Teen Band GNGR Prevails at Cops & Rockers

The third annual Cops & Rockers battle of the bands pinned the talent of eight teen bands against Undercover, a group made up of local police officers from Verona and Montclair.

The bands took the stage at Verona High School Saturday and raised $3,000, which will be split with the school’s music program and an effort to rebuild a community center in Brick destroyed by superstorm Sandy.

Each band played one original song along with a selection of popular covers. The youth once again out-rocked the cops with the band GNGR taking first place. The winning band received a day in a music studio, where they will record a CD and make a music video, as well as receive a consultation with RCA Records in New York.

The winner was selected by text vote from the crowd together with two guest judges, Verona resident Joe Riccitelli, Executive Vice President and General Manager of RCA Records, and Montclair resident Steve Kingston, a radio entrepreneur and veteran radio program director.

Cops & Rockers was founded in 2011 by the Verona PBA Local #72 and Verona Police Sgt. Dan Greco, who plays guitar in Undercover.

“It was really designed just to give kids the chance to play on a real stage for a good cause," Greco said.

The goal was to make the teens "feel like real rock stars."

In addition to Greco, Undercover consists of T.J. Conroy on drums, Rich Kennedy and Pat Filoso of Hillcrest Farms on bass, Gerard Dinola and Montclair Det. Brian Fazio and Montclair Sgt. Stephanie Egnezzo on vocals. Some of these musicians also helped warm up the crowd.

The fundraising continues with three guitars autographed by Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Chris Daughtry’s band being auctioned off this week on eBay. 

The autographed guitars were donated by Kingston and Rocktec Music of Verona donated additional guitars which were raffled off to the audience.

If you would like to make a donation, send it to the Verona PBA Local #72 c/o Cops & Rockers, P.O. Box 72, Verona, NJ 07044.