Dressed in leather, brandishing heavy
guitars and an unabashed fetish for British Invasion pop, the
Smithereens were an anomaly in the American college rock scene
of the late '80s. Lead singer/songwriter Pat DiNizio stood out
not only with his strange beatnik goatee, but also because his
catchy hooks were haunting, not punchy, and because his lyrics
were morose. As time wore on, the group became more
straightforward, turning into an excellent concert band, one
that attacked pop songs with the weight of AC/DC. Of course,
the Smithereens essentially started out as a working band.
After playing in several cover bands, including a handful of
prog-rock and metal groups, Pat DiNizio (vocals, guitar) was
inspired to form his own band after listening to Buddy Holly.
Placing an advertisement in a New York paper for musicians
influenced by Holly, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, and the Clash,
DiNizio eventually came into contact with New Jersey high
school students Dennis Diken (drums), Jim Babjak (guitar) and
Mike Mesaros (bass), who had all played together in school.
By
the end of 1980, they had independently released Girls About
Town, an EP featuring four songs with "girl" in the
title, which was a moderate local success. For the next three
years, the group played around New Jersey and New York, not
releasing another record until 1983's Beauty and Sadness.
While the EP earned some play on college radio and received a
positive review in Rolling Stone, they still had trouble
gaining an audience, so they began supporting traveling oldies
groups like Otis Blackwell, with whom they recorded an album's
worth of material, and the Beau Brummels.
By 1985, the Smithereens were growing
frustrated by their lack of progress, as most of the demos
they sent to labels were ignored. They did send a demo to
Enigma, where Scott Vanderbilt, a former college DJ who was a
fan of the band several years earlier, signed the group. In
1986, the band released their debut album, the Don
Dixon-produced, “Especially for You”, to positive reviews.
On the strength of college airplay, as well as MTV's airing of
"Blood and Roses" -- a video financed by a film
studio which included the song in the B-movie Dangerously
Close -- the album became a hit, climbing to number 51 on the
charts and leading to a major-label contract with Capitol. The
Smithereens supported the album with an extensive tour, and
they recorded their second record weeks after they left the
road.
“Green Thoughts” appeared early in
1988, and the first single, "Only A Memory," not
only became a college and modern rock hit, but it crossed over
to album-rock stations as well. The Smithereens made their
attempt for big-time album-rock success with their third
album, “11.” Hiring producer Ed Stasium brought a heavier
guitar sound, which made "A Girl Like You" -- a song
rejected as the theme for the comedy, “Say Anything” -- a
Top 40 hit, sending 11 to gold status. "Too Much
Passion," the first single from their fourth album Blow
Up, indicated that the new record was more adventurous and
produced, and the single did become a Top 40 hit,. They moved
to RCA for 1994's “A Date With the Smithereens”, their
first album since Green Thoughts to be produced by Don Dixon.
The group retains a sizable cult following
which helps them tour successfully through today, with all
original members. The band has also released a pair of
compilations; the hits package “Blown to Smithereens” and
the rarities collection “Attack of the Smithereens.”
