John Lombardo (born 30 September 1952) is one of the founding members of the American

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band

10,000 Maniacs 10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four album ...

and one of the band's most influential members, writing much of its early material. He is also a member of

folk rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers suc ...

duo

John & Mary John & Mary is a United States-based folk rock duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey both members of alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. History 1989–1993 John & Mary was formed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey soon after they first ...

Biography

Called by the ''Buffalo News'' "a dominant force" in the Maniacs, 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'', disagreeing with the direction of the band and frustrated with the lack of success. "I think I just really ran out of gas," Lombardo explained to

The Morning Call ''The Morning Call'' is a daily newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1883, it is the second longest continuously published newspaper in the Lehigh Valley, after ''The Express-Times''. In 2020, the newspaper permanently closed its Al ...

in 1997. "It was very much a nomadic, gypsy lifestyle, even though we were on a major label (Elektra). We weren't making very much money and it just got very frustrating for me. I needed a breather to find out what my own life was about." Lombardo then formed the

duo

with the classically trained

Mary Ramsey Mary Ramsey (born December 24, 1963) is a member of folk rock duo John & Mary and lead singer and violinist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Ramsey has also worked with other well-known artists such as Jackson Browne, Goo ...

, who played violin and viola for

and sang backing vocals on the 1993 album ''

MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as ''MTV Un ...

''. The pair made two recordings under the name John & Mary, ''

Victory Gardens ''Victory Gardens'' (1991) 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 respon ...

'' in 1991 and 1993's ''

The Weedkiller's Daughter ''The Weedkiller's Daughter'' (1993) 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 ...

''. Lombardo remained on cordial terms with his former band, with two Maniacs (

Rob Buck Robert Norman Buck (August 1, 1958 – December 19, 2000) was an American guitarist and founding member of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Some of his compositions with Natalie Merchant are among the most popular songs recorded by 10, ...

and

Jerry Augustyniak Jerome Stanley Augustyniak (born September 2, 1958) is the drummer for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Augustyniak joined the band in March 1983, two years after the group formed. Augustyniak continues to perform with the band ...

appearing as guest performers on their albums, and John and Mary opened for the 10,000 Maniacs on tour. Lombardo would also work with the band in 1990 to remaster

Hope Chest A hope chest, also called dowry chest, cedar chest, trousseau chest, or glory box is a piece of furniture traditionally used by unmarried young women to collect items, such as clothing and household linen, in anticipation of married life. Th ...

, a compilation of their first two albums, released in 1990. Lombardo returned to the Maniacs in 1994 after

Natalie Merchant Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first se ...

's departure, with

Ramsey Ramsey may refer to: Geography British Isles * Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England * Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England ** Ramsey and Parkeston, a civil parish formerly called just "Ramsey" * Ramsey, Isle of Man, t ...

joining as the lead singer. The duo released two albums with the Maniacs: 1997's ''

Love Among the Ruins Love Among the Ruins may refer to: Literature * "Love Among the Ruins" (poem), a poem by Robert Browning * ''Love Among the Ruins. A Romance of the Near Future'', a novel by Evelyn Waugh * ''Love Among the Ruins'', a novel by Warwick Deeping * ''L ...

'', which contained a cover of the

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera ...

song " More Than This" that did well in the U.S. charts; and 1999's ''

The Earth Pressed Flat ''The Earth Pressed Flat'' is the seventh album by 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1999. The album contains nine songs that had been written for, but not used in, the band's previous album, '' Love Among the Ruins'': "The Earth Pressed Flat", "Once ...

''. In 2002, after leaving the Maniacs following the death of guitarist Rob Buck, John & Mary released ''

The Pinwheel Galaxy John & Mary is a United States-based folk rock duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey both members of alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. History 1989–1993 John & Mary was formed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey soon after they first ...

'' and then ''

Peace Bridge The Peace Bridge is an international bridge between Canada and the United States at the east end of Lake Erie at the source of the Niagara River, about upriver of Niagara Falls. It connects Buffalo, New York, in the United States to Fort Erie ...

'' (2007) under the name John & Mary and the Valkyries. Lombardo continues to perform regularly with John & Mary and has rejoined

as a touring member, contributing to their 2015 album ''

Twice Told Tales ''Twice-Told Tales'' is a short story collection in two volumes by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The first volume was published in the spring of 1837 and the second in 1842. The stories had all been previously published in magazines and annuals, hence th ...

'', performing on their 2016 live album '' Playing Favorites'', and playing regular gigs with the band.

Discography

With 10,000 Maniacs

*''

Human Conflict Number Five ''Human Conflict Number Five'' is the debut EP by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1982 by Mark Records. While the EP also contained the band's own Christian Burial Music imprint, the label itself was fictitious. Bar ...

'' (EP) (1982) *'' Secrets of the I Ching'' (1983) *'' The Wishing Chair'' (1985) *'' Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983'' (1990) *''

'' (1997) *''

'' (1999) *'' Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings'' (2004) *''

'' (2015) *'' Playing Favorites'' (2016) *'' Live at the Belly Up'' (2017)

With John & Mary

*''

'' (1991) *''

'' (1993) *''

'' (2002)

With John & Mary & the Valkyries

*''

'' (2007)

References

External links

*
John & Mary and the Valkyries MySpace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lombardo, John 1952 births Living people 10,000 Maniacs members John & Mary members American folk guitarists American male guitarists American rock guitarists American male singer-songwriters American folk singers American rock singers American folk rock musicians American rock songwriters Singer-songwriters from New York (state) People from Jamestown, New York Musicians from Buffalo, New York Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists