Shlock Rock was founded by
frontman Lenny Solomon in 1986. While the band does perform some original material, it's primarily known for its output of
parody songs, which shamelessly appropriate the tunes and arrangements of well known, universally recognized rock songs, for use with new lyrics. These lyrics usually concern Jewish
observance and
Jewish pride. Think Rabbi
Meir Kahane with a dumb
sense of humor and an electric keyboard instead of a
thuggish army. The results are mixed, but occassionally it all comes together, particularly with
sound-alike substitutions such as "I Love that Old Time
Torah Scroll" (
I Love that Old Time Rock and Roll) and "
Barbanel" (
Barbarel).
The only crime inherent in this type of music occurs when sheltered
religious Jews listen to Shlock Rock, and end up recognizing a given parody song, but not the song it originates from. A student at my
high school comes to mind, who could sing the Shlock Rock song "If you'll be my study guide/ I can be a mitzvah gal" but didn't even know of the
existence of
Paul Simon's "
If you'll be my bodyguard/ I can be your long lost pal".
On the road there are "160 different Shlock Rock bands". This is because Lenny Solomon is the only band member who actually goes anywhere; he recruits the remaining band members from in or near the city that he's performing in. Apparently good Jewish
yeshiva bachurs,
rabbinim, and
baale-batim have better things to do than go on tour.
New York/
New Jersey/
Connecticut area band members include:
Discography:
Original music-
Music in Hebrew
Childrens' Music-
Info from my personal recollections and from www.shlockrock.com