Make Some Noise:
Saigon Jaffe Speaks Out

Before the release of the now infamous Blues and Finn interveiw was official, we recieved an angry notice from Asia “Saigon” Jaffe. He is the baby of the Hanoi Boys, the last one to give his say. He insisted we pull the article, but since we could not, we offered him an interview.

He obliged to speak with us on the telephone. Saigon, had relocated in Los Angeles to be closer to his son Sami, however at the time of the interview he was somewhere overseas. He refused to state where he was, exactly.

Saigon Jaffe is the youngest of the Hanoi Boys, at the unofficial age of  36. But to look at him is to look into the face of a youth. He has never quite lost his soft teenager face. He never quite matured as his gang brothers had. Saigon is as notorious for his good looks as his sense of humour. He never had any real job in his life, surviving by whatever means he saw fit at the moment. To him, like Finn, he is living the street life.

He phoned our Los Angeles office late in the night, nearing dawn. He apologised stating he wanted to get the call over with before he went out for his night. He sounded as serious as Monroe usually did. For a fellow acknowledged as a heavy partier, jokster, and fallen angel, he seemed unlike that at the moment we had him on the phone.

ASJ: “ I wanna get this over with. I ‘m not here to give you guys my life story, I just wanna clear my name.”

VFP: “ Tht’s all anybody really wants. Do you feel you’ve been wronged by your gang mates?”

ASJ: “ Shit no! I think you guys started all this. You put enough booze and drugs into Blues and he’ll say whatever you want. And when you get Finn pissy he’ll blab off the top of his head.”

VFP: “ No one put a gun to Blues’ head. We didn’t lead either one of them on. They said what they said on their own accord.”

ASJ: “ There is only one rule, everybody knows, when it comes to this shit. Never ever get Blues near a live mike or an interviewer! What the hell were you thinking?”

VFP: “ We’d wanted to entertain readers, and Blues is very entertaining. Don’t you think you are making a mountain out of a molehill?”

ASJ: [Response was incomprehensible, due to that it was in the Vietnamese dialect of Jippenish, and no translation was given.]

VFP: “ Slow down Saigon, we can’t understand you.”

ASJ: “ I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself. I don’t understand what kind of trouble you lot are trying to stir up between us [Hanoi] Boys. Blues, and Finn are my friends, are my brothers. We haven’t had a row in months.”

VFP: “ What do you think of the situation between Blues and Monroe?”

ASJ: “ I got nothing to say except they do this all the time. No big fucking deal. They will patch it up. They always do.”

VFP: “ Why do you think Finn was upset with you?”

ASJ: “ I don’t know. . . Maybe cos I ditched him during a tour with Blues. Monroe was paying me real money to give him a hand on his ep. I was sick of touring with Lupe[ Finn], Blues, and a couple replacement players, they pulled off the streets, just cos they had the right look, in a reformed version of Geisha Roki.We were sleeping in one room apartments, cheap hotel rooms,drinking beer, smoking up our stashes, and living like street kids. I missed my own kid, my own bed, and I was tired. Lupe got pissed off at that.”

VFP: “ Finn’s mad because you didn’t want to play rock and roll star with him?”

ASJ: “ He’s being a brat cos I said I was tired and wanted to go home, and then went to Tokyo and into the studio with Monroe. We’ve always wanted to be rock and roll stars, fuck knows we got the talent, and looks. We couldn’t catch the break we should have way back when. We were getting good reviews when we played in Los Angeles. But when Baz got killed it broke that rock dream. I think the way we play isn’t what is popular, except in Scandinavia, and Asia, and Eastern Bloc countries. We just fuck around cos we got the money to do it.”

VFP: “ Was he lying when he said you did live sex shows in Bangkok?”

ASJ: “ Absolutely. It was a complete lie. I’ve done a lot of shit, but I couldn’t perform under the stress of a live show. C’mon, it’s a joke. I did own a massage parlour but only for a couple months. I hate holding down a job.”

VFP: “ Have you ever been to Finland?”

ASJ: “ Never, not one minute, not one day spent there. I am not sure why I don’t go. I would just be another tourist, there. I am Jeepinah, born and bred in Vietnam. But I admit to feeling homesick for a place I have never been, as ludicrous as that sounds.”

VFP: “ We’ve spoken with Monroe and he said maybe you and he would leave the gang for good, what do you say about that?”

ASJ: “ I have to say I have been booted out of Hanoi Boys too many times to count and I have even walked out a couple times. I have even been replaced in the gang!”

VFP: “ I thought there had been five Hanoi Boys only? That is what is only mentioned. No other names appear in your history.”

ASJ: “ Oh yes, it’s true that me and the boys are the only ones who carry the name, formally. Five is the certified number and of course the ones who had been in briefly we never fully accepted as true members. I was replaced at one point by a fellow named Rene Jevah, he was a Jeepinah raised outside both Finland and Vietnam. He’s a cool guy. He’s an unofficial member who still hangs with us. In Japan, when we had the short-lived stay there before moving onto Los Angeles, we had a bloke who followed us from the village, and joined up with us. His name was Casiin Oy. We called him “Cashbox”. He parted ways with us in Tokyo, he went to London instead. Blues had brought in Rene, in about 85. . For awhile he was ready to recruit a kid off the street, we all dubbed “Razzle Junior” cos he was an excellent drummer and looked like that old drummer of Hanoi Rocks. Jr has never been asked by all members to join. He is not a Hanoi Boy, nor is Rene or Cashbox. Not to me at least.”

VFP: “ What is your home life like? You are married, right?”

ASJ: “ We only got married to give Sami a proper name. He had to be a Jaffe. Michelle [Rocket-Jaffe] is a cool chick. Tall as hell.[Saigon chuckles] I am glad I married her. She lets me live in the house with her, and I can take Sami with me whenever I want,when I leave.”

VFP: “ We’ve heard rumours that you were supposed to get married a long time ago, to another girl.”

ASJ: “ Oh, God no. Don’t you say her name! I won’t listen to it.”[Saigon sounded a little hyper, now.]

VFP: “ Trinity Sakoor? She’s been trouble for you, then?”

ASJ: “ She is the worse thing to ever happen to my love life! That bitch follows me all over the world! She is convinced we are a match made in heaven. Oh God, I can’t stand her. I’ve had her told I was dead at least five times! She finds me no matter what! There was one time, when I was out with Junior. He was in that group Finn, Blues, and me had. Anyway so there we were in our hotel room, and we get this knock on the door. She was right there all dolled up. She had a bottle of champagne, and reeked of cheap perfume.

You gotta understand with Trinity this is not like her. She was the sort to wear a bible belt tight as a chastity belt if you know what I mean. She thought the missionary position was just a appointment on a religious pilgrimage! She wore an all black native uniform, 24/7. . I knew her for two months before I saw her neck and ankles!

So there she was half naked in black suspenders and tights and Juniour turns to me and say “ I think this is for you.”. I didn’t even want to see her, so I told her to piss off. She went crazy and tried to cosh me in the head with the fucking bottle. We’re wrestling about on the floor and I’m trying to throw her out. Junior is standing on the bed, with the bottle of champagne tucked under one arm, and top hat on his head like a minister,  shouting out passages of the bible at the top of his stupid lungs! I needed his help, stupid git. But Blues, Finn and our singer, Little Runaround came in and pulled Trinity off. The hotel threw us out and we all slept in the subway that night with all our gear. That was a while back, and I haven’t seen Trinity since.”

VFP: “ Do you have anyone special in your life, now or is Michelle it?”

ASJ: “ Don’t get me wrong, I adore Michelle. However, our relationship has become platonic. We share Sami and that’s really all. I don’t really have any interest with getting tied down with anyone.”

VFP: “ You mentioned Missionaries. You were born into a religious family am I right?”

ASJ: “ That is correct. They are all dead, I think, except one brother who I don’t have any contact with. My family lived and breathed religion. they were firm belivers in ‘Convert or Die!’, they contributed to the murders of many Dominionist[An ‘angel worship’ religion sent underground by the Christian vampires.] vampires in our village. They burned adults at the stake and converted the children to Christianity. It sickens me to this day. Sometimes I can still smell the burning flesh and hear the screams. I remember things my bahmah would say at the time. I always feared my family would go to Los Angeles and kill me, when I was in 11th Hour. They would have to save my soul you see? I was in constant fear of my father and brothers. My mumma she was not so bad, but she would have let my father kill me if he had the want to.”

VFP: “ If you found out they were living still, would you see them?”

ASJ: “ Not on a bet! I would avoid them at all costs and they would never ever be allowed to see Sami. I fear them more than the Exterminators! I am always afraid that they are going to kill me and take Sami to raise as their son. But I didn’t want to talk about me, this was supposed to be about the shit Blues and Finn said.”

VFP: “ No one has forced you to answer our questions, Saigon.”

ASJ: “ Yeah , well, I don’t trust none of you..”

VFP: “ You sound like Monroe. Do you get along with Monroe  better than with the others?”

ASJ: “ I got on with Baz better than anyone, I think.Monroe has always played mother to me. He looks out for everybody, and sometimes it seems no one is looking out for him. We do, I mean I’d fight anyone if they put Monroe down. I don’t know. I think sometimes I worry I ‘m a fuck up, and I disappoint Monroe and Blues. That’s where me and Lupe connected, we feel like fuck ups. We got nothing going for us, but our pals.”

VFP: “ You can’t say you don’t have anything going for you. You are a very good musician, you’re good looking, and you have a son..”

ASJ: “ I can’t get a gig unless I’m hooked up with one of the guys. When I stand with Monroe or Lupe, I haven’t got a chance with a chick. Sami, although I love him dearly, was an accident. He is one of the best fuck ups I ever did, though.”

VFP: “ Monroe has called Blues a liar, thief and drug addict. What do you think? Do you hang out with Blues much?”

ASJ: “ It is hard to hang around with Blues. If he’s at home, he’s doing the family thing. When we run off he’s either on junk, or a chick. That gets boring waiting for him to wake up or stop fucking long enough for a pint at the pub, or to play a gig.

He has stolen money from my pants when I was passed out. Rolling your own mate is pretty low. I have seen him threathen Lupe with his knife one minute then hug and wrestle with him the next.  I have seen him be downright cruel to Runaround. Blues can be abusive, to those he can spot weakness in. He will use his authority, over people. He manipulates, and uses anyone he feels deserves it. He can get out of hand.

I don’t like to be around him when he’s in his mean state.”

VFP: “ Why not ditch him for good?”

ASJ: “It’s not that easy, not when he’s been there for me for well over twenty years. Blues’ call himself my Bahmah[Father] and expects me to treat him with that much respect. He can be cruel when he is stoned, or drinking too much. He does not recognise his limits most of the time. We don’t go up against him. Monroe does, only because he knows Blues knows better than to lay a hand on him. Lupe, me, and even Jr and Runaround aren’t as fortunate. I tell you we know when to head for the hills. Blues’ eyes go black and I run like hell for somebody else’s company.”

VFP: “ Who’s company do you keep?”

ASJ: “ Off and on, I do like hanging out with my ex gang mates from Jet Boys, they were cool. Lupe, when he’s being civilised. I hang out with Jr, and  Noxx, and Runaround, when I’m in London. More and more I have been keeping company with Runaround, and Jr, Rene, too..”

VFP: “ Are you burned out on your Hanoi Boys co-horts? feeling like it is time to move on?”

ASJ: “ You asked that already.”

VFP: “ We asked you if you were leaving, and you didn’t answer.”

ASJ: “ I did.. I think. Oh hell, we love each other. I can’t ever get away from Hanoi[Boys] I’d go crazy or be dead within the year. Maybe be in jail.”

VFP: “ You can’t be serious. You don’t get into nearly as much trouble as Finn or Blues.”

ASJ: “ True. But maybe I won’t walk away from a fight, or maybe I’d pick a bad one to take a stand.. Who knows?”

VFP: “ You’re just playing with us. You don’t mean any of it.”

ASJ: [Another unintelligible word in Jippenish, with no translation offered. Saigon laughed as he said it.]

VFP: “ Are you going to be straight with us?”

ASJ: “ I’m straight with everyone.”

VFP: “ You’ve mentioned, Jr, and Rene Jevah. But who is Noxx, and Runaround?”

ASJ: “ Noxx has been around for years. he ran a chapter of The Church, in London for years. When me and the boys made it to London, after the Fall of 11th Hour, he welcomed us in as his guests. He’s pretty cool and on occasion, we hook up as a band.

Runaround, I’d rather give a low profile to. It’s not anyone recognisable, or well known, sort of like Jr. Runaround, hooks up with me and the boys as a singer. Monroe doesn’t always want to go back to the dives, and such, and with Runaround, we can get the gigs we would get with Monroe. Runarounnd and Jr are our ringers.”[ After the interview ended, it was established, by the local branch of the Policies, that Runaround aka Metha Maxella, is registered as a fledgling, of Saigon. Jr, who’s real name is Nickey Dington, is registered as a fledgling of Blues.]

VFP: “ Are you happy right, now, Saigon? Is life treating you good?”

ASJ: “ Life has never treated me, nor any of my mates, good. At this, time, other than this bloody article, I can say I am happy. I wish I was estatic but that’s not going to happen. I really want to leave now, so let’s end the interview now.”

VFP: “ If that is what you want, Saigon.”

ASJ: “ It is. Nahdaan.Good bye.”

Saigon left us wondering where he was going and what made him so keen to be in a hurry. He is harder to read, than some of his gang brothers. Although it has never been said that anyone can read any Hanoi Boy mood.  

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