Bronx-Born Rock
(Photo from The Bronx County Archives, Courtesy of Dr. Steven Payne)
The Bronx is well known as the birthplace of hip-hop. But the borough is also home to a wide range of music, some of it largely overlooked. That’s why the Bronx Historical Society created its newest exhibit, Uptown Rumble: Heavy Music in the Bronx. It showcases the diversity and originality that Bronx-born bands gave to punk, metal and hard rock music — genres largely dominated by white people.
“It’s a snapshot of the Bronx,” said Steven Payne, Director of the Bronx County Historical Society. “It’s not like only the white kids from the Bronx listening and playing to the music but it’s African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Irish, Italians, Jews from the Bronx — it’s a very wide variety, just like the Bronx is.”
I visited to check out memorabilia from dozens of artists on display and hear audio showcases of their music and interviews.
Uptown Rumble is located at the Museum of Bronx History and is on display through November. This story ran on the What’s What podcast on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
