One of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last three decades, 10,000 Maniacs, was founded in the fall of 1981 by Robert Buck, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson, John Lombardo and Natalie Merchant. Jerry Augustyniak joined in 1983. Together with artists like R.E.M., they defined college rock and create the first wave of alternative rock bands and what became known as the alternative rock format on FM radio.

In 2011, 10,000 Maniacs began the first half of their 30th Anniversary Tour and just finished the second leg in August of 2012. Recently, the band mixed their new album that was released in January of 2013.