Pat Dinizio Biography
Most folks know Pat DiNizio for the dark, British Invasion-influenced college rock of his longtime group the Smithereens. Few might also remember his 1997 solo album. The new millennium found DiNizio in some unexpected roles, however -- serving as a programmer for satellite radio, undertaking a solo tour in which he played at people's homes, and most surprisingly, launching a failed but quite serious campaign for the Senate.
DiNizio and the Smithereens first rose to prominence in the '80s. After playing in several groups, DiNizio decided to form his own combo. He hooked up with three young New Jersey natives -- Dennis Diken (drums), Jim Babjak (guitar), and Mike Mesaros (bass) -- who had played together in high school. The Smithereens released several EPs in the early '80s to mild success and played as a supporting band on the oldies circuit. Finally, after being signed to Enigma, the group released their 1986 debut LP Especially for You. The album enjoyed moderate success, particularly with the college market, on the strength of the ominous, Beatlesque pop of the single "Blood and Roses." 1988's Green Thoughts saw the group crossing over into major markets with the hit single "Only a Memory." The follow-up, 11, saw a career peak with the Top 40 success of the crunch-heavy "A Girl Like You."
Nevertheless, with the advent of such phenomena as grunge and Nirvana in the early '90s, the Smithereens faded from public consciousness. The group continued releasing albums throughout the '90s, including a 1998 best-of and 1999's God Save the Smithereens; however, they never came remotely close to their previous success. (The band continued to play concerts to a sizable cult following well into the 2000s.) In 1997, DiNizio released his solo debut, Songs and Sounds, on Velvel Records, recruiting a lineup that included J.J. Burnel of the Stranglers; Sonny Fortune, a one-time sax player for Miles Davis; and Tony Smith, a former Lou Reed drummer.
In 2000, DiNizio made a bid for an open New Jersey Senate seat. He ran as a Reform Party candidate, with a campaign featuring a rhinoceros mascot and a platform that drew quotes from Harry Truman, Albert Camus, and Ghandi. Not surprisingly, DiNizio was only able to garner one percent of the votes. A documentary, Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington, took a candid look at the rock star's Senate bid. That same year, DiNizio came up with a unique touring concept: for 2,000 dollars, he would drive his van to a fan's house, unload his guitar and a keg of beer, and play Smithereens requests for a private audience. He logged several thousand miles and crossed the country on this endeavor. Early in the new millennium, DiNizio also began programming XM Satellite Radio, which championed unsigned artists from a variety of genres. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Dead can dance Biography: Dead Can Dance combine elements of European folk music -- particularly music from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance -- with ambient pop and worldbeat flourishes. Their songs are of lost beauty,...
Sundays Biography: Building on the jangly guitar pop of the Smiths and the trance-like dream pop of bands like the Cocteau Twins, the Sundays cultivated a dedicated following in indie rock circles, both in their native...
Thunderstone Biography: Finland's Thunderstone perform in a melodic speed metal style -- generally lumped into the power metal category -- that is quite popular across continental Europe. Originally formed simply for kicks...
Full force Biography: Full Force rose to prominence in the mid-'80s, writing and producing popular R&B hits for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam before embarking on a moderately successful solo career that ultimately led them back...
Diana king Biography: After her appearance on the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 album Ready to Die, Diana King received a contract with the Work label. Previously a collaborator of Andrew Tosh, the reggae/dancehall...
Lulu Biography: Most Americans first heard of Lulu when she soared to the top of the charts with the pop ballad "To Sir with Love," the theme to the film of the same name, in 1967. Actually, the Scottish singer --...
Soilwork Biography: The Swedish metal sextet Soilwork formed in early 1997, fusing the country's signature ultra-heavy death metal sound with the power-groove riffs of late-'70s, early-'80s British and European metal....
Himekami Biography: This Japanese synthesist creates lush, pop-influenced music that's almost symphonic in conception. A composer of film and television scores in his native country, Himekami is also well known for his...