10,000 Maniacs - Band Members

Band Members

10,000 Maniacs have gone through a variety of musicians throughout the history of the band. Here is a partial list of the past, present, and touring musicians:

• Jerry Augustyniak – (1983–Present) Augustyniak is the drummer of 10,000 Maniacs. He has also played with The Stains, Only Humen, League of Blind Women, The Michael Lee Jackson Band, Buffalo Rising, and The Damn Straights. He has been the band's main backing vocalist since 1994.
• Rob Buck – (1981–1998,1999–2000) Buck was the original lead guitar player. He co-wrote many of the band's most popular songs. He died on December 19, 2000 of liver failure at the age of 42.
• Duane Calhoun – (1981) Calhoun played lead guitar while Buck was officially in the band, but not performing with them.
• Chet Cardinale – Cardinale was an early drummer for the band. He left to pursue a career in acupuncture.
• Jim Colavito – (1981) Colavito played saxophone with the band.
• Dennis Drew – (1981–present) Drew has been the keyboard player in the band since. He has also played with The Mighty Wallop!, where he co-wrote much of the band's material, played keyboards, and had lead and harmony vocal duties.
• Jeff Erickson – (2001–present) Erickson took over lead guitar after Buck died, beginning by playing a short set during the band's only 2001 appearance. The first time he played with the band was December 12, 1998 on the song "These Are Days", while Buck was away from the band. Erickson was a lead singer/guitar player in the short-lived band The Mighty Wallop!.
• Tim Edborg – Edborg played drums with 10,000 Maniacs in 1981.
• Steve Gustafson – (1981–Present)Gustafson has been the band's bass player since 1981. He has also been one of the band's backing vocalists in their live performances since 1994. He was also the bass player in The Mighty Wallop!.
• Debbie Heverly – (1981) Heverly played piano with the band.
• John Lombardo – (1981–1986,1994–2002) Lombardo, the band's rhythm guitar player and occasional odd vocalist, co-wrote most of the early Maniacs songs, but left the band in 1986. He returned in 1994 with his duo partner Mary Ramsey, and picked up right where he left off by writing and shaping the band's music. He left the band again in 2002.
• Natalie Merchant – (1981–1993) Merchant was the voice of 10,000 Maniacs until she decided to embark on a solo career in 1993. In her later years with the band, she played piano as well. In a 1985 article in Spin magazine Merchant said regarding her musical influences "I don't feel like I've been influenced by other bands. I'm influenced by the people I meet, the things I see".
• Mary Ramsey –(1990–1991,1992–1993, 1993–2002, 2007–present)) Ramsey opened up shows with John Lombardo as John & Mary in 1990, and would play viola and sing backing vocals with the band on a few songs in 1990-1991. She was a touring musician with the band in 1990-1991, playing viola and singing backing vocals. When Merchant left the band in 1993, Ramsey replaced her on lead vocals and added the viola as a main instrument of the band, starting with live shows in 1994 and continuing on until 2001. Oskar Saville replaced her as lead singer in 2002, but Ramsey agreed to become a touring musician with the band in 2006, singing backing vocals and playing viola on select songs. She agreed to be the lead singer for the band again for their final show of 2007 after Oskar Saville left the band.
• Oskar Saville – (2002–2007) Saville took over lead vocals from Ramsey in 2002. She occasionally plays acoustic guitar during live performances. May 8, 2003 was her first live performance with the band. During the song "Stockton Gala Days", she pulled the band's webmaster (at the time) Adam Zeitz on stage to share lead vocals. Oskar was the former lead singer of Rubygrass and also has a solo career. She left the band in late Summer, 2007 and was replaced by the woman she replaced, Ramsey.
• Bob "O'Matic" Wachter – An early drummer for 10,000 Maniacs, Wachter never appeared on a Maniacs album, but was an official member from 1982-1983.
• Nelson Starr – (1997) Friend and occasional side-man for John & Mary, Buffalonian Starr toured as a fill-in bassist for approximately two weeks during Summer tours in 1997. Never a band member.