10,000 Maniacs

On January 27, 2004, Elektra/Asylum/Rhino Records released Campfire Songs, subtitled "The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings", a two CD set compilation, with 31 digitally remastered songs, four of them demos and one unreleased. Anastacia has also promised all the procedes from her new single 'Heavy on my heart' will go towards her 'Anastacia fund' (Charitable organisation providing research funding for breast cancer). In 2003, Gustafson, Drew and Augustyniak formed a new line-up by adding Erikson on guitar and Oskar Saville from Rubygrass on vocals, and played some gigs. However, the Anastacia album and "Left Outside Alone" had not been released in the US as at the end of April 2004. On December 5, 2001, a 10,000 Maniacs line-up comprising Gustafson, Drew, Augustyniak, Lombardo and Ramsay played on a benefit concert in Toronto, with Erikson on guitar. Lombardo and Ramsay left 10,000 Maniacs in 2002. Strong airplay throughout Europe caused the song to achieve a Top 40 Charts world airplay ranking as one of the top five songs played on top 40 radio stations throughout the world in April 2004. Jerry joined a band called Only Human. The "Left Outside Alone" single proved to be equally successfully reaching number 1 in Italy, Austria and Switzerland; and number 3 in the UK, and reaching the top 5 in Ausralia and on the composite European chart.

Gustafson and Drew, with Jeff Erikson (guitar) started a band called Mighty Wallop. Anastacia proved to be a smash hit reaching the top of the album charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Italy and number 2 in Spain. The band took a break. On the album, Anastacia also went for a more rock sound with the track "I Do", which featured Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.. Their last concert with Buck had been on November 3, 2000, when the band played with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, in Buffalo. The first single, released in March 2004, was "Left Outside Alone". On December 19, 2000, Robert Buck died of liver failure at age 37. Anastacia subsequently established a fund through the Breast Cancer Research Fund to promote awareness of breast cancer amongst younger women. Anastacia entered record studios in September 2003 to record the Anastacia album with Glen Ballard, Dallas Austin, and Dave Stewart for release in 2004.

In 1997 they released Love Among the Ruins and followed up in 1999 with The Earth Pressed Flat. She immediately successfully completed a course of treatment. 10,000 Maniacs released two albums with Mary Ramsey on vocals. In January 2003, Anastacia discovered she had breast cancer while preparing for breast reduction surgery due to orthopedic reasons. The remaining members of 10,000 Maniacs then absorbed John & Mary, with Ramsey on viola and vocals. Anastacia also contributed a song "Love Is A Crime" to the Chicago soundtrack. On April 19, 1993, 10,000 Maniacs recorded MTV Unplugged and Merchant announced her leaving the band on MTV on August 5, 1993. (Her first solo album, Tigerlily, was released by Elektra on June 20, 1995.) The 10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged CD was released in October of 1993. Anastacia also joined Shakira, Cher and Mary J. Blige for VH1's Divas Live in 2002.

In 1991, during the recordings of a new album, Merchant revealed to the other members that she would be leaving for a solo career in two years time. In 1992, Our Time in Eden was released. Its debut single, "One Day In Your Life", though not a smash hit, just barely made the top 40 and was also a hit on the club charts and at rhythmic radio. Lombardo and Mary Ramsey, who had formed a folk act called John & Mary, opened gigs for the Maniacs on the Hope Chest Tour in 1990. However, her sophomore effort did beat its predecessor in her home country. In 1990, with the help of Lombardo, they remastered their first two records (Human Conflict and I-Ching) and released them as a compilation called Hope Chest. Her second album, 2002's Freak Of Nature achieved respectable sales although not matching the level of international success of Not That Kind. The remaining five members started the recordings of a new album in Los Angeles, with Peter Asher as the producer. In My Tribe, a more pop-rock oriented record, was released on July 7, (1987), hit the charts and established a large US audience for the group, which was expanded by Blind Man's Zoo (1989). While "I'm Outta Love" was a top ten song on the US dance charts, Not That Kind only reached the lower parts of the Billboard 200, since the single never managed to cross over to the American pop charts.

Lombardo left the band on July 14, 1986. It went triple platinum in Australia spurred by the success of her debut smash "I'm Outta Love" which was the most popular single of the year in that country for 2000. They recorded their second full-length album, The Wishing Chair, in London with Joe Boyd as producer. Her debut album Not That Kind was released in 2000 and was a huge success reaching the top ten in eight countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Peter Leak, an Englishman living in New York City, became interested in the band, made contact and was made their manager. With the help of Leak and Elektra Records A&R man Howard Thompson, 10,000 Maniacs signed to Elektra in 1985. Anastacia signed a contract with Daylight Records, a custom label of Sony Music's Epic Records in March 1999. During 1983 and 1984, touring was a way of life for the band and they also played some gigs in the UK. In 1999, she attracted the interest of record labels after making the finals of MTV talent show The Cut.

One song, "My Mother the War" turned out to be a minor hit in the United Kingdom, and it entered the independent singles chart. During the early '90's, she appeared regularly on Club MTV and in a couple of videos for rappers Salt-N-Pepa. The record was well-received by critics and it caught the attention of John Peel, a DJ at Radio BBC Radio 1 in London. Anastacia soon became interested in dance despite being diagnosed with the intestinal disease Crohn's Disease. Between March and July they recorded songs for a second record, Secrets of the I Ching — their debut album — which was pressed by Mark Records for the band's own label, Christian Burial Music. Her family relocated to New York City when she was a teenager and she enrolled at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan. The Maniacs met Augustyniak when they played in Buffalo, New York, where he was in a punk band called The Strains and he was invited to be part of the band. Anastacia was born in Chicago, Illinois into a showbiz family: her father was a singer and her mother an actress in Broadway musical theatre.

At the beginning of 1983, drummer Jerry Augustyniak (26) joined the band. Anastacia (born Anastacia Newkirk, September 17, 1973) is an American pop singer who has sold ten million records since the release of her first album Not That Kind in 2000. More gigs followed in 1982. Heavy On My Heart (yet to be released) 2005. In February-March 1982, with Jim Foti on drums, the band recorded an EP called Human Conflict Number Five. Welcome To My Truth #25UK 2004. Tired of playing other people songs, they started to write their own, usually with Merchant writing lyrics and Lombardo the music. Sick And Tired #4UK 2004.

Edborg left and Bob "Bob O Matic" Wachter was on drums for most of the 1981 gigs. Left Outside Alone #3UK 2004. They performed as 10,000 Maniacs for the first time on September 7, 1981 (Labor Day), with a line-up of Merchant, Lombardo, Buck, Gustafson, Drew, and Tim Edborg (drums). You'll Never Be Alone #31UK 2002. The band changed its name to Burn Victims and then to 10,000 Maniacs, after the low-budget horror movie Two Thousand Maniacs. Why'd You Lie To Me #25UK 2002. Various drummers came and left. One Day In Your Life #11UK 2002.

Newhouse and Cardinale left the band in July, and Merchant became the main singer. Paid My Dues #14UK 2001. John Lombardo (28; guitar) who was in a band called The Mills, used to play with Still Life occassionally and was invited to join permanently. Made For Lovin' You #27UK 2001. Gustafson invited Merchant, then aged 16, to do some vocals. Cowboys And Kisses #28UK 2001. The band was formed, as Still Life, in Jamestown, New York, by Steven Gustafson (then 23 years old and a bass player), Dennis Drew (23; keyboards) and Robert Buck (22; guitar), Terry Newhouse (Buck's ex-wife and a vocalist) and Chet Cardinale (drums). Not That Kind #11UK 2001.

Perhaps the most well-known member has been Natalie Merchant, who left the band in 1993 to pursue a solo career. Im Outta Love #5UK 2000. 10,000 Maniacs is a US rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. Anastacia '#1UK' (2004) & (due for release by June 7, 2005 for American release date). Freak Of Nature '#4UK' (2001). Not That Kind #2UK (2000).