 23
Demolition 23. was a rock band formed in 1993 in New York by former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe and ex-Star Star guitarist Jay Hening, following the ending of Monroe's Jerusalem Slim project with Steve Stevens....
saw Yaffa in another band with 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...
. This group also featured Jay Henning (Star Star) and drummer Jimmy Clark. Henning was later replaced with 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...
. The group broke up with only one album after Nasty left in the middle of a European tour. Henning committed suicide a few years later in 1997.
Earlier in 1993 Yaffa and Monroe recorded Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
's song "Magic Carpet Ride
Magic Carpet Ride
"Magic Carpet Ride" is a rock song written by John Kay and Rushton Moreve from the Canadian-American band Steppenwolf. The song was initially released in 1968 on the album The Second. It was the lead single from that album, peaking at No. 3 in the US, and becoming the band's second-biggest hit,...
" with Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
guitarist Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
for the movie Coneheads
Coneheads
The Coneheads is a sketch on Saturday Night Live which originated on the January 15, 1977 episode, and starred Dan Aykroyd as father Beldar, Jane Curtin as mother Prymaat, and Laraine Newman as daughter Connie.-Summary:...
.
In 1995 Yaffa formed Mad Juana (briefly known as Lewt Vagrant) with his wife Karmen Guy. Yaffa described the band's sound as "Think of the Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
meets (the) Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
with all acoustic instruments. Beautiful female voice in a Velvet Underground dungeon."http://www.glitzine.net/intervjuer/samyaffa_interview.htm. The following year he played bass on an album by Jan Stenfors, aka Hanoi Rocks' Nasty Suicide.
From around 2000 to 2002, Yaffa played in the NYC-based band Vasquez with former DGeneration guitarist Richard Bacchus. Along with drummer Eric Kuby, this trio released one CD, titled "Two Songs", and also recorded a live record which remains unreleased to this day (Yaffa is in possession of the master tapes).
In 2002 Yaffa toured in the US and in Japan with Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law (band)
Murphy's Law is an American hardcore band from New York City, New York, formed in 1982. While vocalist Jimmy Gestapo remains the only founding member of the band, the line-up has consisted of former members of bands such as Skinnerbox, Danzig, The Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Dog Eat Dog, Hanoi...
. He then joined up with Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
and played with her for a year, until 2004.
In 2006, when not working with the revamped New York Dolls, Yaffa also toured as a member of Jesse Malin's backing band.
Recent events
Yaffa joined the current incarnation of the New York DollsNew York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
in 2004 and features on the group's new album One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This. He is still also playing acoustic guitar with his wife in Mad Juana.
In his satirical autobiography, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer Seb Hunter states that Yaffa was his hero during the 1980s when he played bass for Hanoi Rocks.
On 25 January 2010, ex-Hanoi Rocks singer Michael Monroe held a press conference is Los Angeles, introducing a new band named after the lead singer. Yaffa was introduced as the band's bass player. The new Michael Monroe band started to tour in March 2010, and continued to tour for the Summer. The band's first live album was released in late September, and their first studio album will be released in 2011.