The State Theatre

Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for44 years.Jim Babjak (guitar,) Dennis Diken (drums,) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together inCarteret and lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio,hailed from Scotch Plains. The band paid its dues in clubsall over the NYC tri-state area from Kenny’s Castaways in Greenwich Village to the Court Tavern andStone Pony in NJ. They’ve since performed on stages coast to coast from the Greek Theatre in LosAngeles to the Meadowlands Arena in NJ to Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, and internationally fromEurope to Australia. Tour mates have included Tom Petty, Squeeze, The Pretenders, Lou Reed, and theRamones, among others.The Smithereens’ take no prisoners sound, reflecting their Garden State roots, has resonated with fansworldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500 plus live shows. Studio albums include Especially forYou, Green Thoughts, 11, A Date with The Smithereens, and 2011. Among their biggest hits are the rockradio staples “Blood and Roses,” “Only a Memory,” “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” and “A Girl Like You.” Theband’s albums for Capitol, RCA, Sony, Koch, and eOne Records have sold over 5 million copiesworldwide.The Smithereens have alsobeen called the architects of theAlternativeScene and their music hasinspired and influenced generations of musicians, including the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who citedThe Smithereens as a major influence in his diaries.

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