Smoking Popes
Encyclopedia
The Smoking Popes are an American pop punk
from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning
vocals. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (born 1968), Josh Caterer
(born 1972) and Eli Caterer (born 1975).
and Frank Sinatra
. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass and Eli a drum set and they began to play together. Soon after, their eyes were opened to the world of the Ramones
and punk rock
. Other early musical influences included Mel Tormé
, Tom Waits
, The Replacements, The Smiths
, early AC/DC
, The Cars
, Dinosaur Jr
, Hall & Oates
, Liberace
, and many others.
In 1990, Matt, Josh, and Eli (then known as Speedstick) got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions based on their favorite bands. About this time, Matt switched to bass and Dave Martens joined as drummer. Josh became an Elvis Costello
fan and his style, accordingly, became more pop influenced. Speedstick recorded 11 songs in their first studio session, including "Brand New Hairstyle," which would become a staple of the Smoking Popes repertoire.
They changed the band's name, taking "Smoking" from Matt and Josh's penchant for excessive cigarette smoking, and "Popes" from the movie "The Pope of Greenwich Village
" (or possibly from the John Lennon
-produced David Peel song, "The Pope Smokes Dope"). Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending band practice and the Caterers recruited Mike Felumlee
of Article One to replace him.
In 1991, the band released five tracks recorded during their Speedstick days as the Inoculator EP, with local indie label Radius Records. With the proceeds and what other funding they could scratch together, the Smoking Popes bankrolled the recording of the Break Up EP in 1992. In February Eli Caterer joined as a second guitarist and in October "Break Up" was released. They played as often as possible in the Chicago area and ventured occasionally to small venues in Indiana.
In 1993 the band recorded their compositions on the 2 EP. They also recorded a split 7" single with Groovy Love Vibes. GLV vocalist Erik Pertl guested on the Popes' track "Leather and Lace" and Josh guested on the GLV track "Goodtime Music."
The band got a break when pop punk
icon Ben Weasel
of Screeching Weasel
became a fan and used his connections to recruit Mass Giorgini
of Squirtgun
to record the Smoking Popes' first LP, Get Fired
.
That year also saw the release of one Popes track from the same sessions. "Let's Hear It for Love" appeared on the "It's a Punk Thing... You Wouldn't Understand" compilation on Shakefork Records.
For the follow-up to Get Fired the band worked with producer Phil Bonnet, who also produced much of their early material. "Need you Around," which would later launch Smoking Popes to a huge audience via the soundtrack to the film Clueless, was recorded in December.
, who extended the invitation after hearing Get Fired
. In mid-1994 the Popes finished their new album, Born to Quit
. After "Need You Around" took off on alternative radio they gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capitol Records
, which re-released Born to Quit
. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Gummy Dolls and Tripping Daisy
.
In 1996 the Clueless soundtrack was released in Finland and "Need You Around" was dropped as a single to capitalize on their new found popularity there. It was promptly designated "Single of the Week" by the Neo Musical Express. They toured England and Scotland for a couple of weeks, then crossed back over the Pond to tour with Jawbreaker
.
Despite the touring, album sales didn't meet Capitol's expectations and it became clear that the band had to deliver a hit. Producer Jerry Finn
, who had added gloss to the sound of Green Day and Rancid
, was brought in to do the same for Smoking Popes. In September they toured with label-mates The Figgs and Jimmy Eat World
.
The start of 1997 brought dissatisfied label executives who insisted they didn't hear a single among the tracks Smoking Popes submitted for the new album. The band spent six days writing and demoing songs until Capitol was finally determined that new song "I Know You Love Me" had potential. However, the label fired the Popes' A&R representative and the new album was shelved.
After negotiations, Destination Failure
was released in August. At this point Tom Counihan, a.k.a Tom Daily, joined the band as a touring guitarist. In October they began to tour with Morissey, who said of their earlier album Born To Quit, "[it's] extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years."
The band funded its own video for "I Know You Love Me," which was filmed as a single-shot, in a rehearsal space at Metro using the creative talents of members of Defiant Theatre
.
In 1998 the band toured with Triple Fast Action
and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album called The Party's Over
, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
and wanted to devote his work to his faith. The label rejected the new album but released Smoking Popes from their contract. The band played several large shows before Josh quit, effectively breaking up the band.
In a later interview, Josh commented about this time "I became a Christian in May 1998 and I quit the Popes in January 1999. I tried to incorporate my faith into what we were doing in the Popes, but it just didn't seem like a good fit."
Josh's side project Duvall
was formed in August 2001, including members of the Smoking Popes, who had disbanded in 1998. Founding members were Josh Caterer
, Tom McDougal, and Mike Felumlee
. The band released one full-length album, Volume & Density in 2003.
with Rob Kellenberger of Colossal
replacing Mike Felumlee
on drums. The tickets sold out in a mere 36 minutes.
Due to Josh's conversion to Christianity and past stance on particular "non-christian" themes in a select few pre-1999 songs, many fans wondered what sort of setlist would be played at the Popes reunion show? In a Q and A on the bands website, Josh responded to such questions saying, "No. There are only a couple songs that we wouldn't consider playing, and those are songs we didn't used to play very often anyway, so no one will miss them. We've been practicing through most of the old Popes catalog, trying to pick the songs that are the strongest. And we don't yet know what the final song selection will be, but I don't think people will be disappointed. All the real favorites should be there." In that show — immortalized on a DVD called At Metro, bundled with a CD of the performance — Josh, Matt and Eli were happy and energized. Eli remarked that he hadn't had that much fun in seven years.
In March 2006, Bayside
released an acoustic album with a cover of "Megan" featuring Josh Caterer on the second verse of the song.
They embarked on a U.S. tour in early 2006 with Bayside
. During that time, the Popes acquired a new drummer, Ryan Chavez, who replaced Kellenburger, who was unable to commit to the new, full-time touring schedule. During this tour, Josh introduced and played several new songs, including "If You Don't Care" , "Stay Down" and "Welcome to Janesville", which he announced would be on the upcoming Smoking Popes album. The new album, the first original material since 1997's "Destination Failure
", was originally scheduled for release in September 2007, but was delayed while the band decided on a label. On March 2, 2008, the title of the new album, Stay Down, was disclosed when the band played it in its entirety at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago. The album was released on the independent label Curb Appeal Records
.
In April 2008, the Smoking Popes announced that Neil Hennessy
of The Lawrence Arms
would be playing drums for the band.
According to the Asian Man Records website, past issues of the Smoking Popes will be re-released in 2009. In the Fall, their first three 7" releases, Innoculator, BreakUp, and 2, were reissued with additional material. Following in 2010 was a reissue of "Get Fired
", remastered with new artwork, which was released on CD and Vinyl. The band also got to work on a new album, with fans having the ability to follow the progress on Josh's Twitter page. The album, titled This Is Only a Test
was released on Asian Man Records.
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
vocals. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (born 1968), Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
(born 1972) and Eli Caterer (born 1975).
Early History
The Caterer brothers were raised on rock 'n' roll and crooners like Tony BennettTony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass and Eli a drum set and they began to play together. Soon after, their eyes were opened to the world of the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. Other early musical influences included Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, The Replacements, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, early AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
, Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, prior to legal issues that forced the group to change their name, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005...
, Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
, Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, and many others.
In 1990, Matt, Josh, and Eli (then known as Speedstick) got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions based on their favorite bands. About this time, Matt switched to bass and Dave Martens joined as drummer. Josh became an Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
fan and his style, accordingly, became more pop influenced. Speedstick recorded 11 songs in their first studio session, including "Brand New Hairstyle," which would become a staple of the Smoking Popes repertoire.
They changed the band's name, taking "Smoking" from Matt and Josh's penchant for excessive cigarette smoking, and "Popes" from the movie "The Pope of Greenwich Village
The Pope of Greenwich Village
The Pope of Greenwich Village is a 1984 American film starring Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Geraldine Page, Kenneth McMillan and Burt Young. Page earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her two-scene role. The film was adapted by screenwriter Vincent Patrick...
" (or possibly from the John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
-produced David Peel song, "The Pope Smokes Dope"). Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending band practice and the Caterers recruited Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
of Article One to replace him.
In 1991, the band released five tracks recorded during their Speedstick days as the Inoculator EP, with local indie label Radius Records. With the proceeds and what other funding they could scratch together, the Smoking Popes bankrolled the recording of the Break Up EP in 1992. In February Eli Caterer joined as a second guitarist and in October "Break Up" was released. They played as often as possible in the Chicago area and ventured occasionally to small venues in Indiana.
In 1993 the band recorded their compositions on the 2 EP. They also recorded a split 7" single with Groovy Love Vibes. GLV vocalist Erik Pertl guested on the Popes' track "Leather and Lace" and Josh guested on the GLV track "Goodtime Music."
The band got a break when pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
icon Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales...
of Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
became a fan and used his connections to recruit Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini is an Italian-American bassist and record producer, who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom on the mid-90's. Among these bands was Giorgini's own Squirtgun, which received minor MTV rotation and several...
of Squirtgun
Squirtgun
Squirtgun is an American punk rock band from Lafayette, Indiana formed by record producer Mass Giorgini in 1993.-1993-1998:Squirtgun originally consisted of Mass Giorgini , Matt Hart , Flav Giorgini , and Dan Lumley .The band signed to Lookout! Records and their first release was the EP...
to record the Smoking Popes' first LP, Get Fired
Get Fired
Get Fired is the debut album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released in 1993 by Johann's Face Records. It was recorded in 1993 at Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, Indiana with recording engineer Mass Giorgini...
.
That year also saw the release of one Popes track from the same sessions. "Let's Hear It for Love" appeared on the "It's a Punk Thing... You Wouldn't Understand" compilation on Shakefork Records.
For the follow-up to Get Fired the band worked with producer Phil Bonnet, who also produced much of their early material. "Need you Around," which would later launch Smoking Popes to a huge audience via the soundtrack to the film Clueless, was recorded in December.
Signing with Capitol
In early 1994, the band opened for Green DayGreen Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, who extended the invitation after hearing Get Fired
Get Fired
Get Fired is the debut album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released in 1993 by Johann's Face Records. It was recorded in 1993 at Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, Indiana with recording engineer Mass Giorgini...
. In mid-1994 the Popes finished their new album, Born to Quit
Born to Quit
Born to Quit is the second album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, originally released in 1994 by Johann's Face Records and re-released in 1995 through Capitol Records...
. After "Need You Around" took off on alternative radio they gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, which re-released Born to Quit
Born to Quit
Born to Quit is the second album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, originally released in 1994 by Johann's Face Records and re-released in 1995 through Capitol Records...
. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Gummy Dolls and Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy was a neo psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, USA by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck , Wes Berggren and Mark Pirro .-History:...
.
In 1996 the Clueless soundtrack was released in Finland and "Need You Around" was dropped as a single to capitalize on their new found popularity there. It was promptly designated "Single of the Week" by the Neo Musical Express. They toured England and Scotland for a couple of weeks, then crossed back over the Pond to tour with Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (band)
Jawbreaker was an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996 and considered one of the most influential acts of the early-1990s emo movement...
.
Despite the touring, album sales didn't meet Capitol's expectations and it became clear that the band had to deliver a hit. Producer Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
, who had added gloss to the sound of Green Day and Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
, was brought in to do the same for Smoking Popes. In September they toured with label-mates The Figgs and Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
.
The start of 1997 brought dissatisfied label executives who insisted they didn't hear a single among the tracks Smoking Popes submitted for the new album. The band spent six days writing and demoing songs until Capitol was finally determined that new song "I Know You Love Me" had potential. However, the label fired the Popes' A&R representative and the new album was shelved.
After negotiations, Destination Failure
Destination Failure
Destination Failure is the third album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released August 26, 1997 by Capitol Records. It was their second, and final, album for Capitol and their last before their nearly seven-year hiatus; their covers album The Party's Over was rejected by...
was released in August. At this point Tom Counihan, a.k.a Tom Daily, joined the band as a touring guitarist. In October they began to tour with Morissey, who said of their earlier album Born To Quit, "[it's] extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years."
The band funded its own video for "I Know You Love Me," which was filmed as a single-shot, in a rehearsal space at Metro using the creative talents of members of Defiant Theatre
Defiant Theatre
Defiant Theatre was a Chicago-based theatre company founded in 1993 by a group of students from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The eclectic troupe specialized in productions that emphasized inventive stagecraft, perverse and controversial topics, and skillful stage combat...
.
In 1998 the band toured with Triple Fast Action
Triple Fast Action
Triple Fast Action was an indie rock/alternative rock band started by Wes Kidd and Brian St. Clair, both previous members of Chicago band Rights of the Accused, in 1995. Kidd went on to manage such bands as Cheap Trick, The Damnwells and fellow bandmate Kevin Tihista while working for New...
and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album called The Party's Over
The Party's Over (Smoking Popes album)
The Party's Over is the fourth album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes. It was recorded in 1998 to fulfill the Popes' part of their recording contract with Capitol Records. The album was rejected by the label...
, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
Breakup - forming Duvall
Around this time Josh became very involved in ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and wanted to devote his work to his faith. The label rejected the new album but released Smoking Popes from their contract. The band played several large shows before Josh quit, effectively breaking up the band.
In a later interview, Josh commented about this time "I became a Christian in May 1998 and I quit the Popes in January 1999. I tried to incorporate my faith into what we were doing in the Popes, but it just didn't seem like a good fit."
Josh's side project Duvall
Duvall (band)
Duvall is a pop rock band with Christian-oriented lyrics. They were formed in August 2001, including members of the Smoking Popes, who had disbanded in 1998. Founding members were Josh Caterer, Tom Daily, and Mike Felumlee...
was formed in August 2001, including members of the Smoking Popes, who had disbanded in 1998. Founding members were Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
, Tom McDougal, and Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
. The band released one full-length album, Volume & Density in 2003.
Reunion
In November 2005, the Smoking Popes reunited for a packed and much-anticipated show at the Chicago club The MetroMetro Chicago
This page is about the concert hall; for the metro region surrounding Chicago, see Chicago metropolitan area.Metro is a concert hall at 3730 N. Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois that plays host to a variety of local, regional and national emerging bands and musicians. The Metro was first opened in...
with Rob Kellenberger of Colossal
Colossal (band)
Colossal was an indie-punk band from Elgin, Illinois. Formed in 2001, they are currently on hiatus. They have one EP and one full-length, and have appeared on multiple compilations...
replacing Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
on drums. The tickets sold out in a mere 36 minutes.
Due to Josh's conversion to Christianity and past stance on particular "non-christian" themes in a select few pre-1999 songs, many fans wondered what sort of setlist would be played at the Popes reunion show? In a Q and A on the bands website, Josh responded to such questions saying, "No. There are only a couple songs that we wouldn't consider playing, and those are songs we didn't used to play very often anyway, so no one will miss them. We've been practicing through most of the old Popes catalog, trying to pick the songs that are the strongest. And we don't yet know what the final song selection will be, but I don't think people will be disappointed. All the real favorites should be there." In that show — immortalized on a DVD called At Metro, bundled with a CD of the performance — Josh, Matt and Eli were happy and energized. Eli remarked that he hadn't had that much fun in seven years.
In March 2006, Bayside
Bayside (band)
Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
released an acoustic album with a cover of "Megan" featuring Josh Caterer on the second verse of the song.
They embarked on a U.S. tour in early 2006 with Bayside
Bayside (band)
Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
. During that time, the Popes acquired a new drummer, Ryan Chavez, who replaced Kellenburger, who was unable to commit to the new, full-time touring schedule. During this tour, Josh introduced and played several new songs, including "If You Don't Care" , "Stay Down" and "Welcome to Janesville", which he announced would be on the upcoming Smoking Popes album. The new album, the first original material since 1997's "Destination Failure
Destination Failure
Destination Failure is the third album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released August 26, 1997 by Capitol Records. It was their second, and final, album for Capitol and their last before their nearly seven-year hiatus; their covers album The Party's Over was rejected by...
", was originally scheduled for release in September 2007, but was delayed while the band decided on a label. On March 2, 2008, the title of the new album, Stay Down, was disclosed when the band played it in its entirety at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago. The album was released on the independent label Curb Appeal Records
Curb Appeal Records
Curb Appeal Records is an American record label founded in Kansas City, Missouri by The Get Up Kids guitarist and Blackpool Lights frontman Jim Suptic.-History:In July 2005, The Get Up Kids split up, leaving the members to pursue their own side-projects...
.
In April 2008, the Smoking Popes announced that Neil Hennessy
Neil Hennessy
Neil Kevin Hennessy is a musician and music producer/engineer from Chicago, Illinois.Hennessy currently plays in The Lawrence Arms, Colossal, The Falcon, The Smoking Popes and Demon Beach. He has also been a member of Noise By Numbers, Baxter, The Killing Tree, and Quattro.Hennessy works at Atlas...
of The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. They have released five full-length albums and toured extensively.-Pre-history:...
would be playing drums for the band.
According to the Asian Man Records website, past issues of the Smoking Popes will be re-released in 2009. In the Fall, their first three 7" releases, Innoculator, BreakUp, and 2, were reissued with additional material. Following in 2010 was a reissue of "Get Fired
Get Fired
Get Fired is the debut album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released in 1993 by Johann's Face Records. It was recorded in 1993 at Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, Indiana with recording engineer Mass Giorgini...
", remastered with new artwork, which was released on CD and Vinyl. The band also got to work on a new album, with fans having the ability to follow the progress on Josh's Twitter page. The album, titled This Is Only a Test
This Is Only a Test
This Is Only a Test is the sixth studio album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released March 15, 2011 through Asian Man Records. It was produced by Matt Allison and is their first album with drummer Neil Hennessy, who joined the band in 2008...
was released on Asian Man Records.
Discography
Studio albums- Get FiredGet FiredGet Fired is the debut album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released in 1993 by Johann's Face Records. It was recorded in 1993 at Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, Indiana with recording engineer Mass Giorgini...
(1993) - Born to QuitBorn to QuitBorn to Quit is the second album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, originally released in 1994 by Johann's Face Records and re-released in 1995 through Capitol Records...
(1995) - Destination FailureDestination FailureDestination Failure is the third album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released August 26, 1997 by Capitol Records. It was their second, and final, album for Capitol and their last before their nearly seven-year hiatus; their covers album The Party's Over was rejected by...
(1997) - The Party's OverThe Party's Over (Smoking Popes album)The Party's Over is the fourth album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes. It was recorded in 1998 to fulfill the Popes' part of their recording contract with Capitol Records. The album was rejected by the label...
(2001) - Stay DownStay Down (Smoking Popes album)Stay Down is the fourth studio album by Chicago pop punk group Smoking Popes. It was released on Curb Appeal Records, the band's first release since 1997. It was released on August 5, 2008...
(2008) - This Is Only a TestThis Is Only a TestThis Is Only a Test is the sixth studio album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released March 15, 2011 through Asian Man Records. It was produced by Matt Allison and is their first album with drummer Neil Hennessy, who joined the band in 2008...
(2011)