Finnish rock legends HANOI ROCKS have issued the following statement:

"HANOI ROCKS have decided to break up by the end of the year 2008. Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy feel that they've taken the band as far as it can go and now wish to go their separate ways.

"All commitments until the end of the year, including the UK tour starting in London on Halloween, will naturally be honoured.

"In addition, the band has decided to say farewell to their fans by doing a final tour of Japan in the spring 2009 and immediately thereafter wrapping things up with a few nights at the legendary Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland where their career originally got started in the 80's.

"November 26th will see the timely release of the first-ever career-spanning HANOI ROCKS retrospective: a two-CD set titled 'This One's For Rock'n'Roll - The Best Of Hanoi Rocks 1980-2008'.

"The band wishes to thank all their fans, co-workers and business partners for their continued love and support throughout the years."

HANOI ROCKS earlier in the year announced the addition of Swedish drummer George Atlagic (nicknamed "Jolle" among friends) to the group's ranks. According to the band, "George Atlagic stood out from the five candidates, not only for his talent, but also because of his personality and for being a kindred spirit with the band. Jolle is technically a very skillful drummer and his style is greatly in the vein of the former HANOI ROCKS drummers Gyp Casino and Razzle. He also already looked like he was playing in a successful rock band."

HANOI ROCKS this past spring released a new single, "Teenage Revolution"/"Self Destruction Blues". The single is already a collector's item since it includes the original arrangement of "Self Destruction Blues", previously unreleased in Europe by HANOI ROCKS.

Demolition Records released a special-edition digipack of HANOI ROCKS' new CD "Street Poetry" featuring four bonus tracks: "Trouble Boys", "Fashion" (video), "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (video) and "High School" (video).