This week on the DHA Coffee Break I feature artists that hail from NEW JERSEY!
As you know I am a Jersey Girl through and through- Born and Raised.
Jersey Pride comes from having our roots planted on the Garden State Parkway, Beaches, Lakes and U-Turns and Toll Booths that make up our lives! And of course the ROCK that we grew up listening and still listen to.
Our state has had an incredible, eclectic mix of talent with so many genres of rock music represented.
We tend to think of Bruce and Bon Jovi exclusively, but the Garden State has soooo many talented rockers that have made a mark on rock, metal, songwriting and RADIO!
So let’s ROCK …Jersey Strong!
TC
My Chemical Romance - Newark
Originally out of Newark, Gerard Way started the band in 2001 with his brother Mikey, Bellville’s Frank Iero, and Kearny’s Ray Torro.
Their 2006 release “The Black Parade” is considered a 2000’s classic
They return to the stage with shows at Prudential Center and Barclays this month!Zakk Wylde - Jackson
Born Jeffrey Phillip Weilant our brother Zakk hails from Bayonne and later moved to Jackson.
If you were part of the New Jersey club scene back in the day you may have checked out this talented axe master with his first band Zyris playing up and down the state. Zakk then landed a KILLER gig beside Ozzy Osbourne and appeared on some of the most successful albums of of Ozzy’s career.
Zakk went on to form Pride and Glory, Black Label Society and will be playing on the Pantera reunion tour in memory of his buddy Dimebag Darrell Abbott.The Smithereens- Carteret- Scotch Plains
When Pat Dinizio put an ad in the Aquarian Weekly in 1980, Jim, Dennis and Mike answered the call and the Smithereens were born.
One of the most original and innovative bands to come out of the 1980’s, they reminded me of an Alternative Beatles with their infectious power- pop sound, quick hitting harmonies and mega hooky grooves.We lost our beautiful friend Pat in 2017 and we still miss him driving up in his car “just to hang” with his radio family. The band continues to rock and has a NEW release of lost Smithereens songs coming out this month.
Bon Jovi- Sayreville
Never would I ever highlight The Garden State without mentioning BON JOVI!
Like many Jersey Girls, I wore out my copy of the bands debut and triple wore out “Slippery When Wet”
(My friend Phyllis reminded me recently of us driving all around NJ to buy it the day it came out!) Jon, Richie, David, Tico and Alec were the quintessential arena stars and listening to anything from the bands first four records reminds me of warm nights at the Jersey Shore dreaming of the next Bon Jovi tour!
And the “In and Out Of Love” Video was filmed right on the Seaside Boardwalk baby! Were you there? I was! (Check out the San Tropez store in the background…I bought many an outfit there!)Overkill- Old Bridge
Jersey LOVES our Metal and Overkill was one of the coolest Metal bands to emerge from the 80’s.
Founded by Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and D.D. Verni, Overkill emerged in the late 80’s on the Megaforce Label (where our own Eddie Trunk had a hand in signing them) They have nineteen studio records out and are are admired by generations of bands and thrashers who came after them. True Metal Heroes.
Skid Row - Toms River
I remember seeing these guys in the clubs back in the day and knowing they were going to be HUGE!
Combining rock, punk, metal and the prettiest singer in the land, the Skid Row debut represented a changing of the guard.
Founded by Rachel Bolan and Dave “Snake” Sabo- their debut went six times platinum and after breaking rank with Sebastian, the band had a series of singers but now seem to have settled into a groove with new vocalist Erik Gronwall.
Pete Yorn - Pequannock
Pete’s “Musicforthemorningafter” is one of my FAVORITE releases of the 2000’s and his tune “Long Way Down” from 2003’s “Day I Forgot” is one of my favorite songs of all-time.
Totally underrated as a songwriter, if you are looking for New Jersey’s biggest sleeper talent, Pete is that artist. I highly recommend Pete’s first three releases. Music, Day and Nightcrawler…..so good.Trixter- Paramus
The FIRST and basically ONLY Metal Boy Band, Steve, PJ, Pete and Mark “Gus” always had the talent to backup the success of their 1990 debut album which went gold and the bands record breaking TRL reign with their video for Give It To Me Good’!
Steve Brown is a writer, producer, performer and a sometimes member of Def Leppard and PJ Farley is now the bassist in Fozzy and those guys are two of my favorite people, not only because they are talented and passionate about music but because they are two of the nicest guys in the biz. #oneinamillion
Monster Magnet - Red Bank
Founded in 1989 by Dave Wyndorf, I LOVE this band soooo much. The true founders of the genre that became known as “Stoner Rock’ with their crunchy jams and infectious grooves, MM played our Rock The Park show back in the day with Skynyrd and their 2021 release “A Better Dystopia” is absolutely killer. New Jersey LEGENDS!
The Misfits- Lodi
LEGENDS!!!!! I call them HUNK not because they are hunky but the kings of Horror/Punk (with a touch of metal madness rubbed in)
Founded by Glen Danzig and Manny Martinez they were lightning in a bottle for sure disbanding in 1983 only to reform again to bigger success than ever. Their logo is legendary too.
2017 brought sold out shows at Prudential Center and Madison Square Garden.
Not bad for a little punk band from Bergen County formed 34 years before!
Just announced- their 2022 Texas show on Halloween weekend.The Gaslight Anthem- New Brunswick
Great Americana Rock And Roll- That is The Gaslight Anthem.
Achieving cult status with their fans instantly, the band released their debut in 2007.
When they announced a “permanent hiatus”in 2014, it was a sad state for those that followed them since the beginning. Thankfully they are back- as they describe “In full capacity” and playing PNC on 10/8.Bruce Springsteen- Long Branch - (Along with Little Steven who was in the Jukes too!)
Bruce and the E Street band are the kings of New Jersey rock. They helped put the state on the map and Bruce became the quintessential singer/songwriter with a massive powerhouse band behind him. Being a kid in New Jersey, their music was so important and impactful to me. Listening to songs crafted out of longing, loss and love set the tone for my love of actual songs. And the EPIC performances that last a lifetime. My first concert as a 13 year old and I will never forget it. Thanks Bruce…..
Blues Traveler- Princeton
The Jam Masters and founders of the H.O.A.R.D.E. Festival – A soundtrack to the early 90’s from John Popper, his magic harmonica and band of merry makers.
But Anyway, Hook, Mountains Win Again, Carolina Blues, Runaround….So many amazing tunes.Neal Casal - Denville
Neal Casal was taken away from us too soon. A son of Denville and resident Rockaway, Morris Knolls HS graduate and later resident of Madison his debut “Fade Away Diamond Time” is a beautiful classic.
Neal’s voice was angelic. And he loved The Stones, Kris Kristofferson and Jackson Browne.Neal became a part of Railroad Earth, Hazy Malaze, Ryan Adams and The Cardinals and Chris Robinson’s band. His songwriting and guitar playing always blew me away,
I knew Neal quite well. He was a beautiful person and incredible artist. We lost him to suicide in 2019. He was 50.
Please check out his catalog. It’s a gift.
Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes - All Over The Shore Baby
Southside Johnny and Steven Van Zandt were the two movers and shakers behind the legendary Jukes! With the rise of the Jersey shore scene Steven eventually left for E Street and Johnny stayed put to continue his mission of making music his way with many Jukers wandering in and out of the fray. No matter how you cut it…..the sound of New Jersey lies with Johnny and his incredible tunes. reinventing “Havin’ A Party”, partying “On The Beach’ or telling fans “Talk To Me”, the bands infectious sounds of the Garden State cemented them in the culture of New Jersey music forever!
Il Nino- Union City
Their debut “Revolution Revolution” put them on the metal map, their sound described as Latin Metal, Il Nino were the originators of a sound that is revolutionary. The fans are loyal and await a new release from Dave and the rest of the band, who have a distinct spot in the new metal revolution.
Dramarama- Wayne
Formed in Wayne by Alterna-God John Easdale, Dramarama moved to Los Angeles to find their fame and fortune. WDHA never forgot their Jersey roots and tunes like Last Cigarette and Anything, Anything were DHA staples in the late 80’s. The band broke up in 1994, regrouped and continued to play shows and record. LOVE THEM!
The Bouncing Souls -Basking Ridge (by way of New Brunswick)
The New Brunswick Punk scene was alive and well in the 80’s and BAM- Here come The Bouncing Souls.
The band started their own record label before signing to Epitaph and were kings of Warped Tour forging their own brand of Pogo Punk.
With 11 records under their belt, they released a new tune in 2020 called “World On Fire” which is classic BS!The DeLeo Brothers - Newark- Point Pleasant
Guitarist Dean and his little brother Robert DeLeo are the soul behind Stone Temple Pilots.
Raised on the Jersey shore, they relocated to California to pursue their love of music eventually hooking upon with Scott Weiland and Eric Kretz to form one of the 90’s most iconic bands.
The band has stayed together after Scott’s tragic death in 2015 and the brothers continue to influence a younger generation and work on various projects outside the band.Symphony X- Middletown
Progressive Power Metal lives and we are proud of it’s Jersey roots! Featuring Vocalist Russell Allen, Michale Romeo, Mike Lepond, Jason Rullo and Mike Pinella, these guys may have morphed their sound into other progressive outfits, including Russell’s time in TSO and The Adrenaline Mob, but the chemistry these guys have together is prog magic.
What a list! While I highlighted 20 rockers here, there are many Garden Staters that have made their mark in rock music. Have a fave I didn’t include? Hit me up at [email protected]
#jerseystrong
