# Pat DiNizio, leader of the rock band The Smithereens, just died. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422 "2017-12-13T18:45:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/1 "2017-12-13T18:45:38Z")
Oh man. I am stuck on my smartphone so can’t load up on links to their songs. Blood and Roses. Behind the Wall of Sleep. Only a Memeory. Girl Like You. Yesterday Girl. Top of the Pops. I love your power pop, Pat. Thank you so much for the music. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/2 "2017-12-13T19:02:30Z")
Fuuuuuuuuck ☹ Coincidentally, I just listened to _Girl Like You_ on Spotify and was instantly transported to 1989 when I played the hell out of their album, _11_. Their sound - largely due to his voice- is so _evocative_. RIP, Pat. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/3 "2017-12-13T19:32:17Z")
Oh, man. I LOVED The Smithereens. A terrific, under-rated band that far too few people know about. RIP, Pat, and thanks for the music. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/4 "2017-12-13T19:33:26Z")
Fuck. They were EVERYTHING to me in that genre. I was lucky enough to see them about 10 years back at the Starland. Had tix for a show out here last year but a permit issue killed the show. RIP Pat and thanks for everything. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/5 "2017-12-13T19:47:04Z")
That is just the cake topper of Suck that this year has been. “Only a Memory”, indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/6 "2017-12-13T19:48:19Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/7 "2017-12-13T19:52:13Z")
It’s being reported that he died on Tuesday. Also seeing articles regarding his death, that according to Google searches, that were posted 14 hours ago. Strange. I would think he was a popular enough artist that news would have spread quicker. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/8 "2017-12-13T19:53:02Z")
Aw man, you just brought back memories of my high school trip to Washington DC when I listened to “11” over and over on my Walkman. Their songs remind me of staring out a bus window. I agree with **Orwell** , “A terrific, under-rated band that far too few people know about.” ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/9 "2017-12-13T19:56:10Z")
Power Pop with a Merseybeat. No one did it better. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/10 "2017-12-13T19:59:07Z")
When my Dad was spending his final months in the hospital, I filled up an iPod with music for him to listen to and he became a huge fan of The Smithereens. He loved Pat’s voice. RIP:( ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/11 "2017-12-14T02:37:30Z")
Ah shit. That sucks. Saw them open for REM? back in 1988 ish. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/12 "2017-12-14T03:29:02Z")
A sad day. I have listened to The Smithereens first three albums countless times. They were one of my favorite bands in the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/13 "2017-12-14T04:17:37Z")
_Behind The Wall Of Sleep_ is one of my favorite songs ever. RIP Pat. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/14 "2017-12-14T05:20:13Z")
If Tony Iommi joined the Monkees, you’d have the Smithereens. Used to love them. What a shame. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/15 "2017-12-14T10:41:14Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > _Behind The Wall Of Sleep_ is one of my favorite songs ever. RIP Pat. That whole album, _Especially For You_, is very special to me. Even my mom liked this band which was weird. Probably reminded her of The Beatles. \*Cigarette \*was the one I played a lot. _Groovy Tuesday_, _I Don’t Want to Lose You_, too. God, I loved that album. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/16 "2017-12-16T23:58:34Z")
What a drag. Even though I really only listen to three of their songs, all three are just perfectly crafted college rock. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/17 "2017-12-17T01:22:38Z")
Loved them back in the day. Saw them in concert at a small venue (Cabaret Metro on Clark Street) and they were awesome. Their encore was the Batman Theme! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-dinizio-leader-of-the-rock-band-the-smithereens-just-died/804422/18 "2017-12-17T03:17:30Z")
I just saw this sad news. Thank god 2017 is almost over.