Pat DiNizio
Encyclopedia
Pat DiNizio of Scotch Plains
, New Jersey
, is the lead singer, songwriter
, and member of the band The Smithereens
, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak
, Dennis Diken
and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey
.
In addition to the Smithereens' body of work, DiNizio has also released three solo albums, Sounds and Songs (1997), This is Pat DiNizio, a collection of cover songs arranged for piano and vocals (2006), and Pat DiNizio (2007).
In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate
, running on the Reform Party
ticket. The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary
film Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.
The same year, he launched the "Living Room Tour," a five-month jaunt where he performed solo, by request only, in the homes of fans. The tour was a success, and he still occasionally books similar concerts for a nominal fee.
In 2001, he was one of the first musicians to throw his support behind XM Satellite Radio
, becoming host and program director
for the XM Radio Unsigned
station.
DiNizio was also an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards'
judging panel to support independent artists.
In 2006, he was the focus of 7th Inning Stretch, an ESPN2
reality special. The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and debilitating nervous disorder" by training and attempting to try out for a Minor League Baseball
team (The Somerset Patriots
), along with tales of baseball folklore from other musicians such as Joan Jett
, Gene Simmons
, and Bruce Springsteen
.
DiNizio recently released an audio book, Confessions Of A Rock Star, and continues to perform both solo acoustic shows and with The Smithereens. DiNizio presents a condensed, live adaptation of the book (with storytelling and full band accompaniment), in nightly performances at the The Riviera Hotel & Casino
in Las Vegas, as of November 2011.
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, is the lead singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and member of the band The Smithereens
The Smithereens
The Smithereens are a rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio , Jim Babjak , Mike Mesaros , and Dennis Diken...
, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak
Jim Babjak
Jim Babjak , is the lead guitar player and founding member of The Smithereens. He has written and sung several songs for the band...
, Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken co-founded the NJ band The Smithereens. Besides playing with The Smithereens, Dennis is a fill-in DJ on WFMU.As a musician and record producer, Diken has worked with The Smithereens, Ben E. King, Mary Weiss of 1960s girl group The Shangri-Las, Dave Amels, and R...
and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey
Carteret, New Jersey
Carteret is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 22,844.Carteret was created as the borough of Roosevelt on 11 April 1906, incorporating Woodbridge Township, and was a result of a referendum on 22 May 1906...
.
In addition to the Smithereens' body of work, DiNizio has also released three solo albums, Sounds and Songs (1997), This is Pat DiNizio, a collection of cover songs arranged for piano and vocals (2006), and Pat DiNizio (2007).
In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, running on the Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
ticket. The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
film Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.
The same year, he launched the "Living Room Tour," a five-month jaunt where he performed solo, by request only, in the homes of fans. The tour was a success, and he still occasionally books similar concerts for a nominal fee.
In 2001, he was one of the first musicians to throw his support behind XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
, becoming host and program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for the XM Radio Unsigned
The Verge (XM)
The Verge is an XM Radio Canada channel featuring new and emerging rock bands from Canada. The channel is produced in Toronto, Ontario for the entire XM platform. The channel's former names included Unsigned, and Signed, which indicated that the channel played a combination of signed and unsigned...
station.
DiNizio was also an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards'
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
judging panel to support independent artists.
In 2006, he was the focus of 7th Inning Stretch, an ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
reality special. The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and debilitating nervous disorder" by training and attempting to try out for a Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team (The Somerset Patriots
Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
), along with tales of baseball folklore from other musicians such as Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
, Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
, and Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
.
DiNizio recently released an audio book, Confessions Of A Rock Star, and continues to perform both solo acoustic shows and with The Smithereens. DiNizio presents a condensed, live adaptation of the book (with storytelling and full band accompaniment), in nightly performances at the The Riviera Hotel & Casino
Riviera (hotel and casino)
The Riviera is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The hotel has over 2,100 rooms, many located in a 23-story tower. The casino has of gaming space.-History:...
in Las Vegas, as of November 2011.
Solo discography
- Songs and Sounds, 1997 (Velvel Records)
- This is Pat DiNizio, 2006 (FuelFuel RecordsFuel Records is an Orlando, Florida based record label.It has offices in NYC and Los Angeles and is an independent record label that was co-founded by a multi Grammy winning Artist/Producer. Distributed via EMI and embraces the genres of Alternative Rock and Rock music...
/UniversalUniversal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) - Pat DiNizio, 2007 (East West RecordsEast West RecordsEast West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
) - Buddy Holly, 2009 (Koch Records)
With The Smithereens
- Girls About Town, 1980 (D-Tone)
- Beauty and SadnessBeauty and SadnessBeauty and Sadness is The Smithereens' second EP, released in 1983 as Little Ricky LR-103. The EP was remixed and re-released in 1988 on Enigma Records.-Review:...
, 1983 (Little Ricky Records/CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) - Especially for YouEspecially for You (The Smithereens album)Especially for You is the first full-length album from New Jersey-based rock band The Smithereens.The album is notable for the hit "Blood and Roses", which has been featured in multiple movie and TV productions. Producer Don Dixon's co-production work on R.E.M.'s Murmur and Reckoning albums added...
, 1986 (EnigmaEnigma RecordsEnigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
/Capitol) - Green ThoughtsGreen ThoughtsGreen Thoughts is the second album by The Smithereens. "Only a Memory" only reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100, but topped the Album Rock Tracks chart in 1988.-Track listing:All songs written by Pat DiNizio.# "Only a Memory" – 3:42...
, 1988 (Enigma/Capitol) - Smithereens 1111 (The Smithereens album)11 is the third official album by The Smithereens. It was released on October 18, 1989 . The album cover was inspired by a movie poster for the original Ocean's Eleven.-Track listing:...
, 1989 (Enigma/Capitol) - Blow Up, 1991 (Capitol)
- A Date with the SmithereensA Date with the SmithereensA Date with the Smithereens is the fifth album by the New Jersey rock band The Smithereens, released in 1994. It is seen as a stylistic departure by the band, as A Date is mainly influenced by hard rock and heavy metal, while previous albums have leaned more towards straightforward pop rock...
, 1994 (BMGBMGBertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
/Excelsior) - God Save the SmithereensGod Save The SmithereensGod Save The Smithereens is the seventh album by The Smithereens. Produced by Don Fleming, it was originally intended to be a concept album based on the idea of the world ending as soon as the year 2000 started...
, 1999 (Velvel Records/Koch Records) - Meet the Smithereens!Meet The Smithereens!Meet The Smithereens! is the seventh studio album by Carteret, New Jersey-based rock band The Smithereens. The album features the band covering The Beatles' 1964 debut American album, Meet The Beatles!...
, 2007 (Koch Records) (A tribute to The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, covering the entire Meet The Beatles!Meet the Beatles!-External links:*Bruce Spizer's *Bruce Spizer's *...
album.) - Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More, 2008 (Koch)
- B-Sides the Beatles, 2008 (Koch) (Another compilation of Beatles covers, this time including only "flipsideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s" of singles) - The Smithereens Play TommyTommy (rock opera)Tommy is the fourth album by English rock band The Who, released by Track Records and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records/MCA in the United States. A double album telling a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was...
, 2009 (eOne Music) - 2011, 2011 (eOne Music)
Books
- "Removing the Horns" (introduction to Wearing the Horns by author Clifford MethClifford MethClifford Lawrence Meth is an American writer and editor best known for his dark fiction. He has said that his work is often "self-consciously Jewish."-Early life:...
) (2003), Aardwolf Publishing - Confessions Of A Rock Star (2009)
Films
- Singles (1992), Actor
- Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington (2001)
- King Leisure S.O.B. (2004), Writer/Director/Actor
- Dead Horse (2004), Actor/Producer/Composer
External links
- http://hawkfan.com/Smithereens/
- http://www.patdinizio.com