See The Smithereens with Robin Wilson and Marshall Crenshaw at the Carteret Performing Arts Center on Saturday, December 7th!
Local New Jersey legends The Smithereens got their start in 1980. Originally consisting of Jim Babjak, Mike Mesaros, Dennis Diken, and Pat DiNizio, the band’s signature sound is inspired by 1960’s power pop with a more rocking edge to it. The group released a couple of EPs in 1980’s Girls About Town and 1983’s Beauty and Sadness before releasing their debut album Especially for You in 1986. The album contained the single “Blood and Roses” that did considerably well for the young band, being used in the film Dangerously Close as well as in the episode ‘The Savage’ of Miami Vice.
The Smithereens would release two more albums in the 1980’s in Green Thoughts (1988) and 11 (1989). 11 would be the group’s highest-charting album, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard pop charts. The group would continue through the 1990’s, releasing Blow Up in 1991, A Date with The Smithereens in 1994, and God Save The Smithereens in 1999.
Following the tapering success of their releases, yet popularity of their performances, the group would simply tour without releasing new music until 2007, when they would release Meet The Smithereens!, an album made up of Beatles covers due to their habit of playing the covers in their encore. The album was a great success for the band, which allowed them to release a Christmas album later in 2007, as well as a second Beatles cover album in 2008.
In 2009, The Smithereens would continue their string of successful cover albums with The Smithereens Play Tommy, an abridged version of The Who’s Tommy. It wouldn’t be until 2011, 12 years after God Save The Smithereens, that the band would release an album of their own original music. Titled 2011, which featured a nod to 1989’s 11 on its cover art, was a massive success for the band compared to their last few albums in the 90’s.
Unfortunately, in 2017 Pat DiNizio passed away at the age of 62 following struggles with his health dating back to 2015. The following year, the band held a tribute show to their fallen vocalist and guitarist at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. The five-hour show included guest appearances by Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, Dave Davies, Robin Wilson, and many more.
Later in 2018, the remaining members of the band decided that they would continue the band without officially replacing DiNizio, bringing Robin Wilson and Marshall Crenshaw along to do vocal duties live. The same year, the group released a 22-song cover album and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Most recently, the group has released The Lost Album (2022), an album that was originally recorded in 1993 but, as it was recorded between labels, never saw the light of day outside of a few songs used in DiNizio’s solo releases.
Tickets are available at carteretpac.com.
