The Smithereens shaped in 1980 in Carteret, New Jersey. Recognized for his or her catchy, guitar-driven sound that blends components of energy pop, rock, and various rock, The Smithereens gained recognition within the Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties with hits like “A Woman Like You,” “Solely a Reminiscence,” and “Blood and Roses.”
The band’s core lineup included Pat DiNizio on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jim Babjak on lead guitar, Mike Mesaros on bass, and Dennis Diken on drums. DiNizio’s distinct, soulful voice and the band’s easy rock sound, influenced by bands like The Beatles, The Who, and The Kinks, gave The Smithereens their distinctive attraction. Their music usually explored themes of affection, loss, and longing, combining melancholic lyrics with energetic melodies.
All through their profession, The Smithereens launched a number of well-received albums, together with Particularly for You (1986), Inexperienced Ideas (1988), and 11 (1989), which showcased their knack for memorable hooks and rock sensibility. Regardless of the altering music panorama, The Smithereens maintained a devoted fan base and continued to tour and launch music over the many years.
In 2017, the band suffered a significant loss when Pat DiNizio handed away. Since then, they’ve continued performing, with visitor vocalists together with Marshall Crenshaw and Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms. The band is at present on a tour with Wilson behind the mic.
Music Life Journal not too long ago caught up with Diken, forward of the band’s Nov. twentieth present at West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY.
You guys are happening 45 years and counting. Congratulations. I need to return a bit. How did you guys get collectively within the first place? And did you ever suppose it will final so long as it has and nonetheless be going at present?
I’ll begin with the primary query. How we received collectively. We’ve recognized one another a protracted, very long time. Mike Mesaros is our bass participant. Jimmy and I each knew him since like second or third grade, though we weren’t enjoying music collectively. I knew Mike from grammar faculty. Jimmy went to in Carteret, New Jersey. And Jimmy went to a unique grammar faculty, totally different faculty zone. However he knew Mike as a result of they attended the identical church. So, I met Jimmy in highschool, the primary day of highschool. It’s humorous as a result of it was the primary interval of the primary day of freshman yr. And it was the primary row and the primary seat. There’s Jimmy sitting. And my thought was I actually wished to kind a band.
And if I might, my thought was if I might discover a guitarist who might play, I Can’t Clarify by The Who, that may be
a tremendous start line. So, this child within the first row opens up his unfastened leaf and he’s received coloured photos of The Who plastered in there from Hit Parader journal. My eyes type of lightened up and I assumed to myself, “I’m going to speak to this child.” And I launched myself after class. It seems he did play guitar and we began enjoying collectively that week in September of 1971. So, the roots of the band goes again fairly a methods.
After which Mike finally realized to play bass. The three of us actually wished to have a band. We had been in the hunt for a lead singer. Within the late 70s, we met Pat via a categorised advert. By 1980, we had joined forces and Pat was writing so much.
We began enjoying round. Our first gig was in March of 1980. So, it was a protracted haul. After which it was a protracted haul to get signed after that, too. However it was one thing that we actually wished to do. And like something in life, for those who actually need to do it and you persist, chances are high you’ll get it. You’ll do it.
And the second query is, did we predict it will final this lengthy? , I feel you set your horse blinders on for those who’re doing one thing you like. And also you don’t even take into consideration that an excessive amount of. I feel you simply carry on retaining on. As a result of if there’s no motive to cease, you retain going. And there was by no means a motive for us to cease what we do. We love what we do. It’s the one factor we all know learn how to do, actually.
While you guys first began out, did you set targets for your self, saying if we don’t do one thing in two, three years, no matter, we’re going to go and do one thing else in life? What was your thought course of? Do you keep in mind?
Nicely, I feel we didn’t actually set tangible targets. We put out our first seven-inch EP in 1980. And that put us on the native scene, New York and New Jersey, somewhat bit in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. And really, in Ohio, too. And so, we simply type of rolled with the punches. In 1983, we put out our Magnificence and Disappointment EP. And after that, it was somewhat little bit of a discouraging time, as a result of we weren’t getting a lot motion. However I don’t know. I don’t suppose we ever really verbalized something, saying that if we don’t do that by then, we’ll dangle it up. I feel we had been simply too blind to something.
We nearly willed ourselves to reach a approach. Once we did our first album, we didn’t have big expectations. We thought after we did Particularly for You, and it got here out on Enigma Data, we thought, properly, if we promote 10,000 copies, possibly we are able to preserve gigging. It was simply we rolled with each step. And naturally, that album ended up doing so much higher than 10,000 copies. However that’s simply the way in which it occurred. I don’t suppose we had been good sufficient to make targets.
With the passing of Pat in 2017, did you guys speak amongst yourselves as a band whether or not or not you wished to proceed as The Smithereens? Or did you discuss possibly persevering with music in different methods?
Nicely, it was fascinating how issues transpired. It’s laborious to imagine that in December, it is going to be seven years since Pat left us. However that was December of 2017. And at the moment, clearly, we had been shell-shocked when Pat died. And it took us just a few beats for us to catch our breath and determine what we wished to do.
We knew that we wished to play collectively as a result of that’s what we’ve been doing for thus a few years. We’re good pals, and we preferred hanging out with one another in addition to enjoying collectively. The fascinating factor is already at that time, we had a gig scheduled for January of 2018, only a month later after Pat’s passing. It was a present that was being produced by Little Steven Van Zandt. And there have been another artists on the invoice, too.
He (Van Zandt) steered that we preserve the date and have the Smithereens carry out and produce on a bunch of singers to sing with us, and we’d flip it right into a tribute night time to Pat. And that’s precisely what we did. And it actually felt proper that night time. There was such a way of affection within the viewers and within the room.
It was a really particular night time that we’ll always remember. And two of the singers of all the oldsters that sang with us that night time, Marshall Crenshaw and Robin Wilson, simply felt proper. We had recognized Marshall for the reason that early 80s. We opened exhibits for him going again to 81, 82. We shared a report producer. We sat in with him infrequently.
And he even performed some keyboard on our first album, Particularly For You. And I don’t suppose he ever sang with us previous to that, but it surely simply felt like outdated dwelling week when he did. It felt proper. And he felt like a part of the household. In order that appeared like that may work transferring ahead. And in addition, Robin Wilson of Gin Blossoms, unbeknownst to us, was an enormous fan of the Smithereens.
Seems that the place he got here from, Tempe, Arizona space, Gin Blossoms and different bands from there have been closely influenced by the Smithereens. So, he made it very clear to us that we had been considered one of his favourite bands. And if there was ever a possibility to sing with us transferring ahead, that he could be all about it.
So, each of these artists interpreted the music. We definitely weren’t considering of looking for anyone that was a lookalike or a sound alike for Pat. However being that we had these fellas who can interpret the music in their very own approach, but nonetheless keep the integrity of it, that, OK, this may work. And fortunately, it did.
Since 1980, you guys put out 12 studio data, dwell data, cowl data. So, what does the setlist seem like for this tour? Apart from the frequent stuff, A Woman Like You, Solely A Reminiscence, Miles From Nowhere, Blood and Roses, what can followers anticipate to listen to after they see you this month?
Yeah, we clearly do the acquainted songs that folks know from the radio. And if anyone was round watching MTV again within the day, we do all of the songs you talked about and different well-known titles. However we additionally prefer to dig into the catalog and pull out some deeper album cuts, throw in some covers. , the entire thought is to have enjoyable.
When Jimmy and I take the stage, we actually really feel like the children we had been in his storage after we had been practising enjoying Who songs, Kinks songs and Beatles songs. We really feel like youngsters once more. And I feel it’s that perspective and that really feel that we now have that comes via and interprets to the viewers. And we’re fortunate that our followers and our viewers has remained so loyal and loving and supportive all these years. It’s actually unbelievable. We definitely couldn’t have made it 45 years with out them being there.
Do you will have a favourite music you prefer to play dwell? Is there a sure music that you just stay up for or that the viewers responds to greater than others that you just like?
For me, I suppose it relies upon. My reply would depend upon whenever you ask me. However I’ve a sure fondness for a music known as Spellbound from the Inexperienced Ideas album. I simply love the temper. I like the groove on that. And it’s one of many songs the place I attempt to really replicate what I did on the report. And I don’t try this with each music.
However I similar to what I did on the recording so I do play the identical approach I did on the report each time. There’s one thing about that sample that I exploit that actually speaks to me. And I simply dig it a lot. And it’s a little bit of a departure too. It’s a bit softer. It’s a ballad so it’s somewhat extra downhead. However it’s a music that folks dig. In order that’s the one which involves thoughts. There’s numerous them. However that’s the one which springs to thoughts whenever you ask that query.
In 2022, you set out the Misplaced Album, which was your first studio report in 11 years. However this was one thing you guys had accomplished over 25 years in the past. I feel, 1993? What made you guys resolve to lastly launch it? What are you able to inform me about that?
Yeah, in 1993, we had been between labels. We had been now not with Capitol. And later that yr, we did signal with RCA. However within the interim, we had a bunch of tunes. About 24 songs, really, thereabouts. So, we dipped into our pockets and went to a studio in New York Metropolis known as Crystal Sound on West nineteenth Avenue. And we arrange camp there for 2 totally different units of classes, really, a couple of month at a time, and recorded all these tunes, 12 of which we ended up re-recording for the Date with the Smithereens album.
However the different 12, we didn’t launch or re-record. They only sat in our vault for all these years. And I suppose it was round COVID time after we had been all hanging out at dwelling. We had been going via our cabinets. And I’ve a DAT tape. You keep in mind DAT tapes? Digital Audio Tapes. Possibly among the youthful listeners don’t know what I’m speaking about. However that was the way in which you’ll, earlier than you may burn a CD, this was the way in which you may digitally archive or grasp, in some instances, your report. So, I had a DAT of those 12 songs. And sadly, the DAT performed, typically they had been a bit temperamental. However the tunes held up, we thought.
They had been well-recorded, and so they had been good songs, and our performances had been fairly good, we thought. So, we thought it held collectively as an album. We had numerous images from these classes. We put collectively a bundle and determined to place it on the market. And lo and behold, it received a very wonderful response. However we had been fairly shocked.
We thought it was a top quality album. However some folks had been saying, it’s our greatest album, and why’d you wait so lengthy? We had been very, very shocked and happy on the response that that album received. Yeah, it was enjoyable to see that album come to life in spite of everything these years.
Is there the rest within the archives you suppose you may put out?
Yeah, there’s tons of stuff. It’s simply received to make the time to take care of it. However there are numerous archival releases that may come out from us. And we’re gearing as much as make a brand new studio album of all unique new materials.
When can we anticipate that?
Subsequent yr, in ’25. We began recording just a few tracks already, and we’ll be doing extra. And it’s only a matter of discovering the time proper now. It’s been type of a busy yr for us, professionally and personally. So, we’re hoping to clear the deck and refocus on it early within the new yr.
Are you going to have Marshall or Robin singing?
Yeah, we hope to have each of them. And Jimmy and I can be singing. And in addition, we’re going to be doing a little exhibits in ’25. We’ve completed one already with John Cowsill of the Cowsills singing lead with us. So, he may take part on that as properly. So yeah, we’re enthusiastic about it.
You guys have been influenced by many artists – The Beatles, The Who, Kinks, Springsteen. However for you as a drummer, who do you look as much as as a drummer?
Oh, my goodness, there’s so many. I imply, I all the time should say Ringo. He’s nonetheless anyone I take heed to for inspiration. I like the way in which he addresses a music. I like his really feel, his sense of swing, and his sense of his model. He’s actually the final word rock and roll drummer. Then there’s guys like Earl Palmer from New Orleans who invented rock and roll drumming. Hal Blaine, one other nice studio drummer.
Buddy Saltzman, a New York Session drummer who performed on the 4 Seasons data. Roger Hawkins from Muscle Shoals, the massive inspiration to me. Dino Danelli from The Rascals.
Kenny Jones from The Small Faces. Charlie Watts, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell. I can go on and on. We might most likely speak for an hour about that.
Just about all people you grew up with.
That’s proper. And naturally, the Motown drummers, you recognize, and Al Jackson. Yeah, precisely. It’s who I grew up with as a result of we’re all self-taught. We admire the individuals who taught us, which had been the individuals who performed on the data we listened to after we had been youngsters.
Had been you considered one of these youngsters who stayed in your bed room or in your basement practising every single day?
Once I was a child, yeah, man. I couldn’t wait to get dwelling from faculty and throw my books down, run within the basement, placed on a Gary Lewis and the Playboys report or no matter, and play together with it. It’s, I imply, I actually began instructing myself after I was about two or three years outdated. I picked up again then. There have been these toys known as Lincoln Logs, these wood sticks that you may construct like log cabins with, little toy log cabins or Tinker Toys. I don’t know for those who keep in mind these, however I’d take these and play on espresso cans.
And American Bandstand, an incredible TV present that was on every single day that Dick Clark would spotlight the highest songs of the day. And so, as somewhat child from watching TV, I used to be turned on to this. I gravitated in direction of the rhythm of the songs. And actually, after I was very younger, I knew I used to be going to be a drummer. So, that is only a lifelong ardour for all of us.
Is there something in life that you just haven’t completed but or that you just’d prefer to attempt? Or are there any hobbies you do moreover music?
Is there something? It’s largely music associated. I imply, after I was a child, for those who requested me, what do you need to be whenever you develop up? I wished to play drums. And I wished to be a disc jockey. That was a giant factor for me after I was somewhat child. And I did get to try this. And I nonetheless get to do it infrequently. I’m a employees member at WFMU, Freeform Listener Supported Station in New Jersey.
And I’ve been doing fill-ins on that station since 1996. After which throughout the lockdown, throughout the pandemic, I received to have my very own present known as Denny’s Den on considered one of their streams. It was a streaming present on the Rock and Soul stream. The archives are nonetheless up. If anyone goes to WFMU.org and goes to the Rock and Soul archives, you’ll find Denny’s Den there and listen to all my exhibits.
I should go test it out.
Yeah. So these had been the issues that I wished to do. And, you recognize, I by no means have been into sports activities or searching, or issues like that. However my spouse is known as a nice prepare dinner and she or he’s a gardener. When she retires, I feel I’d prefer to spend time together with her doing that type of stuff. However these, you recognize, these are my ambitions.
I prefer to play drums. I like to write down songs. And I prefer to play data. That’s actually what I dig do. I prefer to learn. However I don’t have any lofty ambitions past that, actually.
I dwell on the Canadian aspect, as I mentioned earlier. Do you guys have any plans on coming over right here?
I want. Nothing proper now. However I’ve all the time liked enjoying in Canada. We began, I feel the primary time we performed in Canada was 1985 or possibly 86. We performed Lee’s Palace in Toronto. Keep in mind that place?
And on our first main tour, our first tour to advertise Particularly For You, we did a fairly wild tour of Canada. We began on the East Coast and this was wintertime and we drove via the Rockies, making stops heading west. That’s a fantastic drive, man. We had an RV. It was somewhat dodgy. However I keep in mind loving spending time in Canada.
And my spouse and I spent a superb a part of our honeymoon there. We went to Niagara Falls and went to Toronto and Montreal and some different locations. I’ve an actual delicate spot in my coronary heart for Canada. I actually do like it. I do hope we get to return again there.
We hope so too, as a result of that may be nice to see you guys coming over and even when it’s only a small tour of Southern Ontario or one thing, as a result of there’s numerous locations you may nonetheless play at. We’d like to have you ever guys.
Nicely, that’d be nice. Do you keep in mind a spot, I don’t know if that is earlier than your time or not, however a spot in Oshawa known as The Star Membership. Do you keep in mind that?
I’ve heard of it, however I’ve by no means been there, so I couldn’t let you know if it’s nonetheless there or not.
Yeah, I’ve a sense it’s not as a result of I do know the proprietor handed away just a few years in the past…Lee’s Palace and The Star Membership had been our first gigs in Canada. I feel that was 85 or 86. So these had been adventures for us again within the day. , it was crossing the border and all that and going into it.
Thanks in your time. I’m wanting ahead to seeing you guys subsequent Wednesday on the Riviera Theatre.
Oh, nice. Come by and say hey.
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