Smoking Popes

Smoking Popes
Left to right: Eli Caterer, Neil Hennessy, Josh Caterer, and Matt Caterer in 2012
Background information
Origin	Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Genres	Pop punk, alternative rock, indie rock, punk rock, emo
Years active	1991–1999, 2005–present
Labels	Radius, Johann's Face, Capitol, Double Zero, Victory, Curb Appeal, Asian Man
Associated acts	Duvall, The Lawrence Arms
Website	smokingpopesmusic.com
Members	Josh Caterer Eli Caterer Matt Caterer Mike Felumlee
Past members	Dave Martens Rob Kellenberger Ryan Chavez Neil Hennessy

The Smoking Popes is an American pop punk band from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning vocals. The core of the group is composed of brothers Matt Caterer (born 1968), Josh Caterer (born 1972) and Eli Caterer (born 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 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, Dinosaur Jr, Hall & Oates, Liberace, 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 Costello 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 Village. Martens, disenchanted with the band's musical direction, stopped attending band practice and the Caterers recruited Mike Felumlee of Article One to replace him.