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  The Smithereens

  • Official Website
  Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for 45 years. Jim Babjak (guitar) Dennis Diken (drums) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together in Carteret and lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from Scotch Plains. The band paid its dues in clubs all over the NYC tri-state area from Kenny’s Castaways in Greenwich Village to the Court Tavern and Stone Pony in NJ. As The Smithereens’ fame escalated, they were in heavy rotation on MTV and appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live. They’ve since performed on stages coast to coast from the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles to the Meadowlands Arena in NJ to Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, and internationally from Europe to Australia. Tour mates have included Tom Petty, Squeeze, The Pretenders, Lou Reed, and Ramones, among others.
  
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  The Smithereens’ take no prisoners sound, reflecting their Garden State roots, has resonated with fans worldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500+ live shows. Their most recent release, The Lost Album, on CD and gold vinyl, features 12 previously unreleased, songs recorded in the fall of 1993 when the band was in between contracts with Capitol and RCA. They've also inspired generations of musicians, including Kurt Cobain, who counted The Smithereens as a major influence on Nirvana.
  
  And with the 2017 passing of Pat DiNizio, the surviving members have decided to persevere and carry on their shared musical legacy. Using guest vocalists including Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) Marshall Crenshaw, and John Cowsill (The Cowsills/The Beach Boys) they continue to entertain and rock fans throughout the U.S. and the world!  
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  Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill

  Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill have been married for 22 years and playing music together for…maybe two.
  
  Vicki is a founding member of the 1980’s group The Bangles, one of the most successful bands of that decade with over 6 million gold and platinum albums sold. In the 90’s, she became a member of critically acclaimed Americana band The Continental Drifters and remains with them today. The Bangles reunited in the 21st century to release four more albums, including a collection of rarities, and a collaboration with the Los Angeles bands Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade and the Three O’Clock. 
  
  John began working in clubs, singing and playing drums with his brothers when he was seven years old. The band grew to include their mother and little sister and The Cowsills became a sensation in the late 1960’s, enjoying several Top 20 hits. In 1981 John did some session work, landing on the Tommy Tutone hit, “867-5309 (Jenny)” and recorded and toured with Dwight Twilley. He also toured with Jan and Dean before becoming a mainstay of the Beach Boys touring band, playing guitar, piano, and finally sitting at the drum kit for over 20 years. 
  
  Vicki and John, along with their friend actor/musician Bill Mumy recorded three albums as The Action Skulls, including a pandemic-themed bluegrass record and their latest, From A Running Horse, released in 2024. 
  
  Vicki and John’s first LP, Long After the Fire, is a loving tribute featuring songs written by two of John’s brothers, Bill and Barry Cowsill. It will be released on Label 51 Recordings in April of 2025. The first single, “A Thousand Times” dropped January 24.