crunchee Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 https://officialsmithereens.com/5142/pat-dinizio-passes-away/ https://officialsmithereens.com/5150/a-statement-from-jim-dennis-and-mike/ https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/pat-dinizio-smithereens-lead-singer-has-died-at-62/ http://variety.com/2017/music/news/pat-dinizio-smithereens-died-reactions-1202638839/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff_hartwell Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Such a loss, and what a wonderful guy. 😥 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo175 Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Damn. Smithereens were one of the few non-metal/hard rock bands that I really enjoyed back in the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj2858 Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Just heard on the radio - R.I.P. Pat, you did some great songs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMN Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 This TDC stinks! I have enjoyed the bands tunes since first hearing/seeing them 30+ years ago. Tampa Bay radio played them well. Seen a couple great Smithereens shows here too. RIP Pat. We dug the tunes! Thank you sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundernotes Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 He was a super nice guy. Met him a couple of times 3-4 years ago. The shows always kicked ass and he took time to talk with everyone afterward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamerhead Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Dammit. RIP, Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 I've seen the Smithereens and/or Pat solo a few dozen times that I can distinctly recall, and probably a few more that I can't. They were always touring, and always put on a great show. Pat has been in declining condition for the last 12-15 years, and couldn't even hold/play his Strat for the last 4 years or so. His voice always remained dead on though. I got to hang with him a few times when I was teching for Turdus' band when the MOC opened. At one snowy evening gig in Baltimore, he pulled up 20 minutes before showtime in a beat up station wagon and we unpacked his CDs and merch boxes, and he carried out the Strat. Nothing else. No amp, no pedals, no mike...just the Strat and merch. He said he liked to travel light. Pic below of him performing "The Seeker" with the Merchants of Cool at that gig... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonesullivan Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 He lives really close to where I work, so this was being talked about this morning. He definitely did not look healthy in recent times. Sadly I never got to see them live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockbody Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Damn, too young. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie G. Moseley Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 That band put out some great music, and many of their tunes epitomized definitive songcrafting, IMO--getting the point across with simple-yet-memorable hooks, great riffs, straight-to-point lyrics, appropriate guitar breaks, and Mesaros' booming Ric bass. I thought they were pretty unique in their heyday. "Only A Memory" was an absolute classic, anchored by a four-chord riff that channeled "Just Like Me" by Paul Revere & the Raiders. While they made some videos, they came across as blue-collar, and didn't need to rely on visuals to get folks to appreciate what they were presenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc2 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Man, this sucks. Great songwriter. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARM OF HAMER Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhitcomb3 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I love the Smithereens. They were hard working rock/powerpop fans who kept their lunchpail work ethic even with considerable early success. Great voice, great craftsmanship, great songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlehum Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Sad news. I've liked the Smithereens since I first heard them in the 80s and have caught them live a whole bunch of times. They seemed to play pretty steadily over the years, even after original bassist Mike Mesaros left around 2006 (apparently to focus on family). Within the last couple of years, Mesaros rejoined the band for a handful of shows, and I was fortunate enough to catch three of them in 2017; one at Daryl's House in NY and two consecutive shows in July at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ. I'm pretty sure those Asbury Park shows were the last gigs the original lineup played together before Dinizio's passing (get out and see the bands you like when you have the chance...you just never know when the last time might be). I'm glad I made the effort to get out and see those shows...Mesaros was amazing and the entire band just killed it. Mesaros did say that the band was working on new material, implying maybe it may be out sooner rather than later, stating "Well, we're not getting any younger". As someone here mentioned, Dinizio had some persistent health challenges - over time, he'd gained some weight, and had taken a couple of serious falls in recent years resulting in him having a tough time getting around as well as the loss of mobility in his arms. At this years shows, someone had to hold a cup for him to drink out of with a straw. He hasn't played guitar on stage in a long time, but his voice has remained strong. The Daryl's House show from this year was recorded and can be seen here: Smithereens - Live at Daryl's House 5-27-17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 I caught one of the Mesaros shows in January here at the State. He was incredibly thrilled to be back playing with the band, and there was definitely a different energy than from Severo or Kenny Howes shows - not better or more by any shot, just like a blast from the past. Lots of smiles that night. The show was on January 17th, and we just got tickets for the January 19th, 2018 show there a few days before Pat died. They came in the mail yesterday afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonbodley Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Some Smithereens stuff you all may be interested in: one of the best things they ever did- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonbodley Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Pat with Jim Ellison from Material Issue. I guess there weren't any recordings of them together available previously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonbodley Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 some shows where they play some stuff they didn't much: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonbodley Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonbodley Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamerica Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 For those located in Jersey and those interested in web-surfing love Saturday night. “Time and Time Again: A Celebration of Pat DiNizio” takes place Sat. Jan. 14 at the Count Basie Theatre in NJ. Joining Jimmy, Dennis, Mike and Severo will be Steven Van Zandt, Patty Smyth, Marshall Crenshaw, Robin Wilson, Freedy Johnston, Richard Barone, The Grip Weeds, Ed Stasium and more! The show will be streamed live on The Basie.org starting at 8pm EST/5pm PST. Hamerica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMN Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Cool! I shared your info about this on FB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchee Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 The concert's livestreaming now online...Patty Smyth is the opening act, show's just got started. Three screens to choose from for different views of the acts--nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 15 hours ago, crunchee said: The concert's livestreaming now online...Patty Smyth is the opening act, show's just got started. Three screens to choose from for different views of the acts--nice! A guy Serial and I know from where we grew up and a friend of ours from home play/played with Patty Smyth last night. Keith Mack has been with her since the '80s, and Cliff Hillis has done dual duty as the band's guitar tech and fill-in guitar/bass guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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