Pete's Dad

Album: released as a single (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Pete's dad is Vito, father of Porno For Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano. The band wrote it after spending some time over the holidays with the DiStefano family and getting some very good news: Vito's cancer was in remission.

    The song describes the gathering, with lead singer Perry Farrell recalling the phone call from the doctor - a Christmas miracle.
  • Perry Farrell is Jewish, so the weekend with the DiStefano family was both a Christmas and Hanukkah celebration, which he notes in the opening lines. "Jews and Italians live very much alike," he sings, adding that he likes Italian food.
  • The band played "Pete's Dad" in 1993 at the Acoustic Christmas concert for the Los Angeles radio station KROQ. This version, along with their performances of "Cook The Rice" and "Pets," were included on the 1994 EP Sadness. In 1995, a remixed version was released as a promotional single. The song remained a rarity until 2023 when Porno For Pyros released it for the holidays while they were preparing for their reunion/farewell tour.
  • This isn't the only song in the P4P catalog about Pete's dad. "Good God's Urge," the title track to their 1996 album, is also about him, written after he took a turn for the worse.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.