Jerome Brish, Milwaukee Punk Rock Legend
Jerome Brish, Milwaukee Punk Rock Legend One of the first disciples of pop music’s new direction was Jerome Brish, a teenager from Cudahy. by Larry Widen Milwaukee History Feb. 04, 2026 7 minute read Expand Photo courtesy Guy Hoffman The Haskels circa 1978 In the 1970s new wave and punk rock music from bands like the New York Dolls, Television, Blondie, Iggy Pop and the Ramones came west to Milwaukee. One of the first disciples of pop music’s new direction was Jerome Brish, a teenager from Cudahy. His life was unstable in the formative years, and he never knew his father. His mother came and went, leaving Brish to be raised by his maternal grandmother. He left home at age 16 and came to Milwaukee, determined to become a professional musician. He formed Marilyn, a glam rock band that later became In a Hot Coma. That group included drummer Guy Hoffman, vocalist and bassist Richard LaValliere and his brother, guitarist Gerard LaValliere. Vocalist Jill Kossoris left In a Hot Coma at age 1...
