Died On This Date (December 12, 2017) Pat DiNizio / The Smithereens
themusicsover Pat DiNizio
October 12, 1955 – December 12, 2017
Pat DiNizio, who was the founding lead singer and primary songwriter for American garage rock band, the Smithereens has passed away at the age of 62. Announced on the band’s Facebook page, no cause was attributed to his death. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, DiNizio formed the Smithereens after putting an ad in a local paper looking for a drummer to record on his demo tape. The year was 1980, and by the middle of the decade, the band was signed to Enigma Records who released their debut, Especially For You, in 1986. Propelled by “Blood and Roses,” “Strangers When We Meet,” and “Behind a Wall of Sleep,” the album reached #51 on the US album charts. With there garage-infused power pop, and a pounding loudness that surpassed many hair metal bands of the era, the Smithereens went on to score several more rock hits throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s.
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