What Do Frankie Valli, Springsteen, and My Chemical Romance Have In Common? The New Jersey Music Scene

Wondering what those names are doing together? While you wouldn’t think there’s a common thread between Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and My Chemical Romance, or The Shirelles and the Gaslight Anthem, there actually is, and it has everything to do with the Jersey Shore. Not the TV show; the music scene.

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Tons of great musicians and bands have come out of New Jersey from all genres, but the Jersey Shore region has produced its fair share of rock artists. Bruce Springsteen, for example, is from Long Branch, located on the Shore. He and his E Street Band have been staples of the Jersey music scene for decades, and Springsteen takes pride in playing hometown shows. He often wrote about New Jersey, such as in “Born to Run.”

From the “Born to Run” perspective, Springsteen wanted to get out of New Jersey. “Oh, baby, this town rips the bones from your back / It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap,” he sings. The feeling of wanting to leave a small town isn’t specific to Jersey, but is a near universal desire for a lot of people. Springsteen articulated that desire perfectly in “Born to Run,” which made him an international success. However, the specific references to New Jersey made him an even bigger hit in his home state.

The Jersey Shore Birthed Many Great Rock Musicians, from Punk and Alternative to Heartland Rock and More

While there’s not a specific sound associated with the scene, there’s a certain attitude involved that comes through in the many styles of rock music. From punk and alternative, to heartland rock, folk-rock, and even new wave. Call it personality or spirit, but there’s just something about artists from New Jersey.

For examples, there’s Debbie Harry of Blondie, who grew up in Hawthorne. Patti Smith grew up in Deptford, and Tom Verlaine of the punk band Television was from Morristown. Ramones drummer Richie Ramone is from Passaic, and, most notably, the Misfits formed in Lodi, New Jersey.

You could posit that the certain attitude could be attributed to the New York scene that many of these artists found themselves in. But, then, how would you explain Springsteen? My Chemical Romance? The Four Seasons? Maybe it’s an oversimplification, but Jersey—particularly New Brunswick—is a hub of rock bands from all different subgenres. The New Jersey sound lives in Springsteen, the Gaslight Anthem, Bon Jovi, and many more.

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