Pat DiNizio Dies: Smithereens Songwriter-Guitarist And Soundtrack Artist Was 62
Singer/songwriter Pat DiNizio, who sold millions of records with his New Jersey band, the Smithereens, has died. He passed away just days after indicating via Facebook that he was looking forward to returning to the road. DiNizio was 62 years old and had been recovering from a fall that he was rehabilitating.
His death was announced on the band’s official Facebook page.
DiNizio’s music appeared on numerous film soundtracks, including Bull Durham and Backdraft.
Born Oct. 12, 1955 in Scotch Plains, NJ, DiNizio was working in his family’s trash-hauling business when he formed the Smithereens with fellow musicians Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros. Starting in 1980, their highly melodic music (almost all of it written by DiNizio) became an FM radio staple and touring favorite. Such songs as “A Girl Like You,” “Blood and Roses,” “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and “Only A Memory” were radio-friendly and instantly memorable.
DiNizio was not content with his recording success. He made his own independently produced film, “King Leisure,” and made an unsucessful run for the United States Senate seat from NJ on the Reform Party ticket. He finished fourth with 19, 312 votes and was chronicled in the documentary film Mr. Smithereen Goes To Washington.
In addition to his work with the Smithereens, DiNizio had a solo career with several albums, and was a frequent performer on the house concert circuit between tours with the Smithereens. His “Living Room Tour” went on for five months and featured the multi-platinum artist performing in fan living rooms.
In 2006, DiNizio was the focus of 7th Inning Stretch, an ESPN2 reality special that focused on his recovery from a nervous disorder and attempts to rehab by joining a minor league baseball team, the Somerset Patriots.
He later released an audio book, Confessions of a Rock Star, and performed a one-man show on the book at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Saw the 'Reens many times in their youth (and mine). Very cool band, great musicians, the best songs, good dressers too! I loved them from the first notes of "Girls About Town".
I was expecting more albums from the group before we all moved on, really ... several more albums ... Pat never lost his touch as a songwriter even though he had such bad health issues ... he never lost his edge. He wasn't done. The Smithereens hadn't finished their work.
Just saw them not that long ago and seeing the condition he was in at the time was heartbreaking, but he still fought hard through it. This is really too bad.
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Awful news. The Smithereens were a huge band for me during college & beyond. Because I went to Rutgers & they were a New Jersey band, we all felt very closely connected to them. My college cover band used to play several of their songs. Those first three Smithereens albums, as well as the Beauty & Sadness EP and the live EP, are pretty flawless, and I like a lot of what came after that as well. RIP, Mr. DiNizio.
Stunned and saddened to hear this. I've been a fan from the beginning.
John and I got to see the Smithereens play a private show at the Newsday offices when they released their Christmas album, in 2007. How can it be 10 years already?! I bought a whole stack of CDs for them to autograph. They were all very friendly and personable.
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OMG, such terrible news. I LOVE The Smithereens. I have all their albums and even some solo stuff from Mr. DiNizo. What a heartbreak for his family, friends and fans. I having a really hard time comprehending this news.
I don't think I ever made it all the way through the 21 CD Smithereens mega box set he issued in 2004. A lotta material, but a lot of good stuff, too. I think I'll play Especially For You tonight in tribute.
Totally heartbroken over this one. Pat and the band were the nicest guys. They just lived to play music. I just did a show with The Smithereens last year and they sounded amazing. They were one of those bands that remembered everything and everybody - Each time they came to town, it was like running into old friends. They picked up the conversation where you last left off, and with Pat it was music and baseball. Definitely going to miss him.
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