Old Time Hardcore: Twenty years after the U.S. punk and hardcore revolution

Jackson, NJ -- Twenty years ago, the Northeastern United States was no different than it is today.  That is, until you scratched the surface of the local music scene to find the local hardcore and punk scenes.   They were thriving and self sufficient communities in places like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.   (photo: Hogans Heroes at City Gardens. Photo By George Barberio from the City Gardens Facebook group)

The big cities weren’t the only hardcore strongholds though.  In New Jersey, places like Trenton, New Brunswick and the Jersey Shore also had bustling punk and hardcore scenes that rivaled those of the big cities.

Punk and hardcore defined a generation and has since become almost mainstream in American society, but back in the 80’s this wasn’t the case.  There was fear amongst many in society about the dangers these music loving kids posed due in part to negative press that linked the skinhead movement to violence and racism, a movement that had nothing to do with the hardcore scene.

In the years that have past since our heyday, most of the clubs have closed down, including CBGB’s in NewYork City and City Gardens in Trenton, New Jersey.    Most of the bands of the era are long gone as members moved on to start careers and families.  Worst yet, is many of our friends like Raybeez of Warzone, half of the Ramones and many who made the scene what it was have gone forever.

In the video above, Jack “Choke” Kelly and the Boston based Slap Shot reflect back on Old Time Hardcore.

Twenty years is a long time and more than enough time for the thirty and fourty somethings who remember fondly those years that defined who and what they are for an entire lifetime.

One of the hidden components of the era was the army of freelance journalists and photographers who documented the whole legacy because mainstream media just didn’t care.    One such fanzine was a central New Jersey zine called “Jersey Scene” which chronicled the happenings of Central New Jersey from 1987 until 1990.   

Jersey Scene published 9 issues, each with a distribution of 2,000 copies per issues during that time, interviewing bands like 7 Seconds, Dag Nasty, the Bad Brains, Uniform Choice and countless other bands that happened to pass through the doors of Trenton’s own City Gardens.

Phil Stilton then 14, now 37 and one of the creators of that fanzine twenty years ago is now reaching out to the men and women, the moms and dads of today to reflect back on the Northeast’s hardcore scene of the 1980’s.

“It really was something that defined who and what we all are today” says Stilton, now an IT professional and managing editor for a Central Jersey online news website, Jackson NJ Online “So much happened in those years.  Things kids today might never have the chance to experience because it just isn’t there anymore.  The music we created can be heard everywhere we look today and now it’s time to tell the story of where it all began.”

Stilton has been reaching out to those who drove the movement such as Kevin Seconds of 7seconds, local labels and people who built the foundation of the 80’s hardcore scene.

“I want to get in touch with anyone who might want to tell their story about what happened 20 years ago in the Northeast here, but especially in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia” Stilton added “We’ve already sent out the first round of interviews and looking for more interested band members, show promoters, fanzine writers and anyone who has an interesting stories to reflect back on for online publication I’m working on”.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to work on for a few years now and after speaking to Steven DiLodovico, who is writing a book about the history of City Gardens told me about the tremendous outpouring of support he has received, I decided the time is right.” Stilton said “Being  in the position now to syndicate this story worldwide through our online media organization was just icing on the cake.”

The deadline for material is December 31st, 2009 for an early January release.  Anyone interested in participating in this historic event can email Phil Stilton at news@jacksonnjonline.com.

A photo of Phil Stilton and Matt Ashley, writers for Jersey Scene, circa 1988 after interviewing the Bad Brains from Washington D.C. outside City Gardens in New Jersey.   In the photo, Earl Hudson, drummer for the Bad Brains.