A Dramarama publicity photo.
Dramarama was formed in Wayne, but relocated to California in the mid-’80s after Los Angeles disk jockey Rodney Bingenheimer gave their single “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)” heavy airplay on his station, KROQ-FM. More hits followed, including the tough and Stones-y “Last Cigarette,” in 1989.
Since then, Dramarama — as well as frontman John Easdale, who has toured and recorded as a solo artist (though often with Dramarama members supporting) — has retained a strong following in New Jersey, and even released a live EP in 2003 titled Absolutely, 100% Made in N.J. Since their two strongholds are Los Angeles and New Jersey, they are truly bicoastal, in a way that few bands are.
Free-form radio disk jockey Rich Russo calls his syndicated show, heard on Sunday nights on WDHA-FM (105.5 FM), WRAT-FM (95.9 FM) and elsewhere, “Anything, Anything,” and starts each one with the song.
Below, watch the original, noir-ish video for “Last Cigarette.”
New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday in 2014. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, from September 2014 to September 2015 — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. To see the entire list, click here.
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3 comments
Hey hey….I want to nominate one of our songs from The Coalition which had Muddy Shews, long time bass player from Southside Johnny, and the indefatigable drummer from Wayne: Charlie Tappan….both of these guys played with Dramarama, The Bongos, with Richard Barone and that crew….as well as yours truly Jay Jourden. We played the Ross Perot rallies at Flemington Speedway with Johnny Maestro and the Cavaliers and Coalition banged it down for a few years with Angel Leah from Rock Kandy repute and Eleni Papanou along with Jersey singster legend Kayron from The Black Widow Band and many others, and who passed on way too early. She sang with me for two years. We also did all the Florio Free in ’93 Radio commercials for the Christine Todd Whitman people as well as the hit song before that: “Florio Has Got To Go”. Hey, we weren’t trying to get/be political but we were all hungry and needed $$..!!.. Muddy Shews is on this song with me: Our latest hit: “WORLD FREEDOM SONG (Together We Are One)”. We’re all from Jersey and that hopefully qualifies this song as it relates to some important Jersey artists still bangin’ it down to this day….you cab find an old Coalition picture on my ReverbNation site. Let us know if we make the cut.!!..
I’d consider it but I need a YouTube video to embed
LOL….I forgot to leave the links for the song..!!.. She called me to dinner and rushed me.!!.. Still my bad….not passin’ the buck..lol…
This song “WORLD FREEDOM SONG (Together We Are One)” was recorded at Blig Blue Meenie Studios in Jersey City, and we shot the video at the same time..!!..
This vid and song has Steve “Muddy Shews” Shuchuk, from “Dramarama” and “Southside Johnny”, & “Coalition” as well as Bruce Gatewood another Jersey great artist. There’s also an all star line up with Gerardo Velez from CHIC and Spyro Gyra, Benny Harrison, the Rascals, the great Tony Beard on drums, and blowing it up on lead guitar virtuoso Kristen Capolino..!!..
Here’s the links Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinKWvFME0A
Free download ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/jayjourdenmysticwaters/song/14526256-world-freedom-song-together-we
Please add us to the list..!!.. Rock on..!!..