Jerry's Kids is a

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

band, formed in 1981, from

Braintree, Massachusetts Braintree (), officially the Town of Braintree, is a municipality in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a towBraintree is a city, with a mayor-council government, mayor-council form of government, and i ...

, United States. The band was named for "the beneficiaries of the

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

telethon". Their first recorded output was on the Modern Method ''

This Is Boston, Not L.A. ''This Is Boston, Not L.A.'' is a hardcore punk compilation released in 1982. It is considered the definitive album from the Boston hardcore scene, as several of its most prominent bands appear on the record, namely, Jerry's Kids, the Proletar ...

'' compilation LP in 1982. They contributed six tracks along with other early

Boston hardcore Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier pun ...

band

Gang Green Gang Green is an American punk rock band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts. Chris Doherty (guitar), Bill Manley (bass) and Mike Dean (drums) started the band in 1980 and broke up in 1983. Doherty reformed Gang Green the following year ...

. Frontman Bryan Jones and rhythm guitar player Dave Aronson left the band early on. Bryan Jones had broken his leg at one of their gigs and his parents denied him permission to play in the band any further. Bassist Rick Jones (Bryan's brother) switched to vocals and

Chris Doherty Chris Doherty (born 1965 in Braintree, Massachusetts) is a musician, singer-songwriter best known as the founder of hardcore punk band Gang Green. Doherty graduated from Braintree High School in 1983. Gang Green The lone constant in the lineu ...

took over on rhythm guitar. It was this line-up that recorded the classic 12 song LP ''Is This My World?'' on X-Claim in 1983, featuring songs such as "Cracks In The Wall", "Build Me A Bomb" and "Vietnam Syndrome". ''Is This My World?'' was rewieved by

Pushead Brian Schroeder, better known as Pushead, is an American graphic artist. He is best known for his album covers and other merchandise for bands in the hardcore punk and heavy metal genres. Career Originally from Boise, Idaho, Schoeder formed t ...

in ''

Maximumrocknroll ''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly zine of punk subculture. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and hardcore music, and primarily featur ...

'': "An adventure into hyperactive, full-tilt, bulldozing quickness and thundering power. This overwhelming supply of burning rapid-fire speed destroys the mold, exploding into maniac doses of invincible strength and energy. Bolting drums, high-velocity crooning, and hysterically blistering wild guitars (featuring ex-GANG GREEN axeman Chris Doherty). JERRY’S KIDS totally shred the eardrums to mincemeat. For the fast fanatic’s cravings; the essence of what other will try to duplicate". ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' called the album "a hardcore classic". In Europe, ''

Ox-Fanzine ''Ox-Fanzine'' is a monthly punk zine from Solingen, Germany, founded in 1988. It is edited by Joachim Hiller and has had many contributors. Besides its focus on punk subculture, it also covers similar genres, reviews of comics, books and films, ...

'' gave the album 8/10. They broke up in 1985, but reformed in 1987 with a more speed metal sound and released an LP on

Taang! Records Taang! Records is an independent record label with a roster of hardcore punk, punk rock, Oi!, power pop, ska, indie rock, psychedelic, and ambient artists and bands founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, Massachusetts in 1983. History Taang! ...

entitled ''Kill Kill Kill''. Reflex/Wolfpack Records released a limited re-issue of the ''Is This My World?'' LP in 2002. The band reunited again in 2004 and has been playing several shows per year around Boston since then.

Lineups

Before 1981

* Bob Cenci – guitar *Karl Jacobson – guitar *Eric Saganov – Drums *Rick Jones – bass

1981–1982

*Bryan Jones – vocals * Bob Cenci – guitar * Dave Aronson – guitar *Rick Jones – bass * Brian Betzger – drums

1982

*Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar * Dave Aronson – guitar * Brian Betzger – drums

1982–1984

*Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar *

– guitar * Brian Betzger – drums *Joseph Orangio - vocals

1986

*Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar * Dave Aronson – guitar *Mike Dean – drums

1986–1990

*Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar * Dave Aronson – guitar *Jack Clark – drums

1994 (Reunion Show at Bill's Bar)

* Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar * Chris Doherty – guitar * Brian Betzger – drums

2004–present

*Rick Jones – vocals and bass * Bob Cenci – guitar *Ross Luongo – guitar *Jack Clark – drums

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Is This My World?'' (1983) * ''Kill Kill Kill'' (1989)

References

External links

Suburban Voice Interview
– Jerry's Kids interview from 1982

Kill From The Heart page on Jerry's Kids
Reflex/Wolfpack Records page on Discogs
{{Authority control Hardcore punk groups from Massachusetts Musical groups from Boston