A Dirty Dozen with GLENN MORROW’S CRY FOR HELP – June 2026

Photo credit: Mike Sansevere

According to a recent press release: “Hoboken rockers-for-life Glenn Morrow’s Cry For Help are releasing their latest opus Our Final Album – Vol. 1. The album will be issued July 17 on 12” LP vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming services on the venerable indie record label Bar / None which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Glenn had helmed the label nearly since its inception before handing over the reins this year. Glenn Morrow has a storied history as a founding member of “a” the first band to play at the legendary Hoboken music club Maxwell’s in the late 70s – the rest of that band went on to form the Bongos. Glenn next formed the Individuals and toured across the U.S. with that outfit. At the same time, he also served as an editor and writer at New York Rocker magazine. In 2014, a band took shape around Mike Rosenberg (bass), Ric Sherman (guitar) and Ron Metz (drums). All were veterans of the local Hoboken scene (Human Switchboard, the Schramms, the Pussywillows).” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Ric: 2 things come to mind… 1.  In Beatle Bones, there are some guitar licks inspired by a certain Beatle song.  2. In Love With Love incorporates a list of popular soap operas into the lyrics… not sure who’d ever get that, except my grandmother (and she’s not available to ask).

Mike: Nothing hidden (I think). I hope people hear the effort we all put into the music, but it’s not required.

Glenn: “That’s That” is about a guy racing down a highway who is moderately out of control. He sees his whole life flash before his eyes before he ends up at the gates of heaven with every chicken he ever dined on and they are pissed.

Ron:  This release is straight forward. No details hidden beneath the surface. The tunes should catch you right away.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Ric: Ed Sullivan / Beatles and Stones shortly thereafter.

Mike: I’ve always loved and been seriously involved in listening to music, but I didn’t realize I could make music with others until my early 20’s.

Glenn: “Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron” by the Royal Guardsmen and Good Guys WMCA Radio 1965.

Ron: The Beatles Second Album on my 6th birthday.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Ric: Stones / Stevie Wonder / Bloodrock @ Madison Square Garden in ’72.

Mike: NRBQ. They taught me that everything is valid and you open your ears to everything.

Glenn: Alex Chilton in all his iterations from blue eyed soul in the Boxtops to the post Beatles-Big Star into his sardonic world-weary jazz blues and rock eclecticism of his later years.

Ron: Specific? No.  I’m usually interested in particular artist for a period of time and then I’ll come across someone else.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Ric: Ray Ketchem – our producer, pulled stuff out of us that elevated the sound, the songs, the arrangements, and my own playing.  Some of what’s on the record came out of me and I had to subsequently learn how to recreate it live.

Mike: Scott McCaughey (Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows). He’s creative and fun.

Glenn: I’d love to get Paul Westerberg out of retirement.

Ron: Andy Burton.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Ric: Organize record pressing & packaging for the industry –at large!

Mike: Baseball, yelling at CNN.

Glenn: iPhone photography and Pilates (see our video for “Sweater Weather”).

Ron: Not to be cliche, I unwind by listening to music. I also watch sports on TV and walk / play with my dog.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Ric: Hmmmm.  This particular record (maybe all) is extremely varied. Lots of different vibes – so I think people would have a hard time figuring out how to explain it.

Mike: Original rock songs. I can’t think of anything that made me cringe(yet). I probably made the other guys cringe when I said something we were doing sounded like Loggins & Messina.

Glenn: Mutating bits and pieces of rock n roll history into actual songs.

Ron: Original Rock. I can’t think of any other label.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Ric: Coffee’s a staple — and the occasional cold pizza makes an appearance.

Mike: Sorry, doesn’t happen in our band.

Glenn: I’ve bought a few pizzas for the band over the years, and we did go to Antique @112 in Hoboken once.

Ron: If we hang, we usually go out. If someone breaks out an acoustic guitar, they are usually shunned and reviled into putting the damn thing away.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Ric: Through my CD & Record manufacturing biz, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts…. perfect gentlemen!!!! A priceless experience.

Mike: In my very early 20’s, I met a favorite artist who was a complete asshole. I learned to never be starstruck.

Glenn: Working with Alex Chilton in the late 90s on his album Set.

Ron: I don’t recall ever being star struck. Sorry.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Ric: Music has been an outlet for self-expression… a therapeutic release and today, more valuable than ever. Dream Job? Maybe a Feature Film Editor.

Mike: When you’re playing with others and you kind of forget time or where you are. You’re completely inside the song. Outside, dream job is always telling people about some music they might love. I’ve been lucky to be able to do that most of my life.

Glenn: Running Bar None Records kept me collaborating with many generations of musicians. It was a great gift from the cosmos.

Ron: The best part of being a musician is playing live when the band is clicking. If I could no longer play, I would spend the day at the racetrack.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Mike: I’d love to be asked if I can name all the members of Parliament / Funkadelic? (I can). I can’t think of a question I’m tired of except “What are your influences?

Glenn: Why do you feel the need to make music? (Not sure I know the answer) How did the band get its name?

Ron: There is no question I wish you would ask. But I will tell you that I’m sick and tired of everyone asking me about politics, religion, economics, and science.  I’m just drummer for cryin’ out loud!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Ric: My parents dissuaded me from pursuing music as a full-time career. I understand their thoughts & concerns, but I do wonder what life would have been like had a ignored them. I’m grateful that over the last 12 years, GMCFH has evolved and given me some ideas.

Mike: Not in this band, but a long time ago, a band I was in was told by the club booker that we weren’t getting paid just BEFORE we were about to start a gig. The guy thought we wouldn’t have the nerve to walk. I wanted to walk but the vote was to play the gig for the people that came out. I still regret letting that guy screw us.

Glenn: When I first picked up the guitar, I learned a couple chords, and I wrote a song and never stopped. I wonder what it would have been like if I had better musical training at a young age. Fortunately, the bar for entry was low in the new wave/punk rock world of the early 80’s and I always found great musicians to play with. Also Thank Rob Norris for putting a guitar pick and an electric guitar in my hand and showing me barre chords.

Ron: I wish I kept up with reading drum notation.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Ric: Exile on Main Street – just a great collection of songs and styles.

Mike: Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and the Clowns “Don’t You Just Know It.” My favorite record. I don’t want to play on it; I just want to be in that room.

Glenn: Todd Rundgren A Wizard A True Star great songs, great players and lots of experimentation.

Ron: If I went back and played on my favorite record, it wouldn’t be the same record – so I have no desire to do that.

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Category: Interviews