Artist:Smoking Popes
Song:I Know You Love Me
Album:Destination Failure
Smoking Popes were part of the pop punk movement of the 90s. But they weren't as successful as Blink-182 and similar bands. That was a crowded marketplace. The 1997 album Destination Failure was their only major label album and when it was unsuccessful, at first they split up but after a reunion, they still tour and they have a new album coming out. Smoking Popes is from the Chicago suburb of Carpentersville, IL. They were called Speedstick when they were formed in 1990 by singer songwriter Josh Caterer, his brothers Eli (guitar) and Matt (bass) and drummer Mike Felumlee. They played one gig after which the Caterer parents had Eli quit the band until he graduated from high school. Felumlee switched to bass and Dave Martens joined on drums. Then they changed the band name Smoking Popes after the film The Pope of Greenwich Village. After releasing a couple of EPs, Eli returned to the band. They released another EP and continued to play local clubs. When Screeching Weasel lead singer Ben Weasel became a fan, he got them a deal to record the 1993 album Get Fired for the indie label Johann's Face. They released a second album Born to Quit in 1994. When the single Need You Around got airplay on Chicago radio stations, it appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Clueless. Then Green Day invited them to open for them after hearing Get Fired. That's when Capitol Records signed them and re-released Born to Quit. When Need You Around became a hit in Europe, Smoking Popes toured Europe. When it came time to record a new album, it's obvious that Capitol wanted a hit single. So they brought in Blink-182 producer Jerry Finn. When Capitol execs said they didn't hear a hit single on the album, the band tried to retool it. Capitol was going to shelve the album. They finally did release it but refused to promote it. They toured and recorded an album of covers The Party's Over. Capitol refused to release it and dropped Smoking Popes. Meanwhile, Josh Caterer became a born again Christian. He tried to continue Smoking Popes but they disbanded in 1998. He's still a worship leader at a local church. Josh formed a new band Duvall and they released an album in 2003. Smoking Popes reunited in 2005. They toured in 2006 and released an album in 2008. They now record for the indie label Asian Man and they have a new album coming out soon. Here's the video for I Know You Love Me by Smoking Popes.
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