Smoking Popes
Smoking Popes is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Smoking Popes is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play pop-influenced punk music with crooning vocals and romantic lyrics. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (b. 1968), Josh Caterer (b. 1972) and Eli Caterer (b. 1975).
The Caterer brothers were raised on rock 'n' roll and crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass guitar 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, and Dinosaur Jr.
In 1990 Matt and Josh, calling themselves Speedstick, got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions. 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 10 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 band's original name was simply the "Popes", but it was decided to add the adjective to distinguish the band from the Chicago gang The Popes.)
Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending rehearsals 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 Innoculator 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 and Tennessee.
In 1993 the band recorded their best-yet 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 produce the Smoking Popes' first LP, Get Fired. With their improved status, the band scored a three-week tour with The Bollweevils and played to bigger audiences.
That year also saw the release of two Popes tracks from the same sessions as the Break Up EP. "Run Away" and "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 movie Clueless, was recorded in December.
In early 1994 the band opened for Green Day, 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 opened for Elastica and gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capitol Records, which rereleased Born to Quit. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Goo Goo Dolls and Tripping Daisy.
In 1996 The Clueless soundtrack was released in the UK 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 New 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 labelmates Jimmy Eat World.
The start of 1997 brought dissatisfied label execs who insisted they didn't hear a single among the tracks Smoking Popes submitted for the new album. The band spent six months writing and demoing songs until Capitol was finally determined that new song "I Know You Love Me" had commercial 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 alternative icon Morrissey, who said of Born to Quit, "[it's] extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years."
Album sales picked up and the band garnered new fans at every stop. Still, the label couldn't be convinced to devote significant resources to promotion.
In 1998 the band toured with Triple Fast Action and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
Around this time Josh became very involved in Christianity 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."
In 2001, record label Double Zero finally released the covers album The Party's Over.
In November of 2005 the Smoking Popes reunited for a packed and much-anticipated show at the Chicago club The Metro with Rob Kellenberger replacing Mike Felumlee on drums. The tickets sold out in a mere 36 minutes. In that show — immortalized on a DVD called At Metro, bundled with a CD of the performance — Josh, Matt and Eli were conspicuously happy and energized. Eli remarked that he hadn't had that much fun in seven years, a reference to the time since the band's previous break-up. Josh has become somewhat more accepting of much of the music of his former band, and the Popes have decided to reunite on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. They embarked on a U.S. tour in early 2006 with the band Bayside. Several older, pre-1999 songs in the band's repertoire Josh retired from their set list, owing to their expression of views incongruent with his Christianity. During this time, the Popes have acquired a new drummer, Ryan Chavez, who replaced Kellenburger, who had prior commitments. Chavez now seems to be the permanent replacement. During August 5th of Lollapalooza 2006 in Chicago, Josh introduced and played two new songs which he announced would be on the forthcoming Popes album, though no release date or album title was given. The new songs, entitled "If You Don't Care" and "Stay Down", are now available to hear on the band's MySpace page.
The Caterer brothers were raised on rock 'n' roll and crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. In 1980 Matt got a guitar, Josh a bass guitar 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, and Dinosaur Jr.
In 1990 Matt and Josh, calling themselves Speedstick, got a gig at a party and played approximately 10 original punk-style compositions. 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 10 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 band's original name was simply the "Popes", but it was decided to add the adjective to distinguish the band from the Chicago gang The Popes.)
Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending rehearsals 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 Innoculator 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 and Tennessee.
In 1993 the band recorded their best-yet 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 produce the Smoking Popes' first LP, Get Fired. With their improved status, the band scored a three-week tour with The Bollweevils and played to bigger audiences.
That year also saw the release of two Popes tracks from the same sessions as the Break Up EP. "Run Away" and "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 movie Clueless, was recorded in December.
In early 1994 the band opened for Green Day, 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 opened for Elastica and gained the attention of record label scouts. They signed with Capitol Records, which rereleased Born to Quit. In a promotional blitz, they toured America with the Goo Goo Dolls and Tripping Daisy.
In 1996 The Clueless soundtrack was released in the UK 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 New 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 labelmates Jimmy Eat World.
The start of 1997 brought dissatisfied label execs who insisted they didn't hear a single among the tracks Smoking Popes submitted for the new album. The band spent six months writing and demoing songs until Capitol was finally determined that new song "I Know You Love Me" had commercial 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 alternative icon Morrissey, who said of Born to Quit, "[it's] extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years."
Album sales picked up and the band garnered new fans at every stop. Still, the label couldn't be convinced to devote significant resources to promotion.
In 1998 the band toured with Triple Fast Action and Menthol. Afterward, the band decided to record a covers album, which would fulfill their contract with Capitol.
Around this time Josh became very involved in Christianity 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."
In 2001, record label Double Zero finally released the covers album The Party's Over.
In November of 2005 the Smoking Popes reunited for a packed and much-anticipated show at the Chicago club The Metro with Rob Kellenberger replacing Mike Felumlee on drums. The tickets sold out in a mere 36 minutes. In that show — immortalized on a DVD called At Metro, bundled with a CD of the performance — Josh, Matt and Eli were conspicuously happy and energized. Eli remarked that he hadn't had that much fun in seven years, a reference to the time since the band's previous break-up. Josh has become somewhat more accepting of much of the music of his former band, and the Popes have decided to reunite on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. They embarked on a U.S. tour in early 2006 with the band Bayside. Several older, pre-1999 songs in the band's repertoire Josh retired from their set list, owing to their expression of views incongruent with his Christianity. During this time, the Popes have acquired a new drummer, Ryan Chavez, who replaced Kellenburger, who had prior commitments. Chavez now seems to be the permanent replacement. During August 5th of Lollapalooza 2006 in Chicago, Josh introduced and played two new songs which he announced would be on the forthcoming Popes album, though no release date or album title was given. The new songs, entitled "If You Don't Care" and "Stay Down", are now available to hear on the band's MySpace page.
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Smoking Popes Lyrics
Adena Untaken pictures of the two of us in love With an…
Amanda My Love (verse 1) I can still recall the day When her smile melted…
Before I'm Gone Butter on a summer day When she's around I was on the…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Brand New Hair Style I'm looking for a brand new hairstyle One that I can…
Breaking Breaking, breaking up Breaking, breaking up Breaking up with…
Can't Find It It's hard to be yourself with somebody else I practice a…
Can't Help the Teardrops Each day is darker than the last They lead me lonely…
Capital Cristine I'm in trouble with a Capital Cristine I mean what I…
College I could be a business man, sign here on the…
Days Just Wave Goodbye Bother, I don't bother Bother, I don't bother Days just wave…
Diary of a Teen Tragedy Dear Diary, today I saw the girl I'm going to…
Do Something You and me Have been together For a long, long time now D…
Don't Be Afraid The bluest summer skies cloudless in your eyes A little out…
Double Fisted Love Double fisted pleasure, double fisted pain Double fisted lov…
Down The Street Walking with you down the street I feel much taller then…
End Of Your Time They seemed like innocent words Maybe I heard them wrong I…
Excuse Me Coach I've lost the will to fight Caught in the shadows of…
Farther Along Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder Why it should…
First Time She's got a new boy I guess that's good for her I…
Follow The Sound If we hold on to each other while we die Then…
Freakin Out I'm just fine, everything's fine Does there always have to …
Get Happy (verse 1) Forget your troubles, come on get happy You better…
Gotta Know Right Now If I told you that I really, really liked you…
Grab Your Heart Here it comes now Half way up the stairs Smoke like fingers…
Hang I know there's nothing worth going outside When we got ever…
How Dangerous What if I was not afraid Of what anyone might say? And…
I Can Feel You (verse 1) Tortured dreams disguised as memory Jagged shards …
I Know That You Love Me This world is freezing cold I long for you to hold…
I Know You Love Me This world is freezing cold I long for you to hold…
I Need You Around If I could see into your heart Then would I know…
I Was Right I wasted so much more than time And the one with…
I Was Wrong I wasted so much more than time And the one with…
I've Got Mono I wake up after ten hours and I'm still tired I…
If You Don't Care If you don't care, I don't care We don't belong together '…
Into the Summer Sky When we were innocent and young. Before our song had yet…
It's Never Too Late Whoa - oh - oh oh Late at night when silence…
Just Broke Up Just broke up with my girlfriend Just broke up with my…
Leather and Lace Is love so fragile? Is a heart so hollow? Shatter with words…
Let Them Die Too big or way too small I say let them die Don't…
Let's Call It Love Let's hear it for heartache Let's hear it for pain Let's hea…
Letter to Emily I believe there's a heart in everyone Crying out for the…
Little Jane-Marie The earth is only made of stryofoam The clouds are cotton…
Little Lump of Coal (verse 1) We have laughed at the warning of prophets We have…
Megan Butter on a summer day When she's around I was on the…
Melting America (verse 1) Remember when Jesus taught us how to love And the…
Midnight Moon Midnight moon I hold you for this perfect night Love is…
Missing Out Some people really make me sick And here's another reason w…
Mrs. You and Me I'm thinking about asking you to be Mrs. you and me I'm…
My Lucky Day That settles it This is my lucky day That's what they always…
Need You Around If I could see into your heart Then would I know…
Never Coming Back Wake me up on the railroad tracks Dive off into the…
No More Smiles No more smiles It's just teardrops falling to the ground N…
No Time For Your Lies It's not evil But it's pretty bad Don't sell your love It…
No Tomorrow Tonight (verse 1) There is no tomorrow tonight There's only the pass…
Not That Kind of Girlfriend I can see my life stretching out before me And it…
Off My Mind Baby, I just can't get you off my mind I'd hang…
On the Shoulder My life passes me on the shoulder And leaves me nowhere I…
Pasted The sky painted all in pastel I'm pasted on the ground World…
Paul With all the simple times behind me I can fail without…
Pretty Pathetic You should have heard me sobbing As I drove home that…
Punk Band I finally figured out Exactly what I wanna be And if it…
Pure Imagination Come with me and we'll be In a world of pure…
Ramblin' Rose Love is like a ramblin' rose: the more you feed it,…
Rubella I'm inflamed with desire and its spreading like wildfire Sh…
Run Away Don't take the hand of the man with the platform…
Sandra I didn't think that I'd be man enough For Sandra Bernhard Bu…
Seven Lonely Days Seven lonely days make one lonely week Seven lonely nights …
Simmer Down (verse 1) Time for a brand new thing And the promise that…
Someday I'll Smile Again (verse 1) Someday I'll smile again, just like I did before T…
Star Struck One Evening star struck one Wondering how come Suddenly becoming…
Stars Your dreams of love would come true If you'd only dream…
Stay Down Oh, let the rain fall Let the grave call out my…
Stefanie Baby I know I've been wrong before So many times This time I…
Stormy Weather Don't know why There's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather…
Sweet Pea Her shining diamond smile Is white and wild as the ocean She…
That's Where I Come In I just can't get enough of my girlfriend I'm glad I'm…
The Corner I've made nothing but mistakes In my life up 'til now I…
The Party's Over The party's over, It's time to call it a day, They've burs…
Theme From "Cheerleader" Proud to wear the uniform Of a man who won't conform Learn…
They Lied They lied about the way Things were gonna be They lied about…
This Is Only a Test Congratulations, you made the team Looks like you're living …
Under The Blanet I try to hold on, hold on, hold on to…
Valentine Valentine, won't you be my valentine? Introduce your heart t…
Waiting Around Everyone's running Everyone's running out of smoke Nobody wa…
Wake Up Crying I wake up crying After tossin' and turnin' And yearnin' th…
Wanted Love Wanted love but I got you, oh Wanted love but I…
Welcome to Janesville Born with a stainless steel dream That one day you'll be…
When You Want Something (verse 1) Oh the night is bitter The stars have lost their…
Why Me Why me Lord, what have I ever done To deserve even…
Wish I Didn't Love You (verse 1) There's a lonely moon in an empty sky And the…
Wish We Were There she stands Just like someone that you see on a…
Writing A Letter I'm writing a letter to my baby My baby so far…
You Spoke To Me I was at the lowest point of my life I couldn't…
You'll Never Walk Alone When you walk through a storm hold your head up…
Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody It…