John Lombardo
Encyclopedia
John Lombardo was one of the founding members of the alternative rock
band 10,000 Maniacs
and one of the band's most influential members, writing much of its early material.
, 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. Lombardo cited "creative and political differences" as his reason for leaving the band.
Lombardo 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
, called "a garden of shimmering delights" by the Atlanta Constitution. Both albums were released on Rykodisc
and are out of print.
Lombardo returned to the Maniacs in 1994 after Natalie Merchant
's departure, with Ramsey
joining as the new lead singer. 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 and Mary
released The Pinwheel Galaxy
. With their current band, the Valkyries, they recently released Peace Bridge
(2007).
Melody Maker
called Lombardo "one of the very great tunesmiths and guitarists of our age", and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
wrote that he is "a fine songwriter whose adeptness at illustrating quiet desperation and rustic spirituality becomes more apparent with each listen".
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band 10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
and one of the band's most influential members, writing much of its early material.
Biography
Called by the Buffalo News "a dominant force" in the Maniacs10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
, 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. Lombardo cited "creative and political differences" as his reason for leaving the band.
Lombardo formed the folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
duo John & Mary
John & Mary
John & Mary is a U.S. based folk music duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey who have had a long-time close association with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.-1989-1993:...
with the classically trained Mary Ramsey
Mary Ramsey
Mary Ramsey , currently a resident of Buffalo, NY is a member of folk duo John & Mary and lead singer for alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.- Biography :...
, who played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
for 10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
and sang backing vocals on the 1993 album MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged (10,000 Maniacs album)
MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs. The music was recorded for the MTV Unplugged series and it was also the last album by the band featuring Natalie Merchant as vocalist...
. The pair made two recordings under the name John & Mary
John & Mary
John & Mary is a U.S. based folk music duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey who have had a long-time close association with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.-1989-1993:...
, Victory Gardens
Victory Gardens
Victory Gardens is the debut album from John & Mary, recorded in 1990 just six months after the two met in December 1989 and immediately following their signing with Rykodisc. John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the...
in 1991 and 1993's The Weedkiller's Daughter
The Weedkiller's Daughter
The Weedkiller's Daughter is the second album from John & Mary.The Weedkiller's Daughter was produced by John Lombardo and Armand John Petrie and, like their first album Victory Gardens, features 10,000 Maniacs members Rob Buck and Jerry Augustyniak...
, called "a garden of shimmering delights" by the Atlanta Constitution. Both albums were released on Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
and are out of print.
Lombardo returned to the Maniacs in 1994 after Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
's departure, with Ramsey
Mary Ramsey
Mary Ramsey , currently a resident of Buffalo, NY is a member of folk duo John & Mary and lead singer for alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.- Biography :...
joining as the new lead singer. The duo released two albums with the Maniacs, 1997's Love Among the Ruins
Love Among the Ruins (album)
Love Among the Ruins was the first album released by 10,000 Maniacs with their new lead singer, Mary Ramsey after the 1993 departure of Natalie Merchant. The two singles from the album, "More Than This" and "Rainy Day", were not originally slated to be included on the album at all...
, which contained a cover of the Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
song "More Than This
More Than This (song)
-Track listing:CD single#"More Than This " – 3:17#"Clear" - 3:59#"More Than This " - 7:18-Charts:...
" that did well in the U.S. charts, and 1999's The Earth Pressed Flat
The Earth Pressed Flat
The Earth Pressed Flat is a 1999 album by 10,000 Maniacs featuring vocalist Mary Ramsey who replaced Natalie Merchant after she left the band in 1993...
. In 2002, after leaving the Maniacs following the death of guitarist Rob Buck, John and Mary
John and Mary
John and Mary are the subjects of a series of children's books written by Grace James. The series started in the 1930s and finishes in the 1960s.-Plot:...
released The Pinwheel Galaxy
The Pinwheel Galaxy
-Track listing:All tracks composed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey except where indicated#"A Brighter Day" – 3:41#"Beyond Love" – 2:49#"Lilies of the Valley" – 3:32#"Summer Street" – 4:19#"The Drone" – 3:33...
. With their current band, the Valkyries, they recently released Peace Bridge
Peace Bridge (album)
Peace Bridge is the fourth album from John & Mary, their first with the Valkyries.-Track listing:All tracks composed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey except where indicated#"Poppy" – 3:45#"Easter" – 3:42#"Shudder Girl" – 4:05...
(2007).
Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
called Lombardo "one of the very great tunesmiths and guitarists of our age", and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
wrote that he is "a fine songwriter whose adeptness at illustrating quiet desperation and rustic spirituality becomes more apparent with each listen".
With 10,000 Maniacs
- Human Conflict Number FiveHuman Conflict Number FiveHuman Conflict Number Five was the debut EP by 10,000 Maniacs. It was released in 1982 on their Christian Burial Music label.-Track listing:#"Tension" - 3:18#"Planned Obsolescence" - 4:22...
(EP) (1982) - Secrets of the I ChingSecrets of the I ChingSecrets of the I Ching is the 1983 independent debut album by 10,000 Maniacs. This is also the first album with new and permanent drummer Jerome Augustyniak...
(1983) - The Wishing Chair (1985)
- Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983 is a 1990 album by 10,000 Maniacs. It compiles tracks from their early releases Human Conflict Number Five and Secrets of the I Ching...
(1990) - Love Among the RuinsLove Among the Ruins (album)Love Among the Ruins was the first album released by 10,000 Maniacs with their new lead singer, Mary Ramsey after the 1993 departure of Natalie Merchant. The two singles from the album, "More Than This" and "Rainy Day", were not originally slated to be included on the album at all...
(1997) - The Earth Pressed FlatThe Earth Pressed FlatThe Earth Pressed Flat is a 1999 album by 10,000 Maniacs featuring vocalist Mary Ramsey who replaced Natalie Merchant after she left the band in 1993...
(1999) - Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown RecordingsCampfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown RecordingsCampfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings is a 2004 compilation album by 10,000 Maniacs featuring their biggest hits, b-sides and unknown recordings from the Natalie Merchant era.-Track listing:Disc One - The Most Popular Recordings...
(2004)
With John & Mary
- Victory GardensVictory GardensVictory Gardens is the debut album from John & Mary, recorded in 1990 just six months after the two met in December 1989 and immediately following their signing with Rykodisc. John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the...
(1991) - The Weedkiller's DaughterThe Weedkiller's DaughterThe Weedkiller's Daughter is the second album from John & Mary.The Weedkiller's Daughter was produced by John Lombardo and Armand John Petrie and, like their first album Victory Gardens, features 10,000 Maniacs members Rob Buck and Jerry Augustyniak...
(1993) - The Pinwheel GalaxyThe Pinwheel Galaxy-Track listing:All tracks composed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey except where indicated#"A Brighter Day" – 3:41#"Beyond Love" – 2:49#"Lilies of the Valley" – 3:32#"Summer Street" – 4:19#"The Drone" – 3:33...
(2002)