News came out that lead singer/guitarist/songwriter of the Smithereens Pat DiNizio passed away yesterday at the age of 62. A product of the New Jersey music founded in Carteret, NJ, I have always described the Smithereens as "Jersey Beatles". Their music had the melodic sensibility of the Beatles but the power that represented the alt-rock movement of the early 1980's. I had the opportunity to see the Smithereens twice in concert. The first, I still described as one of the best concert that I have ever since, was when the Smithereens opened for the Pretenders at Radio City Music Hall in 1987. The combination of the intimacy of the venue added to the fact that the Smithereens left everything they had on stage gives its illustrious position. The second time was while I was attending the University of Delaware and they played the school's field house and instead of assembling a stage, they set up in the middle of the basketball court and intermingle with the crowd of about 500-600. It was a unique experience. Their first four albums are the groups strongest works and best representation of their sound. They recorded sporadically in the 2000's, when they did the recorded complete cover of albums that influenced them "Meet the Beatles", "Tommy" and "B-Sides and the Beatles". The last studio album of new material was "Smithereens 2011" released in the same year.
Rest in Peace - Pat and thank you for your contribution to music.
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