Taking the stage at The Colonial on Saturday, February 27 is one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last three decades: 10,000 Maniacs. Founded by Robert Buck, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson, John Lombardo and Natalie Merchant in the fall of 1981 (and augmented by Jerry Augustyniak in 1983), the band — along with artists like R.E.M. — defined college rock and created the first wave of alternative rock bands and what became know as the alternative rock format on FM radio.
Writing and performing powerful, danceable and socially conscious original material in and around their hometown of Jamestown, New York, the group toured extensively and produced two independently released records, Human Conflict Number Five (’82) and Secrets of the I Ching (’83) on their own Christian Burial music label.
Producing, manufacturing and marketing their own recordings, 10,000 Maniacs was one of the original “indie” bands. In 1985, they signed with Elektra Records and made The Wishing Chair with producer Joe Boyd (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, REM). After the band toured extensively with R.E.M. and throughout Europe, John Lombardo left the band in July of 1986 and the band continued as a five piece.
In 1987, the Maniacs recorded and released In My Tribe. Produced by Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), this album broke into the charts, where it stayed for 77 weeks, peaking at #37 and selling more than two million copies. In My Tribe featured the hit singles “Don’t Talk,” “Hey Jack Kerouac,” “Like The Weather” and “What’s The Matter Here?” It was voted one of the 100 most important releases of the decade by Rolling Stone Magazine.
In 1988, the band debuted on national television with appearances on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. Blind Man’s Zoo, the 1989 follow-up to In My Tribe, hit #13 on the Billboard charts and went platinum with the hit singles “Trouble Me” and “Eat For Two.” The following world tour featured several European festivals, a string of U.S. amphitheatres and the renowned Fourth of July concert with the Grateful Dead in front of 80,000 fans in Buffalo, New York.
In 1990, the band released a compilation of their first two independent recordings called Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings, along with a companion video entitled Time Capsule. Released in 1992, Our Time in Eden featured the hit singles “Candy Everybody Wants” and “These Are Days.” This album, which sold more than three million copies, received a four-star review in Rolling Stone, which called it “. . . a gripping new album . . . with a provocative, unnerving power.” A second Saturday Night Live appearance on Halloween in 1992 preceded a memorable performance at Bill Clinton’s MTV Inaugural Ball, where host Dennis Miller famously referred to them as “Chelsea Clinton’s favorite band.”
The Maniacs has the added distinction of launching the career of singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, who is best known for her successful 1995 solo album, Tigerlily (Elektra). MTV Unplugged was released a few months after Merchant’s departure, featuring a remake of the classic, “Because the Night.” The record sold four million copies. 10,000 Maniacs continued without Merchant, bringing back John Lombardo and adding Mary Ramsey in 1994.
In November 1995, the Maniacs played dates in Cleveland and Chicago. The Cleveland Plain Dealer remarked of their Agora Ballroom show: “The band showed a sold-out crowd the path to its surprisingly smooth and viable rebirth. . . . Saddled with the unenviable task of filling Merchant’s shoes, Ramsey brilliantly rose to the occasion.” The new lineup released Love Among the Ruins for Geffen Records in 1997, featuring a cover of Roxy Music’s “More Than This,” which went to #24 on the Billboard charts, the highest-charting single in the band’s history. The Chicago Tribune noted: “If the 11 new singles rolled out are any indication of things to come, the new incarnation of 10,000 Maniacs may eclipse the old.” Chicago Sun Times simply said, “Natalie who?”
10,000 Maniacs continued their grinding touring schedule, finding new fans in Mexico, Portugal and Brazil. In 1999, the band released The Earth Pressed Flat on Bar/None — an album that Angelfire.com called “. . . arguably 10,000 Maniacs’ greatest achievement, the perfect post-punk Celtic folk rock album.” In December of 2000, founding member Robert Buck died at the age of 42. After a three-year hiatus, the Maniacs returned in 2003 with long-time friend and former guitar tech Jeff Erickson on lead guitar. In 2004, Elektra/Asylum/Rhino Records released Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings, a two-CD compilation featuring a broad array of the band’s groundbreaking music, including several unreleased tracks.
In 2013, 10,000 Maniacs released their first full-length album in 13 years. Music
From The Motion Picture was hailed as a beautiful affirmation of the band’s classic poetic lyrics and dreamy Americana blend. The independent release was crowd-funded through Pledgemusic.com. In 2015, the band released its most recent album, Twice Told Tales, a collection of traditional folk songs from the British Isles.