December 8th remains a tragic day in the annals of popular music. On that date in 1980, John Lennon was shot to death in the archway of his New York City apartment by a gun-wielding Beatles fan disillusioned by his former hero. Lennon was only 40 years old and just started to experience a comeback with the hit single “(Just Like) Starting Over” and Double Fantasy, the album recorded with his wife Yoko Ono after years away from the spotlight.
Among the musicians who remember that tragic night well is Steven Gustafson, the bass player and a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs. He took to his Facebook account to share his memories of that awful night and explain how it eventually led to the formation of one of the most beloved bands of the 1980s.
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“45 years ago, [future 10,000 Maniacs keyboardist] Dennis Drew and I were having drinks and playing pool at Mother's bar in Jamestown when we were shocked to hear Howard Cosell announce on NFL Monday night football that John Lennon had been shot. At the time, Dennis and I were running the 10 watt FM station at the community college and the next morning we decided to turn the station off for the day. The station staff sat silent in the student union with a sour feeling of loss, knuckling our tears away,” he recalled.
Yet out of that tragedy, Gustafson, Drew, singerNatalie Merchant and guitarist Robert Buck formed a band, Gustafson went on to explain.
“Four weeks later, Dennis, Natalie, Robert and I started the band Still Life with our first rehearsal in a 15'x15' room in an empty wing of the Broadhead Mills factory on First Street. Eight months later, we played our first show as 10,000 Maniacs at -Mother's bar,” he wrote.
Like many musicians, Gustafson explained that he and his future bandmates were directly inspired to pursue music by the Beatles.
“Every boy in this band wanted to be in a band after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Robert and [drummer] Jerome [Augustyniak] were 5, Dennis and I were 6. [guitarist] John [Lombardo] was 10. We've lost Robert but 45 years later, we still love writing songs and playing them for you,” Gustafson added, referring to Buck’s death from liver disease in 2000 at the age of 42.
Along with the bittersweet memories, Gustafson also shared some news about 10,000 Maniacs’ plans for 2026.
“Next year we start celebrating our 45th anniversary and we're releasing a box set of the Elektra recordings, an album of new songs (if we can ever stop having old man surgeries) and of course, playing for you,” he added. “10,000 Thanks for your constant support. May you have long days, pleasant nights and happy holidays.”
The core quartet of Gustafson, Drew, Augustyniak and Lombardo remain in 10,000 Maniacs. Singer Natalie Merchant left the band in 1993 for a successful solo career. She was replaced by Mary Ramsey, who previously performed with Lombardo in the duo John and Mary.
Related: Iconic '80s Singer, 62, Embraces Gray Hair and Fans Say She 'Sounds Awesome and Looks Great'
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