John Lombardo

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John Lombardo
JohnLombardo.jpg
John Lombardo playing guitar in 2019
Background information
Born (1952-09-30) September 30, 1952 (age 71)
Jamestown, New York, United States
Origin Buffalo, New York, United States
Genres Folk rock, alternative rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s) Guitar, bass, vocals
Years active1981–present
LabelsChristian Burial, Elektra, Rykodisc, Geffen, Bar/None

John Lombardo (born 30 September 1952) is one of the founding members of the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs and one of the band's most influential members, writing much of its early material. He is also a member of folk rock duo John & Mary. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Biography

Called by the Buffalo News "a dominant force" in the Maniacs, Lombardo was in the group from its inception in 1981 until he left in 1986 after the release of their first major-label album The Wishing Chair , disagreeing with the direction of the band and frustrated with the lack of success. "I think I just really ran out of gas," Lombardo explained to The Morning Call in 1997. "It was very much a nomadic, gypsy lifestyle, even though we were on a major label (Elektra). We weren't making very much money and it just got very frustrating for me. I needed a breather to find out what my own life was about." [5] [6]

Lombardo then formed the folk rock duo John & Mary with the classically trained Mary Ramsey, who played violin and viola for 10,000 Maniacs and sang backing vocals on the 1993 album MTV Unplugged . The pair made two recordings under the name John & Mary, Victory Gardens in 1991 and 1993's The Weedkiller's Daughter . Lombardo remained on cordial terms with his former band, with two Maniacs (Rob Buck and Jerry Augustyniak) appearing as guest performers on their albums, and John and Mary opened for the 10,000 Maniacs on tour. Lombardo would also work with the band in 1990 to remaster Hope Chest , a compilation of their first two albums, released in 1990. [7] [8]

Lombardo returned to the Maniacs in 1994 after Natalie Merchant's departure, with Ramsey joining as the lead singer. [9] The duo released two albums with the Maniacs: 1997's Love Among the Ruins , which contained a cover of the Roxy Music song "More Than This" that did well in the U.S. charts; and 1999's The Earth Pressed Flat . In 2002, after leaving the Maniacs following the death of guitarist Rob Buck, John & Mary released The Pinwheel Galaxy and then Peace Bridge (2007) under the name John & Mary and the Valkyries. [10] [11]

Lombardo continues to perform regularly with John & Mary and has rejoined 10,000 Maniacs as a touring member, contributing to their 2015 album Twice Told Tales , performing on their 2016 live album Playing Favorites , and playing regular gigs with the band. [12]

Discography

With 10,000 Maniacs

With John & Mary

With John & Mary & the Valkyries

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10,000 Maniacs</span> American alternative rock band

10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992), and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career, while the remaining members continued the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Buck</span> American musician (1958–2000)

Robert Norman Buck was an American guitarist and founding member of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Some of his compositions with Natalie Merchant are among the most popular songs recorded by 10,000 Maniacs, including "What's the Matter Here", "Hey Jack Kerouac", "You Happy Puppet" and "These Are Days".

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<i>Our Time in Eden</i> 1992 studio album by 10,000 Maniacs

Our Time in Eden is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. It was released in 1992 on Elektra Records. The release is 10,000 Maniacs' last studio album with original lead singer Natalie Merchant. The album included her future replacement Mary Ramsey on violin and viola on such tracks as "Stockton Gala Days" and "How You've Grown". Singles released from the album were "These Are Days", "Candy Everybody Wants" and "Few and Far Between". The brass and woodwind section is covered by James Brown's band the J.B.'s. The album had the working title African Violet Society.

<i>Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982–1983</i> 1990 compilation album by 10,000 Maniacs

Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982–1983, also known as just Hope Chest, is a compilation album of songs by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1990 by Elektra Records. It compiles tracks from their early releases Human Conflict Number Five (1982) and Secrets of the I Ching (1983). All tracks on the album are remixed from their original versions.

<i>Victory Gardens</i> 1991 studio album by John & Mary

Victory Gardens is the debut album by the American musical duo John & Mary, released in 1991 by Rykodisc. John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the early Maniacs sound; Mary Ramsey added a blend of folk and classical influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Ramsey (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

Mary Ramsey is a member of folk rock duo John & Mary and lead singer and violist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Ramsey has also worked with other well-known artists such as Jackson Browne, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Bragg, Warren Zevon, Alex Chilton and Ani DiFranco.

<i>Campfire Songs</i> (10,000 Maniacs album) 2004 compilation album by 10,000 Maniacs

Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings of 10,000 Maniacs is a compilation album by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, released in 2004. It includes their biggest hits, B-sides and unreleased recordings from the Natalie Merchant era. Despite the album's title, the collection does not include "A Campfire Song" from In My Tribe (1987).

<i>Secrets of the I Ching</i> 1983 studio album by 10,000 Maniacs

Secrets of the I Ching is the first album by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1983 by Mark Records. While the album also contained the band's own Christian Burial Music imprint, the label itself was fictitious.

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<i>Love Among the Ruins</i> (album) 1997 studio album by 10,000 Maniacs

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The Earth Pressed Flat is the seventh album by 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1999. The album contains nine songs that had been written for, but not used in, the band's previous album, Love Among the Ruins: "The Earth Pressed Flat", "Once a City", "On & On ", "Somebody's Heaven", "Cabaret", "Beyond the Blue", "Smallest Step", "Time Turns" and "Hidden in My Heart". "Beyond the Blue" and "Time Turns" had been released on the single "More Than This", but were re-recorded for this album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Augustyniak</span> American drummer (b. 1958)

Jerome Stanley Augustyniak is the drummer for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Augustyniak joined the band in March 1983, two years after the group formed. Augustyniak continues to perform with the band who tour extensively. As a member of 10,000 Maniacs, he is also a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Drew</span> Musical artist (b. 1957)

Dennis Arnold Drew is the keyboardist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He has been with the band since its inception in 1981 and is one of three founding members along with Steve Gustafson and John Lombardo in the current band lineup. Drew also spent 17 years (2004-2021) as the general manager of WRFA-LP, a community radio station in Jamestown, New York. He previously had a stint at WNAE-AM in nearby city Warren, PA, before the band's beginning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gustafson</span> Musical artist (b. 1957)

Steven E. "Steve" Gustafson is the bass guitarist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He, Dennis Drew and John Lombardo are the only remaining founding members of the group. Drummer Jerome Augustyniak has been with the band since 1982. Singer Mary Ramsey has been working with the band since 1992 and has been the band's lead singer since 1994. Guitarist Jeff Erickson, former tech for Robert Buck, has been playing lead guitar with the band since 2001.

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<i>Twice Told Tales</i> (album) 2015 studio album by 10,000 Maniacs

Twice Told Tales is the ninth studio album by Jamestown, New York band 10,000 Maniacs. It is an album that consists of many traditional folk songs from the British Isles. For this album, they team up with producer Armand John Petri, who had worked with the band since 1991, as well as producing their 1999 album The Earth Pressed Flat. Coming back into the fold was founding member John Lombardo, who had supplied the band with a cassette full of songs he loved, as well as putting together the arrangements. The band funded the project through the online direct-to-fan music platform PledgeMusic. The funding drive ran from May 2014 to March 2015. Early promotion of the project included a concert held at the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts in Jamestown, which was also streamed online. The album was released through Cleopatra Records on April 10, 2015.

<i>Playing Favorites</i> (10,000 Maniacs album) 2016 live album by 10,000 Maniacs

Playing Favorites is a live album by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs released in 2016. The album was recorded on September 13, 2014, at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown, New York. This is their first live album with current lead vocalist Mary Ramsey and also marks the return of founding member John Lombardo who contributes lead vocals on "My Mother the War".

References

  1. "A Second Start, Singer for 10,000 Maniacs". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, U.S. 1997-11-11. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  2. "Drew keeping 10,000 Maniacs fun and comfortable - The Daily Gazette". dailygazette.com. Schenectady, New York, U.S.: The Daily Gazette. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  3. "Ramsey enjoys reunion with 10,000 Maniacs - The Daily Gazette". dailygazette.com. Schenectady, New York, U.S.: The Daily Gazette. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  4. France, Kim (1993-03-19). "Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs". Rolling Stone. U.S.: Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  5. "John & Mary, Playing off Their Strengths". March 1993.
  6. "Spotlight on 10,000 Maniacs Losing Vocalist Hasn't Left Pop Band in Ruins". 21 June 1997.
  7. "RollingStone.com - 10,000 Maniacs Recordings". www.rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. "Rarebird's John and Mary Reviews".
  9. "John & Mary, Playing off Their Strengths". March 1993.
  10. "After the Split, 9,999 Maniacs Go Their Separate Ways". 9 August 1993.
  11. "Wednesday Night Concert with John and Mary and the Valkyries". 21 February 2008.
  12. "10,000 Maniacs, 37 Years of Music". 15 August 2018.