These guys were kick ass, everyday, working class, rock & roll. Babjak was a totally overlooked guitarist, DiNizio wrote great music and the whole band was grossly underrated.
Agree. This band immediately alerted me in the early 90's. Next to the Beatles and Who and Kinks - bands that clearly influenced them the Smithereens are the best American expression of their Legacy. Having said that -----so what.... great band I'm sure they know that and we have the opportunity to enjoy their performances on You Tube.
I remember when I first heard them in the 80s. Blood and Roses. Thought they were the coolest sounding new band around then. Along with a couple others. Still a big fan today. Love this video and the fact they're all playing Rickenbacker's. Definitely cool !
Many years ago in a club in Dallas, I was standing near the door to the dressing room when The Smithereens emerged and headed to the stage. A drunk grabbed Pat and said "Hey man, play Behind the Wall of Sleep." Pat replied, "Never heard of it" and kept walking. First song - - Behind the Wall of Sleep - Ha!
I remember living in a single apartment in Venice, CA in 1994 and subscribing to Columbia House - yup, I'm old. I knew of The Smithereens, so when I saw their greatest hits on the list of albums, I snatched it up. It was on my frequent rotation of my most favorites. Big fan still today!
Awesome. I lived in Venice from '90 to '93. This was one of my favorites either playing the apartment or my little, cheapest car available, suzuki samurai...;-)) Played a lot of Ramones and other things, but Smithereens were always ready to make it a better day.
I saw The Smithereens live in Raleigh, NC back in the 80s. Fucking awesome show, both times. This is one of those songs that every now and then I just have to crank all the way up and listen to it over and over.
@@ms8742 After all this time, and not having been in Raleigh since 1993, I really don't remember for sure exactly where I saw them. But I can't think of any other place it could have been, so yeah, almost certainly at NCSU. I also spent a lot of time in Chapel Hill on Friday and Saturday nights. Good times, for sure!
@@brianputnam7247 They were 80s "college rock", kind of like REM and so on, but REM managed to blow up at the end of the 80s while Smithereens kept going in the underground.
October 12, 1955 Plainfield, New Jersey - December 12, 2017 (aged 62)Summit, New Jersey, One year seems like a month ago.. R.I.P. - Rock In Peace.. Our beloved Pat D.
These guys made me who I am today! I am so fortunate to have been there from the beginning. R I P Pat . WE have all lost something we can never get back.
What happened to him, why did he gain so much weight? Was he having issues with depression? I ran into him a few times in the early 1980s, I use to play in this band in New York city called "The Plastered Bastards" and we totally sucked, we never got anywhere, but he was a really cool down to earth guy unlike Billy Joels current guitar player Tommy Byrnes who wouldn't even shake my hand. But Pat was totally cool, talked about guitars with me and amps, singing. But later on I was really shocked when I saw how much weight he gained. They say he died because of some falls he had, but come that's not the main reason, the guy died because he got huge. What happened with him?
Georgie thumbs. I bet Pat was a gem back then. He had better manners and people skills then most. More likable. To answer your question, he broke out in hives badly after being hired to direct a film. The Producer only gave him a few days to get ready which is ridiculous. His hive breakout was so bad he got rushed to the hospital and was given prednisone which is a steroid and caused his massive weight gain but I guess he needed to be on it as he broke out in hives again. Personally, I think he could've been given better medical care.
Funny old world, innit? This was the only time (I think) they were on English telly. I saw it, bought the single and BOOM! Still listening to them all these years later. Amazing band - shame they never made it massive.
Celebrating his life. Pat would have turned 67 today.. Patrick Michael DiNizio October 12, 1955 Plainfield, New Jersey, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He was very proud of his Italian heritage.. We miss you Pat D..
They made great music and had there own sound should have been at the top for years...I never got to see them live and all of you who did you were very lucky
Back when Atlanta used to be fun , there used to be a wonderful spring music festival held held every year in Piedmont Park. . .the city's largest. A myriad of bands would play outdoor events over this 3 day event. I recall sitting in the middle of a wide open field on a blanket with my gf. . doing nothing. From a distance we noticed 4 guys approaching. It was the Smithereens on their way to the stage. I recognized Pat and offered well wishes for a good show. He appreciated the words, stopped and talked briefly. They were all so polite and nice. Of course they rocked the show later, Great band, great show, great people. Missed.
Saw them at One Step Beyond in Santa Clara, CA in 89. Wicked awesome show....encore after encore. Then 20ish years later before they lost Pat. So many good tunes.
medium.com/@petepaphides/in-praise-of-the-smithereens-especially-for-you-822d7e2f3888 The song came to Smithereens’ frontman Pat DiNizio quickly. His band were playing in Boston, sharing a bill with a group called The Bristols, whose bassist Kim Ernst immediately caught DiNizio’s attention. We don’t need to imagine what he saw in her because it’s all there in the first verse of the song.
Memorial Stakes Day at the Red Mile Racetrack in Lexington Kentucky, May 1987 these guys were so tight live I just want to say THANK YOU GUYS and godspeed Pat!!!
So great! Miss you Pat, loved The Smithereens, so many memories.saw probably your last show in Natick center for the arts... You gave it your all.. peace & love
I loved the Smithereens. Loudest badass show at a small club in Toronto in early 90s. Anyway, these guys surely listened to lots of Elvis Costello in the late 70s I'm guessing.
Went ape over this song. Fine lyrics and hooks. Like a perfect rock song you put in a vault until 2040 to show a future generation how great rock can be. How many terrible years of music is it now since 2000? "Now I know I'm one of many who would like to be your friend. And I've got to find a way to let you know I'm not like them".
OMG...that is one of my favorite lyric lines in the history of forever. EVERY guy has had his world rocked by a stunning beauty and had that thought in his head.
@@LNSmithee It was long ago, it seems like yesterday Saw you standing in the rain Then I heard you say I want to love, but it comes out wrong I want to live, but I don't belong I close my eyes and I see blood and roses Wild flowers in the springtime October we were wed In winter time the roses died Her blood ran cold and then she said I want to love, but it comes out wrong I want to live, but I don't belong I close my eyes and I see blood and roses
Me and my buddy saw them in a Sports Bar Club in the 8os and Pat had some Fans join them on stage ( my buddy inc ) and did " the house we lived in " 💎💎
This is not Saturday Night Live as the host at the end credited the band as "from the USA." As SNL is from NYC that statement would not have occurred. Plus the neon at the end before the announcer seems to state SATURDAY LIVE. A quick Wiki lookup shows it was Saturday Live, later renamed Friday Night Live hosted by Ben Elton and others.
If that song had been played live in Spain, the public would be bouncing like crazy enjoying that song. Pity the country where they were performing that day... what a sad post 😞
@@chasbodaniels1744 Well, come to Spain and you'll see what it's like to have a good time and feel a song like a lunatic fan. Meanwhile, get bored in your country surrounded by glanders
Probably all of your favorite garage-band and/or grunge acts took from the first half-dozen years of this band's work. Eat it. All y'all know we right.
Power Pop that rocked, but not bandwagon grunge at all. If you dog great rock and roll that's catchy, they were a band out of time, but appreciated by the right ears
Funny, he managed to get himself into the remake of King Kong. He is in the crowd scene near Jessica Lange when King Kong is on the ground. He told a funny story about how he got in the scene.
@@aiames Not a fan but he must be legendary for some reason. Maybe I just heard him when he was old and couldn't sing any more. He was like the original rapper, he was talking more than singing. Maybe he was great when he was younger but I'm not a big band kind of dude. I need guitars.
Who else out there says this band is better than that other Jersey band that was recently inducted into the meritless institution known as the R&R HOF? Smithereens are fucking rock n roll!
Nah-by the early/mid-80's, Rickenbacker had made a huge comeback after a slump that had begun in the late 60's and had continued throughout most of the 70's.
Love, love, love, the Smithereens. But this is one bizarre performance set-up. As in: might get eaten by Godzilla, except it's just a plastic blow-up cartoony Godzilla, the stage is apparently unstable (DiNizio's mic. waving in front of him once, FOT), the crowd appears to be sort of partying/talking except for one slim blonde sort of Bowie-ish looking guy who is moving in front of Pat or perhaps even trying to pick him up. The band looks tired and pained. The only other observation I have is that the giant blow-up "Rosie" used by ACDC was just as cheesy but less distracting & was a more effective prop. TG for all the great Smithereens footage out there.
One of the dumbest comments I've ever read. Quite a few bands had bald/balding singers even then. Ever heard of Midnight Oil? Pat had far worse issues dealing with internal medical problems. Shallow is posting such a dumb remark.
That and perhaps the over-all image of the band (the complete opposite of skinny pretty-boys with sprayed, girly-teased long hair which was then de rigueur). But true rock 'n'' rollers couldn't have cared less-we loved the Smithereens..
@@duffbaker9554 My first concert was May of 87. It was Cinderella and Bon Jovi and The Smithereens opened. I had never heard of them and my 17-year-old mind could not wrap my mind around a rock band looking like these guys. Pat wore a black leather jacket like in this video at an outdoor concert in 80+ degree weather. Fans were flipping them off and booing. Several hours and a vicious sunburn later, I couldn't get Behind The Wall of Sleep out of my head. Great, great band.
@@jeremydyer7727 Wow, the Smithereens really opened for Bon Jovi and Cinderella? I cannot, for the life of me, imagine that! back then, the lines were really drawn between (hair) metal and indie/'new music' bands such as The Smithereens. Perhaps it was the New Jersey connection that Bon Jovi chose them?
@@duffbaker9554 The NJ connection is the only thing I could think of. Cinderella was from Philly. This was a huge, outdoor show in Ohio. I remember that we met a couple girls who were only there to see The Smithereens and then left. We thought they were crazy at the time.
These guys were kick ass, everyday, working class, rock & roll.
Babjak was a totally overlooked guitarist, DiNizio wrote great music and the whole band was grossly underrated.
Agree. This band immediately alerted me in the early 90's. Next to the Beatles and Who and Kinks - bands that clearly influenced them the Smithereens are the best American expression of their Legacy. Having said that -----so what.... great band I'm sure they know that and we have the opportunity to enjoy their performances on You Tube.
Saw them in '89 and '91. Brilliant. So much honest energy.
Correct take. If they were prettier they would have been MTV stars.
One of the best bands ever... Loved Pats voice ❤️❤️❤️
I remember when I first heard them in the 80s. Blood and Roses. Thought they were the coolest sounding new band around then. Along with a couple others. Still a big fan today. Love this video and the fact they're all playing Rickenbacker's. Definitely cool !
Much more feeling than Crenshaws
Many years ago in a club in Dallas, I was standing near the door to the dressing room when The Smithereens emerged and headed to the stage. A drunk grabbed Pat and said "Hey man, play Behind the Wall of Sleep." Pat replied, "Never heard of it" and kept walking. First song - - Behind the Wall of Sleep - Ha!
Great story!
Love it!!
Good one ! 💋
Awesome story!!
I remember living in a single apartment in Venice, CA in 1994 and subscribing to Columbia House - yup, I'm old. I knew of The Smithereens, so when I saw their greatest hits on the list of albums, I snatched it up. It was on my frequent rotation of my most favorites. Big fan still today!
I remember Columbia House in 1975.
Awesome. I lived in Venice from '90 to '93. This was one of my favorites either playing the apartment or my little, cheapest car available, suzuki samurai...;-)) Played a lot of Ramones and other things, but Smithereens were always ready to make it a better day.
I love these guys ever since I was about 18 yrs. I'm 57 yrs. Now! Love you guys!!!
I am 70, like this shit, play it in my garage with the door open...
I saw The Smithereens live in Raleigh, NC back in the 80s. Fucking awesome show, both times. This is one of those songs that every now and then I just have to crank all the way up and listen to it over and over.
At NC State? I saw them there in 1985.
@@ms8742 After all this time, and not having been in Raleigh since 1993, I really don't remember for sure exactly where I saw them. But I can't think of any other place it could have been, so yeah, almost certainly at NCSU. I also spent a lot of time in Chapel Hill on Friday and Saturday nights. Good times, for sure!
@@JimAndyAllyn Yes, good times back then!
@@ms8742 When did you live in Raleigh? I was there mid 1985 to early 1993.
@@JimAndyAllyn Still here. 85 to present
One of the best underrated bands ever! Great hooks, great lyrics, ultimate cool...the whole package! RIP Pat, and thank you and the boys!
I agree. I didn't really know much about their music until I found this clip on a Video 2000 tape.
doorsfan58 Underrated by who?? Their fans?
I got to see them in concert 😃 they were amazing
They are great I got to meet them before the singer died and they were just amazing to hang out with
@@brianputnam7247 They were 80s "college rock", kind of like REM and so on, but REM managed to blow up at the end of the 80s while Smithereens kept going in the underground.
October 12, 1955
Plainfield, New Jersey - December 12, 2017 (aged 62)Summit, New Jersey,
One year seems like a month ago.. R.I.P. - Rock In Peace.. Our beloved Pat D.
These guys made me who I am today! I am so fortunate to have been there from the beginning. R I P Pat . WE have all lost something we can never get back.
What happened to him, why did he gain so much weight? Was he having issues with depression? I ran into him a few times in the early 1980s, I use to play in this band in New York city called "The Plastered Bastards" and we totally sucked, we never got anywhere, but he was a really cool down to earth guy unlike Billy Joels current guitar player Tommy Byrnes who wouldn't even shake my hand. But Pat was totally cool, talked about guitars with me and amps, singing. But later on I was really shocked when I saw how much weight he gained. They say he died because of some falls he had, but come that's not the main reason, the guy died because he got huge. What happened with him?
I read he had a heart attack, but the size issues had to be meds or health related, not simply packing pounds.
Ktpinnacle where did you read he had a heart attack? Cuz I wondered what his exact cause of death was also. It seems to be shrouded in mystery.
Georgie thumbs. I bet Pat was a gem back then. He had better manners and people skills then most. More likable. To answer your question, he broke out in hives badly after being hired to direct a film. The Producer only gave him a few days to get ready which is ridiculous. His hive breakout was so bad he got rushed to the hospital and was given prednisone which is a steroid and caused his massive weight gain but I guess he needed to be on it as he broke out in hives again. Personally, I think he could've been given better medical care.
@@gmar7836 No cause of death was ever released.
I was a huge metal shred guitar fan at the time this album came out their sound was a breath of fresh air I became an instant fan .
Nirvana had a tape with Especially For You on one side and Celtic Frost on the other they listened to before they made Never Mind, explains a lot
One of the most underrated Songs and Band of the 80s !!! 💎
Love that bass tone!!
Great bass line!
Funny old world, innit? This was the only time (I think) they were on English telly. I saw it, bought the single and BOOM! Still listening to them all these years later. Amazing band - shame they never made it massive.
Same here! This is still their best tune IMO.
One of best songs of the 80s
Celebrating his life. Pat would have turned 67 today.. Patrick Michael DiNizio October 12, 1955 Plainfield, New Jersey, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.
He was very proud of his Italian heritage..
We miss you Pat D..
Love Those Rickenbacker Guitars!
That Twang Sound, Not to Mention that They Look Great Too
Great Song. Fantastic Lyric. Brilliant and moving chords and melody. Killer guitar and badass bassline. Especially for us... Thanks.
The greatest name for a band "Ever" 😎👌
They made great music and had there own sound should have been at the top for years...I never got to see them live and all of you who did you were very lucky
Such a unique sound. So awesome.
Back when Atlanta used to be fun , there used to be a wonderful spring music festival held held every year in Piedmont Park. . .the city's largest. A myriad of bands would play outdoor events over this 3 day event. I recall sitting in the middle of a wide open field on a blanket with my gf. . doing nothing. From a distance we noticed 4 guys approaching. It was the Smithereens on their way to the stage. I recognized Pat and offered well wishes for a good show. He appreciated the words, stopped and talked briefly. They were all so polite and nice. Of course they rocked the show later, Great band, great show, great people. Missed.
Great original sound, Rockin!
This was the first time I saw them. Or had heard of them. I went out the next day and bought Especially For You.
To this day, one of the best bands ever!!!! Love you Pat.
A great NJ band… rest well Pat… 💐 thank you and The Smithereens for all the great music 🎶
Peace… 🌜🌞🌛
Saw them at One Step Beyond in Santa Clara, CA in 89. Wicked awesome show....encore after encore. Then 20ish years later before they lost Pat. So many good tunes.
I love these guys. My favorite song.
So hooked on this song right now. Love it.
I love this band. I worked in Radio got promo copies. I liked them so much I bought them as well.
Perfectly clear and understandable vocals. Love it!
medium.com/@petepaphides/in-praise-of-the-smithereens-especially-for-you-822d7e2f3888
The song came to Smithereens’ frontman Pat DiNizio quickly. His band were playing in Boston, sharing a bill with a group called The Bristols, whose bassist Kim Ernst immediately caught DiNizio’s attention. We don’t need to imagine what he saw in her because it’s all there in the first verse of the song.
Thank you Gabriel. I knew it had to be a “personally motivated” lyric. What a great bit of songwriting!
Memorial Stakes Day at the Red Mile Racetrack in Lexington Kentucky, May 1987 these guys were so tight live I just want to say THANK YOU GUYS and godspeed Pat!!!
About the same time I saw them in Louisville. Fantastic.
So great! Miss you Pat, loved The Smithereens, so many memories.saw probably your last show in Natick center for the arts... You gave it your all..
peace & love
I loved the Smithereens. Loudest badass show at a small club in Toronto in early 90s. Anyway, these guys surely listened to lots of Elvis Costello in the late 70s I'm guessing.
This song works because we all dream of someone Behind the Wall of Sleep.
Went ape over this song. Fine lyrics and hooks. Like a perfect rock song you put in a vault until 2040 to show a future generation how great rock can be. How many terrible years of music is it now since 2000?
"Now I know I'm one of many who would like to be your friend.
And I've got to find a way to let you know I'm not like them".
OMG...that is one of my favorite lyric lines in the history of forever. EVERY guy has had his world rocked by a stunning beauty and had that thought in his head.
@@LNSmithee
It was long ago, it seems like yesterday
Saw you standing in the rain
Then I heard you say
I want to love, but it comes out wrong
I want to live, but I don't belong
I close my eyes and I see blood and roses
Wild flowers in the springtime
October we were wed
In winter time the roses died
Her blood ran cold and then she said
I want to love, but it comes out wrong
I want to live, but I don't belong
I close my eyes and I see blood and roses
"Went ape." I see what you did there :)
@@DanielNester Saw the ape starting the video and wondered about that.
I always dug these guys.
Great band. Great hooks. Great talent, across the board.
Absolutely brilliant!
The only guy in the crowd that gets it is suspenders guy in the front.
his rythm and clapping is juuuust off the right amount and @ 2:25 dude is holding down is spot & watching for interlopers
This video is surreal.
Power pop at its finest.
Look at the state of (the host) Ben Elton. A mullet... blimey.
Love this band.
Gotta love them Rickenbachers!
My absolute favorite band!!! Even today nobody comes close
Mike the bass player makes me giggle! Those moves.
I don’t think there’d be much to look at if it wasn’t for him, sounds great too.
always in rotation in my mix.
I remember this time and space on this rock…..
Me and my buddy saw them in a Sports Bar Club in the 8os and Pat had some Fans join them on stage ( my buddy inc ) and did " the house we lived in " 💎💎
I live next town over from Scotch Plains. Pat is missed
they usually tune 1/2 a step down. this is a whole step down.
telecasterbear I heard that too. Awesome.
@@Tadesan It's harder to play?
Rickenbackers makes music history
THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!! SNL had the best music during the 80's !!!!
This is not Saturday Night Live as the host at the end credited the band as "from the USA." As SNL is from NYC that statement would not have occurred. Plus the neon at the end before the announcer seems to state SATURDAY LIVE.
A quick Wiki lookup shows it was Saturday Live, later renamed Friday Night Live hosted by Ben Elton and others.
@@Johnnysynth ah, thanks, i wondered!
Saw them at college with the guy I should have married. Amazing band.
Wish I would have kept my picture disc of "Especially For You".
Best band to come out of new Jersey
Yo La Tengo.
Broadcast 21 march 1987
i sawthis in my shitty bedsit in brighton uk on a black n white tv ,
this band....wow
If that song had been played live in Spain, the public would be bouncing like crazy enjoying that song. Pity the country where they were performing that day... what a sad post 😞
Jumping around like a lunatic doesn’t mean you’re any more of a fan than someone who’s closely listening.
@@chasbodaniels1744 Well, come to Spain and you'll see what it's like to have a good time and feel a song like a lunatic fan. Meanwhile, get bored in your country surrounded by glanders
Needs the harmony on "sometimes I even weep". Makes a difference.
Luke......my mind's ear has always heard that as` well
That harmony is essential. I feel gypped.
Here’s a shout out to the survivors of the band from the Village Green in Hillsboro. Jersey rules. 🎸
This was grunge before there was grunge!
Probably all of your favorite garage-band and/or grunge acts took from the first half-dozen years of this band's work. Eat it. All y'all know we right.
Power Pop that rocked, but not bandwagon grunge at all. If you dog great rock and roll that's catchy, they were a band out of time, but appreciated by the right ears
NOT grunge
Check out this great version - MOD SQUAD brisbane - HOUSE WE USED TO LIVE IN
R.I.P. Pat. That King Kong inflatable in the background is intimidating though!
Funny, he managed to get himself into the remake of King Kong. He is in the crowd scene near Jessica Lange when King Kong is on the ground. He told a funny story about how he got in the scene.
All playing Rickenbackers
In my top 5
Agreed
Quality 👍
Damn, these guys kicked some serious ass.
Rest in peace Pat. The Smithereens were a great band. Best Jersey band ever. Bruce ain't my boss and Bon Jovi sucks.
What about Frank Sinatra? 😉
@@aiames Not a fan but he must be legendary for some reason. Maybe I just heard him when he was old and couldn't sing any more. He was like the original rapper, he was talking more than singing. Maybe he was great when he was younger but I'm not a big band kind of dude. I need guitars.
I'm from NJ, when people ask me who my favorite bands from Jersey are I say The Smithereens and Overkill.
Yo La Tengo are the best Jersey band for me, and I love Bruce but I recognize that he’s phony.
Who else out there says this band is better than that other Jersey band that was recently inducted into the meritless institution known as the R&R HOF? Smithereens are fucking rock n roll!
Instead of LGB/ FJB, HOW ABOUT...
FBJ ? Bon Jovi.....a bunch of posers.
Yea, Bon Jovi is a shit band! Right there with Creed and Nickelback
@@anthonymichaelhalloates2902 Absolutely true .... %100 per cent.
@@anthonymichaelhalloates2902 Not forgetting that Bruce Sell-Out guy....what's his name?....oh yeah, $pringsteen.
@@duffbaker9554 what’s Springsteen have to with the discussion? He’s a sell out? For performing at induction ceremonies?
The epitome of cool
Wtf is up with King Kong in the background? It's f'ing distracting.
I hope Rickenbacker paid them a bunch of money.
Conor Gilles lol for real
Doubt it.
Nah-by the early/mid-80's, Rickenbacker had made a huge comeback after a slump that had begun in the late 60's and had continued throughout most of the 70's.
😎😎😎😎👏👏👏
This is not the Black Sabbath I came here for. But it isn’t half bad either!
Fuck yea .
Love, love, love, the Smithereens. But this is one bizarre performance set-up. As in: might get eaten by Godzilla, except it's just a plastic blow-up cartoony Godzilla, the stage is apparently unstable (DiNizio's mic. waving in front of him once, FOT), the crowd appears to be sort of partying/talking except for one slim blonde sort of Bowie-ish looking guy who is moving in front of Pat or perhaps even trying to pick him up. The band looks tired and pained. The only other observation I have is that the giant blow-up "Rosie" used by ACDC was just as cheesy but less distracting & was a more effective prop. TG for all the great Smithereens footage out there.
That's King Kong, not Godzilla.
@@dwave81 Gotcha
What’s bizarre is Pat was 30 when their first album came out, denny & Jimmy were 29 Mike was 28 he’d turn 29 later that year.
Rickenbackers all!
kick ass
ロックスターカッコいい🎵
Is that Shemp Howard playing the Bass?
Tom petty was a hug influence on this band cuz of there Rick guitar sound
These guys are basically Weezer's father !!
Pat used to be a pretty boy in rock but when he had that thyroid issue and gained all that weight he lost the pretty boy status.
Sounds like he had hashimoto's diseased
ごっつ、カッちょいい🎸❗️
How in the fuck do all those people just stand there when the Smithereens are tearing this shit up??!!
Man whats up with those British cats, they are just standing around.
Oh man, such a great song & I feel for Pat dealing with baldness at such a juncture, shallow as it is might be why they never hit it bigger.
One of the dumbest comments I've ever read. Quite a few bands had bald/balding singers even then. Ever heard of Midnight Oil? Pat had far worse issues dealing with internal medical problems. Shallow is posting such a dumb remark.
That and perhaps the over-all image of the band (the complete opposite of skinny pretty-boys with sprayed, girly-teased long hair which was then de rigueur). But true rock 'n'' rollers couldn't have cared less-we loved the Smithereens..
@@duffbaker9554 My first concert was May of 87. It was Cinderella and Bon Jovi and The Smithereens opened. I had never heard of them and my 17-year-old mind could not wrap my mind around a rock band looking like these guys. Pat wore a black leather jacket like in this video at an outdoor concert in 80+ degree weather. Fans were flipping them off and booing. Several hours and a vicious sunburn later, I couldn't get Behind The Wall of Sleep out of my head. Great, great band.
@@jeremydyer7727 Wow, the Smithereens really opened for Bon Jovi and Cinderella? I cannot, for the life of me, imagine that! back then, the lines were really drawn between (hair) metal and indie/'new music' bands such as The Smithereens. Perhaps it was the New Jersey connection that Bon Jovi chose them?
@@duffbaker9554 The NJ connection is the only thing I could think of. Cinderella was from Philly. This was a huge, outdoor show in Ohio. I remember that we met a couple girls who were only there to see The Smithereens and then left. We thought they were crazy at the time.
Pat is so thin here!
It was shocking how huge he became. His guitars seemed like a child’s toy against his massive size.
Glad I saw them before Pat left us.
That dumb background ruined a good performance here.
Wish there wasn't such a stupid backdrop
Why does the bass player look like they rented him from another band?
He thought he was in The Clash.
This is not SNL
Ahead of their time
Great band! Horrible comb over! 🤣
Lame crowd but a great band.
Sausage fest.....at least the music was good ...... :)
2:03 "Kinda wish there wasn't a giant gorilla dancing behind me... tryin' to be serious here..."