Robert Norman Buck (August 1, 1958 – December 19, 2000) was an American guitarist and founding member of the

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 mainstream or commercial ...

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 ...

. Some of his compositions with

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 ...

are among the most popular songs recorded by 10,000 Maniacs, including "

What's the Matter Here "What's The Matter Here?" was the third single released from 10,000 Maniacs' 1987 album ''In My Tribe'', following '' Peace Train'' and '' Like the Weather''. A live version with lead vocalist Mary Ramsey was also included on their 2016 album '' ...

", "Hey Jack Kerouac", "You Happy Puppet" and " These Are Days".

Early life

Buck was born August 1, 1958 in

Jamestown, New York Jamestown is a city in southern Chautauqua County, in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 28,712 at the 2020 census. Situated between Lake Erie to the north and the Allegheny National Forest to the south, Jamestown is the largest po ...

. He graduated from Cassadaga Valley High School in 1976 and received an associate's degree in anthropology from

Jamestown Community College Jamestown Community College is a public community college with campuses in Jamestown and Olean, New York. It is part of the State University of New York system. JCC also has extension centers in Dunkirk, New York and Warren, Pennsylvania. The ...

Career

Buck decided to pursue a career as a professional guitarist after seeing ''The Jimi Hendrix Story''. Buck, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson, John Lombardo, and Natalie Merchant formed 10,000 Maniacs in 1981; Buck was the band's lead guitarist. The band's folk-rock music became popular with college students. Its 1987 album, ''In My Tribe'', sold more than a million copies. In 1989, ''Blind Man's Zoo'' reached number 13 on the U.S. charts and was certified gold. Buck was the co-writer of some of the band's best-known songs, including "These Are Days", "Hey Jack Kerouac", and "What's the Matter Here?" He performed with the band at the Inaugural Ball in 1993. That same year, the band was profiled in ''Rolling Stone''. Buck was listed in ''

Guitar Player ''Guitar Player'' is an American popular magazine for guitarists, founded in 1967 in San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and politica ...

'' magazine as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Personal life and death

Buck was married to Terri Newhouse from 1979 to 1981. Buck was airlifted from the WCA Hospital in Jamestown to the

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is a $23billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 92,000 employees, 40 hospitals with more than 8,000 licensed beds, 800 clinical locations including outpatient sites and d ...

Presbyterian Hospital on November 30, 2000. He died of liver disease on December 19, 2000.

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 ...

'' (1982) *''

Secrets of the I Ching ''Secrets of the I Ching'' is the first album by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs (following their 1982 EP, ''Human Conflict Number Five''), released in 1983 by Mark Records. While the album also contained the band's own Christian Bu ...

'' (1983) *'' The Wishing Chair'' (1985) *''

In My Tribe ''In My Tribe'' is an album by the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Released on July 27, 1987 by Elektra Records, it was their second major-label album and their first to achieve large-scale success. John Lombardo, Natalie Merchan ...

'' (1987) *'' Blind Man's Zoo'' (1989) *'' Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982–1983'' (1990) *'' Our Time in Eden'' (1992) *''

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 ...

'' (1993) *''

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 ...

'' (1997) *''

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 ...

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

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 ...

'' (1991) with

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 firs ...

– lead guitar, mandolin *''

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 B ...

'' (1993) with

– lead guitar *''

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 ...

'' (2003) with

– backwards guitar *'' Kerouac: Kicks Joy Darkness'' (2000)

References

External links

10,000 Maniacs official site
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Buck, Robert (Musician) 1958 births 2000 deaths 10,000 Maniacs members Alcohol-related deaths in Pennsylvania American rock guitarists American male guitarists Songwriters from New York (state) People from Jamestown, New York American alternative rock musicians Deaths from liver disease Deaths from multiple organ failure 20th-century American musicians Burials in Pennsylvania Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians