by: Anthony Violanti
Dennis Drew, of 10,000 Maniacs, was asked recently if he talked to Natalie Merchant since she left the band last August to embark on a solo career.
"I didn't talk to her the last five years she was with the band -- why should I talk to her now?" Drew replied, but quickly added: "Listen, I love Natalie. We all love Natalie. We've had our differences but I think, artistically, she did the right thing. It was time for her and us to go in different directions.
"None of us has had any contact with Natalie since she left the band, and I don't think we will. Natalie was never really integrated into the group after she became a big star."
The band, with Jamestown roots, began in the early 1980s, and last year Merchant stated that she left because of "a desire for change and a need for growth." She also seemed burdened by carrying the artistic load for the band, and had said, "I definitely felt a responsibility for everyone."
Now, for the first time since the breakup, Drew and fellow Maniacs Steven Gustafson, Rob Buck and Jerome Augustyniak are back on tour, teaming with Buffalo's folk/pop duo John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey.
They will play their first Buffalo date on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Marquee at the Tralf, 100 Theater Place. Opening the show is Sixpence None the Richer, the critically praised contemporary Christian group with an alternative sound.
The focus, however, will be on the Maniacs, who because of legal restrictions cannot call themselves 10,000 Maniacs now. So the billing goes this way: John and Mary, Rob, Dennis, Steve and Jerry.
"We don't want this to be a reunion tour or an oldies act. That's not why we're doing it," Drew said. "We feel comfortable with each other and we want to have some fun and make some new music."
In a way, it's like going home again.
Lombardo was a founding member of the Maniacs until he left the group in 1986, just before the band hit the big time.
Mary Ramsey toured with the Maniacs last year and is pictured on the cover of the band's current album, MTV Unplugged, which sold more than a million copies. The band's previous album, Our Time in Eden, also went over a million copies. Ramsey is close to Merchant, and went on a press tour of Europe a few months ago with her.
"It was very natural for us to work with both John and Mary," Drew said. "We've all known John from the early days, and I think we've all grown and matured as musicians and people, and we get along great now. Mary is a sweet person and a great talent. It just seems to be the right fit for everyone."
The question remains: Can the Maniacs survive without Natalie Merchant?
Merchant wrote lyrics, was lead singer and had a dominating stage personality. She is a huge star, one of the most-recognized figures in contemporary music, impossible to replace.
"We didn't want another female singer to be plugged in by some record company to keep the act going," Drew said. "The idea of doing that is repugnant."
Mary Ramsey built her reputation for playing the viola before blossoming as a vocalist while working with Lombardo for the past four years.
"Mary has come a long way as a singer," said Armand John Petri, who has produced records for 10,000 Maniacs and John & Mary.
"There are going to be comparisons with Natalie, but I think people were making those comparisons when Mary sang with John. If people listen to this new band, they'll discover that Mary isn't trying to be anybody but herself."
Petri has attended rehearsal sessions for the new group and likes what he hears. "With the addition of John Lombardo, this band has got back its rock 'n' roll edge. They really showcase Rob Buck's guitar work.
"I think what really matters is that there is more focus on the Maniacs and their music as a band, rather than just Natalie's vocals."
Merchant was such a charismatic figure, she limited the contributions of the rest of the group.
"There's a sense of freedom now," Drew said. "Natalie was the focus of a real cult of personality. People came to our shows and wanted to see her clothes, hairstyle and hear her talk about political causes.
"People would come to watch the stage for Natalie to jump around and do a spin. We were getting away from the music. It became pop song after pop song. Now it feels like a weight has been lifted from us. I don't feel anymore like a member of Natalie's backup band. Now we have the luxury of total control over what we're doing."
Merchant wrote and sang songs that became '90s standards such as Candy Everybody Wants and These Are Days, which was used in President Clinton's campaign and during the Winter Olympics. The Maniacs, who currently have a hit, Because the Night, performed at Clinton's inaugural and also played with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney during a benefit at the Hollywood Bowl.
Now the Maniacs are going to gig in small clubs.
"I guess it will be different. I've gotten used to luxuries like toilets in the dressing room," Drew laughed. "I don't mind playing small clubs, because we're having fun and getting back to our musical roots. This isn't a rehash of what we've done before, it's a new beginning."
No one appreciates the opportunity more than John Lombardo, who says he has no regrets about leaving the Maniacs.
"It opened up a lot of new avenues for me. It gives me a chance to create my own identity. I met a lot of friends and I got the chance to work with Mary."
In a sense, Lombardo has come full circle and is back where he started: with the Maniacs.
"The difference now is that we're listening to each other and writing as a team," Lombardo said. "We've all changed and it comes from all the things we've gone through over the years. You gain a new perspective.
"We feel a common ground. We're not trying to re-create the past but go forward in a new direction. The time is right."