Gyp Casino

Gyp Casino is a Swedish drummer. He was born Jesper Sporre on May 7, 1961. He began his music career playing for a band called Warzawa, then joined Warheads and later formed Nymphomaniacs with Andy Hulkko (later Andy McCoy) and Carl Michael ”Calix” Herlöfsson.

Casino was the drummer for the Finnish formed rock band, Hanoi Rocks from 1981 to 1982. During his tenure, the band did well. They recorded three albums: Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, and Hanoi Rocks in 1981, and Oriental Beat and Self Destruction Blues, both in 1982.

He was fired and replaced by drummer, Razzle, in 1982. There are conflicting stories as to why Casino was fired, ranging from the band growing tired of his heroin addiction, to McCoy claiming his playing wasn’t up to par, to the band growing tired of his depression and suicidal thoughts, to an onstage fight between Casino and McCoy, to McCoy personally not liking him. Casino himself recounts the events that culminated in a fight that broke out on stage after the band arrived at a festival two hours late. Early during the set, his snare drumskin busted, so he called to the roadie to bring him a new one. McCoy reportedly approached Casino and made some remarks. The roadie then walked on stage to bring the replacement skin when McCoy kicked the roadie in the face. McCoy approached Casino a second time, at which point Casino claims he had finally had enough and kicked over his drums. He then picked up McCoy’s guitar and threw it into the wall.

“Andy was too much of a good friend to me. I just couldn’t hit him, you know, but I could hit his guitar, which of course, hurt him even more.”

Others claim it was due to the band tiring of Casino’s behavior. None the less, he continued with his career, going on to play for the Swedish formed band, Road Rats, and later for Rolene. He eventually joined the successful, Pelle Almgren, and later Live Ammo (with his former Hanoi Rocks bandmate, Andy McCoy), with which he released Building on Traditions in 1995.

On September 23, 2022, Gyp Casino reunited with the rest of Hanoi Rock’s original lineup for a reunion show to celebrate Michael Monroe’s 60th birthday.