For those unaware, Detention was one of the first and best bands of the ‘80s New Jersey hardcore punk explosion. Their wonderfully tasteless “Dead Rock ’n Rollers” single became the college radio cult classic of 1983.

The song’s 97 seconds of primal Ramones-style speed-punk mocked the demise of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Keith Moon, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Sid Vicious, John Belushi, and John Bonham — who “played the drug game and couldn’t maintain.”

They even foretold the drug-related heart attack of Jim Carroll, famous for “People Who Died,” screaming, “What are you waiting for? Do it!” Saving the best for last, “Dead Rock ’n Rollers” raised the obvious question: “Why couldn’t it be Barry Manilow?” — Steven Blush, author/filmmaker, 2024.

The Detention story goes back to Central Jersey, to the Shields family home in Hillsborough Township, about 20 minutes from the culture capital of New Brunswick. Kevin Shields, the fourth of five sons, grew up listening to his older brothers’ sophisticated record collection of hippie music that ranged from Blue Cheer to King Crimson. Kevin recalls, “Early on, I knew that rock ’n roll was something special, I was fascinated.”

The band - Kevin, Rodney, frontman Paul Shields, and drummer Daniel Shields - played their first show at Raritan Manor on the Sommerville Circle, hosted by a young Matt Pinfield in his first radio DJ gig at WRSU (Rutgers).

It was a noisy and chaotic affair, with people rolling on the floor --- until police arrived and stopped the mayhem. Rob Roth had a vision. He got the guys into the studio in Roselle Park, which he also paid for himself. All they had to do was get good recordings of the two songs, including the B-Side El Salvador.

They came out great and in 1985, Detention released a self-produced self-titled album before disbanding.

1. Dead Rock ’N Rollers [1:37]
2. El Salvador [2:31]
3. Anti A [1:26]
4. Route 35 South [2:18]
5. Teenage Panty Fantasy [1:51]
6. Bad Dream [1:16]
7. Too Noisy [1:09]
8. Anxiety Attack [1:54]
9. Beach [2:10]

This brilliantly vibrant and still so alt-punk-perfect recording opens on the lyrically name-dropping extravaganza of their debut single Dead Rock ’N Rollers and then its 7 inch single B-side, the strident El Salvador, and then we get brought forth the strikingly fervent Anti A and the rhythmical guitar charge of Route 35 South.

Up next on this incredible showcasing of East Coast punk rock is the melodious alt-pop-rock of Teenage Panty Fantasy which is in turn backed by the foot to the floor rocker Bad Dream, the angst-charged Too Noisy, closing on the free-flowing brilliance of Anxiety Attack and their drum-led, regionally specific take on the Beach Boys sound via their punk rocker Beach.

This 9-song CD in gatefold jacket with the original single artwork by Jeff Jamieson and liner notes by author/filmmaker Steven Blush, Matt Pinfield and Dave Scott, is available now and can be purchased via the link below.

Official Purchase Link