This continues Cathy’s lineup of archive photos — this time back to 1981 — during these unprecedented times. The Smithereens will perform this September at Washington’s Festival in the Borough. Keep an eye out next week for a fresh Person of the Week.

By Cathy Miller

This week’s photos were taken the very first time I saw The Smithereens. It was at the Dirt Club in Bloomfield, a former go-go bar turned legendary rock ‘n’ roll emporium. Johny Dirt, the maestro, the reverend, the club owner and promoter, booked hundreds of local punk, hardcore, power-pop, and other original acts typically four nights a week, four bands a night, from the late 1970s through the 1980s.

In addition to Jersey talent like The Smithereens, The Colors, The Modulators, Ambulance, U.S. Chaos, Candy Apple, The Swingers, and Chris Moffa and the Competition, Johnny Dirt hired big names like The Ventures, The Blasters, Jonathan Richman, Salem 66, The Fall, Wall of Voodoo, Delta Five, and 999.

Paying their dues in clubs all over the NYC tri-state area, including the iconic Dirt Club in Bloomfield, New Jersey, the Smithereens have since branded their own catchy and distinctive rock’n’roll. Their music has a jangly 1960s-style flavor. Back in the day some called it power-pop – perhaps more power, less pop with incidental inky underpinnings.

Dennis Diken (drums), Jim Babjak (guitar), and Mike Mesaros (bass) graduated from Carteret High School in 1975. They grew up together and played music together in school. Pat DiNizio (guitar and vocals) hailed from Scotch Plains. After playing in several cover bands, Pat built his own band. He ran an ad in The Aquarian Weekly looking for a drummer – Dennis replied, and then brought Jim and Mike into the fold. It was 1980. It was the launch party of The Smithereens.

By the end of 1980, their debut EP “Girls About Town” met with moderate local success.

Forty years on, The Smithereens have released multiple highly acclaimed albums and continue to sell out national and international venues performing fan favorites like “Blood and Roses,” “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” “Only a Memory,” and “A Girl Like You.”

The death of Pat DiNizio in Scotch Plains on December 12, 2017 deeply shook the music world. Spurred on by support from fans, friends and family, the surviving members decided to perpetuate The Smithereens’ musical legacy. They continue to tour with guest vocalists including Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms or Marshall Crenshaw.

The Smithereens will wow Warren County with a highly-anticipated performance at Washington’s Festival in the Borough on September 19.