Pat DiNizio, lead singer of rock group the Smithereens, died Tuesday. He was 62.
“Pat was looking forward to getting back on the road and seeing his many fans and friends,” read a statement on the band’s website.
“Pat had the magic touch. He channeled the essence of joy and heartbreak into hook-laden three minute pop songs infused with a lifelong passion for rock & roll.”
Although no cause of death was immediately revealed, DiNizio has reportedly suffered from health issues in recent years.
The Smithereens were formed in the early 1980s and the band had hits like “A Girl Like You” and “Only a Memory.” They opened for such acts as Tom Petty, Ramones and the Pretenders and, in 1990, performed on SNL.
DiNizio recorded nearly a dozen albums with the Smithereens as well as four solo albums.