Where Are They Now?: 10,000 Maniacs (1999)

A brief history of the group 10,000 Maniacs, including Natalie Merchant's split from the band and their reforming with John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey. Also includes a brief clip of their appearance on Sabrina the Teenage Witch with Melissa Joan Hart.

[@kylekilleen3891]

You forgot their greatest seling album Our Time in Eden that produced their highest selling single These Are Days, the height of their mainstream success. Doesn;t seem like a complete retrospective without that.

[@user-ut9ln4vd5m]

Interesting, thanks!
Now, any update for the last 2 decades?

[@8gomerpyle22]

John Lombardo has always been a very cool, friendly and well liked dude. Mary Ramsey, on the other hand, in my opinion, was the opposite

[@marcstevens8576]

Thanks for mentioning that, as I, being a struggling musician back in '97 saw one of their benefit concerts. Wanted to talk to John about home recording studios. While the others went out to address the crowd, he remained on stage. I brought my chair up & after convincing him that I was only asking advice, he talked & gave me a lot of it about contacting people & of course, home recording. Hell of a nice guy. Don't know much about either Natalie or Mary, although Mary looks to be less conceited....

[@stevec1770]

Only a few bands have been able to replace a front person successfully. While Mary Ramsey has a pleasant voice, she doesn't have "it." She doesn't have the bluesy growl, the nasal notes, and the magnetism that Natalie Merchant had. I wasn't a 10,000 Maniacs fan, though I saw them as an opening act once. But Merchant is a world-class singer, and there are few of those. It's nice that 10,000 Maniacs are still around, because making music is about making music, fundamentally. But...

[@saraheart2804]

She really needs to show some emotion and is just too soft.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Never liked the band until Mary joined. She’s a far better singer. Merchant is far from world class, in fact she’s nasally and obnoxious.

[@cejannuzi]

See, she doesn't sound like Natalie after all. I think NM has largely faded from the music scene as well. It just took her a bit longer.

[@AlexGalt-ch3ei]

@@cejannuzi I saw NM perform last year. It was a sold out auditorium show. She played a lot of material from her most recent album, which is excellent, as well other songs from her solo records. She did exactly one song from the 10,000 Maniacs period, "These Are Days," as an encore. She's moved on. It's sad that the "10,000 Maniacs with Mary Ramsey" aren't able to do the same thing. It's clear where the talent was.

[@cheranguista]

Is hard for them without the 2 genius that were Natalie and Rob;

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Buck was great. Merchant was not. Her solo work was terrible and hasn’t aged well. John and Mary was the best thing to come from any of these people and Ramsey improved the Maniacs enormously.

[@sandracmyers]

Lolol she was a whirling dervish

[@wimsicalace1]

Need to repackage with a orchestra.

[@unknownunknown7393]

It's just not desame without Natalie

[@JohnBaron-mv7oy]

I like Mary Ramsey better.

[@Tom-lq6nn]

@@JohnBaron-mv7oy Me too.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Ramsey is much better.

[@joetomasik6120]

Prefer Mary Ramsey where is where is Natalie merchant now nobody even hears a thing from her

[@ChrisConnolly-Mr.C-Dives-In]

She actually has a new song out.