Dennis Diken

Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken performs with the Smithereens in Grapevine, Texas, 2007.
Dennis Diken performs with the Smithereens in Grapevine, Texas, 2007.
Background information
Born(1957-02-25)February 25, 1957
Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
GenresRock
Occupations
Instruments
Years active1980–present
Labels

Dennis Diken (born February 25, 1957) is an American drummer, DJ, author, music historian,[2] and founding member of the band the Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, and Mike Mesaros in Carteret, New Jersey.[3] Besides playing with the Smithereens, Diken is a fill-in DJ on WFMU as well as a liner notes author and reissue project researcher.[4] As a musician, Diken has recorded or toured with, among others, Ronnie Spector,[5] Dave Davies, Nancy Sinatra, Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las[6] and Ben E. King,[7] and worked with musicians such as Dave Amels and R. Stevie Moore.

Diken graduated from Carteret High School in 1975, together with Jim Babjak.[8]

  1. ^ "You Say It's Your Birthday: The Smithereens' Dennis Diken". MTV News. February 25, 1997. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "Guest Artists: Dennis Diken". University of North Alabama. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Cahillane, Kevin (October 10, 2004). "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Kopp, Bill (9 November 2009). "Interview: Dennis Diken – Ear Candy That Matters". Musoscribe. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference morristowngreen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Mary Weiss". The Ponderosa Stomp. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Zimmerman, Bob (October 23, 2019). "From Jersey It Came!". Backstreets.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  8. ^ The Smithereens to perform 30th anniversary concert in Carteret Archived December 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Borough of Carteret, press release dated July 20, 2010. Accessed August 18, 2021. "The Smithereens are known for writing and playing catchy 1960s-influenced power pop. Guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken, and former bass player Mike Mesaros graduated Carteret High School in 1975, and formed the group with Scotch Plains singer Pat DiNizio in 1980."