RETROSPECTIVE – The Death of Razzle

Razzle had first joined Hanoi Rocks in 1982 after the band had fired their drummer, Gyp Casino, during the promotion of their second album, Oriental Beat. Fronted by Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy, the group had hailed from Finland and were heavily influenced by the likes of the New York Dolls and Kiss. Following the release of their debut album in a year earlier, Hanoi Rocks had successfully built up a strong following across Europe and Asia, although their decadent lifestyles would often eclipse their musical achievements. Razzle was born Nicholas Dingley on December 2nd 1960 in Royal Leamington Spa, England, and was the only member of the band at that time not to hail from Finland. Having been given up for adoption, Nicholas was taken in by Henry and Irena Dingley and relocated to Coventy, before eventually settling in Binstead on the Isle of Wight. Taking little interest in education, he became a passionate drummer and briefly performed in a local band called Thin Red Line.

After uprooting and moving to London, Razzle spent time with several obscure groups before witnessing a Hanoi Rocks gig in the summer of 1982. He was already familiar with the band through magazine articles but this was the first time that he had seen them perform live. Approaching them backstage at the Marquee Club, Razzle insisted that he become their drummer and, with Casino finally out of the picture, he officially joined the group. Their continued success saw them travelling all around the world, with their greatest success being in Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. Following the release of their third studio album, Back to the Mystery City, in May 1983, Hanoi Rocks returned to the Marquee to record a live album and video entitled All Those Wasted Years. With various record companies bidding to sign the band, they made their major label debut in August 1984 with Two Steps from the Move, which saw them teaming up with acclaimed producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss) and enjoying modest success with their cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s 1970 classic Up Around the Bend. Their newfound popularity saw them performing several shows in New York, although they would be forced to cancel some dates after Monroe twisted his ankle during a performance in Syracuse.

Much like his new bandmates, Razzle had become notorious for his drug and alcohol intake, although Monroe had opted to remain substance-free. Despite his leg injury, the group had two dates in Los Angeles ahead of them and tickets had reportedly sold out in less than twenty minute. Arriving in L.A., they were soon contacted by Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, the bassist (and key songwriter) and drummer for Mötley Crüe, who were eager to party with them. Mötley Crüe themselves had returned home from a successful tour in support of their second album, Shout at the Devil, which had included an opening slot for the infamous Monsters of Rock festival in the UK. Their behaviour on tour had become something of a notoriety, with excessive drug use, groupies and vandalism being amongst their regular activities. Returning home to Redondo Beach, Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil purchased pound of cocaine and hosted a party at his house that would last for several days. Amongst the guests present was Neil’s guitarist, Mick Mars, who rarely socialised with his bandmates, and several members of Hanoi Rocks.

By December 8th the party had been in full swing for three days and Neil soon realised that they were running out of alcohol. With a liquor store only a few blocks away he decided that he would drive, despite having been drinking solidly for some time. Razzle, who was eager to ride in Neil’s brand new ’72 Ford De Tomaso Pantera, agreed to accompany him and the two set off on a liquor run. Neil’s wife, Beth, soon grew concerned when they had not returned and asked Lee, who had not drank as much as the other guests, if he could drive her around the neighbourhood. Both McCoy and Sam Yaffa, Hanoi Rocks‘ bassist who was considering leaving the band after the tour, had been unaware of the concern as they were drunk but soon Beth’s insistence made McCoy uneasy and he agreed to join them on their search. Having purchased alcohol from the store, Neil was on his way home when he lost control of his car (driving at 65mph in a 25mph zone) due to wet surfaces as he attempted to drive around a stationary fire truck. Unable to bring himself to a halt, Neil’s car collided with a Volkswagen that was occupied by a young couple. Razzle was thrown into Neil’s lap by the impact of the car hitting his door, whilst the bag filled with bottles that he had been carrying were smashed across the dashboard and front seats.

Neil awoke soon afterwards to discover Razzle unconscious, slouched over him, as a crowd began to form around them. When the paramedics and police arrived on the scene Razzle was taken away on a stretch whilst Neil, who was given a breathalyzer test, was handcuffed and placed inside a police car. Soon afterwards, Lee’s car drove passed the scene and McCoy recognised Neil’s red Pantera, as well as Razzle’s Stetson hat that was lying by the side of the road. They made their way immediately to South Bay Hospital, where the passenger of the VW, Daniel Smithers, was also taken. Soon after they arrived they were advised by a doctor that Razzle had passed away as the result of severe injuries to his head. Neil would prove to be the only one not seriously injured in the crash, as Smithers would suffer from brain damage and have to undergo rehabilitative therapy, whilst the driver, Lisa Hogan, would be comatose for several weeks with a broken arm and legs. They were twenty and eighteen years old, respectively. Neil spent several hours in an office at the police station before he was informed that Razzle had died as a result of the crash. Taking a limousine back to their hotel, the surviving members of Hanoi Rocks were greeted by an enthusiastic army of paparazzi, eager for exclusive images and interviews.

Neil was released from custody early the following morning and was informed soon afterwards by his manager, Doc McGhee, that the police would be charging him with vehicular manslaughter. Following a preliminary hearing, his bail was set at $25,000, whilst also being ordered to attend a detox centre on Van Nuys Boulevard in Los Angeles for thirty days. Neil was eventually sentenced to $2.6m, two hundred hours of community service and thirty days in jail, which he would eventually commence the following June, shortly after the success of Mötley Crüe‘s third album Theatre of Pain (which they would dedicate to the memory of Razzle). Neil was eventually released after serving only eighteen days. Hanoi Rocks attempted to fulfill their touring obligations with Clash drummer Terry Chimes as a stand-in (although Lee had also offered his services), but internal conflicts and the pain of having lost Razzle would result in the band eventually splitting after returning from a series of disastrous dates in Poland. In last year’s autobiography, Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back With One Of Rock’s Most Notorious Frontmen, Neil claimed that, “There was no animosity between me and the surviving members of Hanoi Rocks,” yet in his own book, Sheriff McCoy: Outlaw Legend of Hanoi Rocks, McCoy angrily declared, “Vince Neil, who drove the car on the night Razzle died, he got away much too easy. If you take somebody’s life – even if just by vehicular manslaughter – you should be punished more seriously.”

See larger image Lightning Bar Blues: The Albums 1981-1984 (Audio CD) List Price: $58.98 USD New From: $149.99 In Stock Used from: $99.99 In Stock Release date April 4, 2005.