The Joneses

Out of all the rock ‘n’ roll sleaze bands in Hollywood during the 1980s, The Joneses are recognized as coming first and being the toughest and most honest of them all. This no-nonsense group of trash rockers, led by the charismatic Jeff Drake, were a hot-blooded mix of the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, and Eddie Cochran, too glam for punk and too punk for rock. If the term “trashy rock ‘n’ roll” could only apply to one band, The Joneses would take the label in spades. Their music was raw and powerful, their style a mix of their predecessors. They lived the sleazy rock ‘n’ roll life like they invented it, with clever songs about their tales of pills, booze, chicks, and decadence. The Joneses brought their own definition of cool to the table, youthful yet timeless, fierce yet endearing, and drugged up and drunk the whole time. Their music was pure punk fueled rock ‘n’ roll aggression, sung with ‘50s style melody but coming hard with ‘80s Los Angeles aggression. Unfortunately, The Joneses had all the right parts but were not recognized for being the unique forbearers they were. To say these rockers were cool wouldn’t be saying enough. They were the symbol of cool on the Hollywood strip, and they were what rock ‘n’ roll was and is really about. No posturing or false chic – they were the real deal, the real sleaze with the real sound of the street.