Pat DiNizio

Pat DiNizio was the lead singer, songwriter, and member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey.

He released a number of solo albums, in addition to his work with The Smithereens.

In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate, running on the Reform Party ticket. The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary film Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.

In 2006, DiNizio was the focus of 7th Inning Stretch, an ESPN2 reality special. The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and debilitating nervous disorder" by training and attempting to try out for a minor league baseball team (The Somerset Patriots), along with tales of baseball folklore from other musicians such as Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Bruce Springsteen. DiNizio is credited as director, co-writer, and co-producer of the special.

DiNizio died on December 12, 2017, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He was 62.