Many first heard of The Smithereens in 1986 with “Blood and Roses,” but the band had been around long before that.
They formed in March 1980 when Pat DiNizio placed an ad looking for musicians. Dennis Diken answered and then brought along his high school buddies Mike Mesaros and Jim Babjak, leading to the birth of The Smithereens in March that year.
Coming from Carteret, New Jersey (“A Proud Community On The Move”, population 28,000 on the Arthur Kill River), a blue-collar suburb also serving as a bedroom for commuters working in nearby New York City, The Smithereens weren’t in thrall to whatever new wave musical flavours were in the air. They were a rock band, a pop band, and a band with leanings toward the classic sounds they grew up with.
Their first EP, released in 1980, even includes a cover of The Beach Boys’ Girl Don’t Tell Me. Their second self-issued EP, early 1983’s Beauty And Sadness, showcases an outfit that used its influences as a jumping off point, rather than as something to slavishly copy.
They saw it all – record company rejections by the score, releases they financed themselves that got great reviews and no distribution, gruelling club gigs where they would split a $20 paycheck four ways.
Signing with Enigma Records in 1985, The Smithereens raised their profile, releasing a string of amazing records that took them into the charts and around the world.
Their 1986 debut album, Especially For You was hopelessly ahead of its time, while their second LP Green Thoughts, honed by producer Don Dixon, was a hook-crammed feast of guitar rock, tempered by narcotic ballads and a melancholic world view.
Smithereens 11 (1990) was their biggest selling album to date but their career faltered in 1991 with the poorly received Blow Up leaving critics pondering if the band had run out of ideas.
Frontman, singer and rhythm guitarist Pat DiNizio passed away in Summit, New Jersey, on 12 December 2017. He was just 62.
Pat DiNizio
Vocals, guitar
Jim Babjak
Guitar
Mike Mesaros
Bass
Dennis Diken
Drums
Video
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Their first EP, released in 1980, even includes a cover of The Beach Boys’ Girl Don’t Tell Me. Their second self-issued EP, early 1983’s Beauty And Sadness, showcases an outfit that used its influences as a jumping off point, rather than as something to slavishly copy.
Signing with Enigma Records in 1985, The Smithereens raised their profile, releasing a string of amazing records that took them into the charts and around the world.
