“Flash Cooney stands on the edge of the stage at CBGB’s in downtown New York City wearing only a grass hula skirt, shirtless with his blonde hair flying out in all directions and tribal makeup on his face. He holds a Gretsch hollow body electric, personally customized to his liking and finished with gold glitter. To his left a bass player in kilt and warpaint, the lead guitarist in stockings and garter belt, and the singer spewing cheap champagne over the audience. Behind him, a pirate flag and tooth filled kick drum spewing smoke. This isn’t your normal garage band. This is Flash Cooney and the Deans of Discipline. The circus is in town. Lock up your children.”

Permanent Record

The Deans of Discipline

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Bio

Flash Cooney and the Deans of Discipline emerged as distinctive figures in the New York City '80s music scene with their groundbreaking album "Horror-Glitter-Transvesto-Billy," released under the iconic CBGB Celluloid label.

Rooted in the CBGB scene of the late '70s, they evolved from pure punk to a unique blenD melding rockabilly, punk, R&B-infused glam, reminiscent of the New York Dolls, with a hint of AC/DC, yet peppered with the unexpected influences of Glenn Miller's swing and Gustav Holst's orchestral depth. Their music, rich with raucous hooks and humorously provocative lyrics, captured New York's punk rock spirit with an innovative twist.

The 1987 debut featured memorable tracks like “Cute & Drunk,” “College Boy,” and “Future Fox,” showcasing their knack for tongue-in-cheek storytelling and themes of youthful rebellion with humor and anthemic tracks like "Lovers on Drugs" and "Rockabilly Ambulance." The album's live recording style, sans crowd noise, offered an intimate glimpse into the band's raw, unadulterated energy. A blend of humor, catchy rhythms, and genre-spanning influences set them apart, securing this album as a cult classic among punk, glam, and rockabilly aficionados.

Straddling the line between a Cramps cover band and Sunset Strip glam metal parody, they provide a unique window into the era's eclectic underground scene and, to this day, their live performances are not to be missed.

The Deans' innovative fusion of styles underscores their creative versatility and enduring influence on the genre's landscape. Capturing the essence of New York's punk spirit with a whimsical flair, their music remains a vibrant homage to the era's underground scene. Their work is a testament to their ability to push musical boundaries, making a lasting impact on the vibrant underground music scene.

DEANS Live

THE BAND

ANDREW BENEPE, KNOWN AS FLASH COONEY, IS THE MAIN SONGWRITER AND GUITARIST FOR THE BAND. HE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THEIR UNIQUE SOUND, WHICH BLENDS ELEMENTS OF FLASH METAL, ROCKABILLY, B-MOVIE WEIRDNESS, AND GLAM-PUNK. THIS ECLECTIC MIX IS SHOWCASED IN THE DEANS BREAKOUT 1987 ALBUM AND CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE DEANS UPCOMING ALBUM DUE OUT THIS YEAR

NICK MARDEN, A NOTABLE MEMBER WITH THE DEANS SHARES INSIGHTS INTO HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY, STARTING WITH HIS EARLY EXPOSURE TO INSTRUMENTS AND PROGRESSING THROUGH VARIOUS BANDS, INCLUDING THE STIMULATORS, BEFORE EVENTUALLY PLAYING WITH FLASH COONEY AND THE DEANS OF DISCIPLINE. MARDEN’S NARRATIVE REVEALS A RICH TAPESTRY OF MUSICAL EXPERIENCES, COLLABORATIONS, AND THE BAND’S EVOLUTION WITHIN NEW YORK’S PUNK SCENE.

JASON WILKINS, PREVIOUSLY OF THE SIC F*CKS JOINED FLASH COONEY AND THE DEANS OF DISCIPLINE AS THE LEAD GUITAR PLAYER. HIS ADDITION AS GUITARIST AND SONG WRITING COLLABORATOR HAS BROUGHT A FRESH DYNAMISM TO THE BAND’S SOUND, COMPLEMENTING THEIR UNIQUE BLEND OF GENRES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES.