The
Smoking Popes are an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock group from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with
crooningCrooner is an epithet given to a male singer of a certain style of popular songs, dubbed pop standards. A crooner is a singer of popular ballads and thus a "balladeer". The singer is normally backed by a full orchestra or big band. Generally, crooners sang and popularized the songs from the Great...
vocals. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (born 1968),
Josh CatererJosh 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 is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and
Frank SinatraFrancis 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 a successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the "bobby soxers." His professional career had stalled by 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
RamonesThe Ramones were an American rock band often regarded as the first punk rock group. Formed in Forest Hills, Queens, New York in 1974, all of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname 'Ramone', though none of them were actually related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring...
and
punk rockPunk 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 the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. Other early musical influences included
Mel TorméMelvin 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 WaitsThomas 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 SmithsThe Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, early
AC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock and are considered pioneers of heavy metal, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll".AC/DC underwent several line-up...
,
The CarsThe Cars were an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
,
Dinosaur JrDinosaur 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 & OatesHall & Oates is a pop music duo made up of Daryl Hall and John Oates. The act achieved its greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul." Critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine & J...
,
LiberaceWladziu Valentino Liberace , better known by only his last name Liberace , was a famous American entertainer and pianist...
, 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 CostelloElvis Costello 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 rock and New Wave musical genres...
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 VillageThe 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 one-scene role in the film. It was adapted by screenwriter Vincent...
" (or possibly from the
John LennonJohn Winston Ono Lennon, MBE was an English rock musician, singer-songwriter, author, and peace activist who gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles...
-produced
David PeelDavid Peel is a New York-based musician who first recorded in the late 1960s, with Harold Black, Billy Joe White, Larry Adams and Dean White performing as The Lower East Side Band. Though his raw, acoustic "street rock" with lyrics about marijuana and "bad cops" appealed mostly to hippies at...
song, "The Pope Smokes Dope"). Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending band practice and the Caterers recruited
Mike FelumleeMike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Smoking Popes. He is known to a lesser extent for his stint of several years as drummer in the band Alkaline Trio and for his solo music...
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 Carter 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 punkPop punk is a fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. It is typically referred to as a strand of alternative rock that combines power-pop melodies and chord changes with speedy punk tempos and loud guitars...
icon
Ben WeaselBen Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales. He is currently a solo artist, and has recently reunited with The Riverdales...
of
Screeching WeaselScreeching Weasel is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois. They were formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead. The band gained prominence in the early 1990s after signing a record deal with the East Bay punk label, Lookout! Records....
became a fan and used his connections to recruit
Mass GiorginiMass 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
SquirtgunSquirtgun are 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- Track listing :#"Let's Hear It for Love"#"That's Where I Come In"#"Let Them Die"#"Double Fisted Love"#"Don't Be Afraid"#"Can't Find It"#"Off My Mind"#"Not That Kind of Girlfriend"#"Days Just Wave Goodbye"...
.
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 is an American rock trio formed in 1987. The band has consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt , and Tré Cool for the majority of its existence....
, who extended the invitation after hearing
Get Fired- Track listing :#"Let's Hear It for Love"#"That's Where I Come In"#"Let Them Die"#"Double Fisted Love"#"Don't Be Afraid"#"Can't Find It"#"Off My Mind"#"Not That Kind of Girlfriend"#"Days Just Wave Goodbye"...
. In mid-1994 the Popes finished their new album,
Born to QuitBorn to Quit was the second album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released in 1994. The album was re-released through Capitol Records on July 7, 1995...
. After "Need You Around" took off on alternative radio, they opened for
ELOElo or ELO may refer to:In music:* Electric Light Orchestra, a British rock music group* The Electric Light Orchestra, the group's debut album* ELO 2, the group's second album* ELO Part II, an offshoot band of Electric Light Orchestra...
and gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capital Records, which rereleased
Born to QuitBorn to Quit was the second album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released in 1994. The album was re-released through Capitol Records on July 7, 1995...
. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Gummy Dolls and
Tripping DaisyTripping 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 newfound 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
JawbreakerJawbreaker may refer to:* Gobstopper, a hard candy with multiple layers* Jawbreaker , a San Francisco punk rock band* Jawbreaker , a 1999 film directed by Darren Stein and starring Rose McGowan...
.
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 FinnJerry 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....
, who had added gloss to the sound of Green Day and
RancidRancid is an American punk rock band from Albany, California, formed in 1991. Founded by Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong, both of whom previously played in ska punk group Operation Ivy, the band is credited with helping to revive mainstream popular interest in punk rock in the United States during...
, was brought in to do the same for Smoking Popes. In September they toured with labelmates The Figgs and
Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, formed in 1993. The band is comprised 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 FailureDestination Failure was the third album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released on August 26, 1997.-Track listing:All tracks written by Josh Caterer except where noted
#Star Struck One – 1:58#No More Smiles – 2:31...
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 Morrissey, who said of Destination Failure, "[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 TheatreDefiant 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 ActionTriple 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 York-based...
and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album called
The Party's OverThe Party's Over was the first album by Talk Talk. It was released in 1982 and produced by Colin Thurston, who was a former engineer for David Bowie but was better known for producing Duran Duran's first two albums....
, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
Breakup - forming Duvall
Around this time Josh became very involved in
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
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
DuvallDuvall 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 CatererJosh 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 FelumleeMike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Smoking Popes. He is known to a lesser extent for his stint of several years as drummer in the band Alkaline Trio and for his solo music...
. 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 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 1982. The capacity is 1100, divided between the main floor and the balcony...
with Rob Kellenberger of
ColossalColossal is 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 FelumleeMike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Smoking Popes. He is known to a lesser extent for his stint of several years as drummer in the band Alkaline Trio and for his solo music...
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,
BaysideBayside is an American rock band from Long Island, New York which formed in the Winter of 2000. The band has released six full length albums since they signed on 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
BaysideBayside is an American rock band from Long Island, New York which formed in the Winter of 2000. The band has released six full length albums since they signed on 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 FailureDestination Failure was the third album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released on August 26, 1997.-Track listing:All tracks written by Josh Caterer except where noted
#Star Struck One – 1:58#No More Smiles – 2:31...
", 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. According to the group's MySpace page, the new album will be released on the independent label
Curb Appeal RecordsCurb Appeal Records is an American record label founded in Kansas City, Missouri by former The Get Up Kids guitarist and Blackpool Lights frontman Jim Suptic.-History:...
. The band continues to play shows all over the country.
In April 2008, the Smoking Popes announced that
Neil HennessyNeil 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 Baxter, The Killing Tree, and Quattro.Hennessy works at Atlas Studios in...
of
The Lawrence ArmsThe Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999 and currently recording for Fat Wreck Chords. They have released five full-length albums and toured extensively...
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, will be reissued with additional material. Following in 2010 will be a reissue of "
Get Fired- Track listing :#"Let's Hear It for Love"#"That's Where I Come In"#"Let Them Die"#"Double Fisted Love"#"Don't Be Afraid"#"Can't Find It"#"Off My Mind"#"Not That Kind of Girlfriend"#"Days Just Wave Goodbye"...
", remastered with new artwork, to be released on CD and Vinyl.
Albums
- Get Fired
- Track listing :#"Let's Hear It for Love"#"That's Where I Come In"#"Let Them Die"#"Double Fisted Love"#"Don't Be Afraid"#"Can't Find It"#"Off My Mind"#"Not That Kind of Girlfriend"#"Days Just Wave Goodbye"...
(1993)
- Born to Quit
Born to Quit was the second album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released in 1994. The album was re-released through Capitol Records on July 7, 1995...
(1995)
- Destination Failure
Destination Failure was the third album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes, released on August 26, 1997.-Track listing:All tracks written by Josh Caterer except where noted
#Star Struck One – 1:58#No More Smiles – 2:31...
(1997)
- Live (2000)
- The Party's Over
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)
- At Metro
At Metro is the sixth album from Smoking Popes.The album contains a second disc which is a DVD of their performance. The DVD includes 4 songs not on the CD which according to the insert was "because of time limitations."- Track listing :...
(2006)
- Stay Down
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)
External links