Jerry’s Kids

ByLets Go Punk
Boston area hardcore band Jerry’s Kids formed in 1981

Jerry’s Kids are a hardcore punk band from the Boston area, formed in 1981 in Braintree, Massachusetts.

The name nods to the kids highlighted by the Jerry Lewis telethon. Their earliest recorded appearance showed up in 1982 on the compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A., where they contributed six tracks alongside Gang Green.

Early Recordings and a Fast Start

In the band’s first stretch, vocalist Bryan Jones and rhythm guitarist Dave Aronson were part of the lineup. After Bryan Jones broke his leg at a show, his parents stopped him from continuing with the band.

That change reshaped the group. Rick Jones moved from bass to handling vocals while still playing bass, and Chris Doherty from Gang Green stepped in on guitar. That lineup recorded the 12-song LP Is This My World? for X-Claim in 1983.

Is This My World? and the Songs People Point To

Is This My World? became the release most tied to the band’s early reputation, built around short, high-speed songs and relentless drumming.

Tracks often singled out from the record include “Cracks In The Wall,” “Build Me A Bomb,” and “Vietnam Syndrome.” The album was praised in punk press and has been described as a hardcore staple.

Breakup, Later Versions, and Ongoing Shows

Jerry’s Kids initially ended in 1985, then regrouped in 1987 with a heavier, more speed-metal-leaning approach. That version released Kill Kill Kill on Taang! Records in 1989.

Is This My World? was reissued in a limited run in 2002 through Reflex/Wolfpack Records.

The band reunited again in 2004 and has continued to play several shows each year around Boston.

Lineups Through the Years

Before 1981:

  • Bob Cenci, guitar
  • Karl Jacobson, guitar
  • Eric Saganov, drums
  • Rick Jones, bass

1981 to 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 to 1984:

  • Rick Jones, vocals and bass
  • Bob Cenci, guitar
  • Chris Doherty, guitar
  • Brian Betzger, drums
  • Joseph Orangio, vocals

1986:

  • Rick Jones, vocals and bass
  • Bob Cenci, guitar
  • Dave Aronson, guitar
  • Mike Dean, drums

1986 to 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 to 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)

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