Group Name: 10000 Maniacs

Formed In: 1981, by Steven Gustafson (then 23 years old and a bass player), Dennis Drew (23; keyboards) and Robert Buck (22; guitar), Terry Newhouse (Buck's ex-wife and a vocalist) and Chet Cardinale (drums). Gustafson invited Merchant, then aged 17, to do some vocals

Where They're From: Still Life, in Jamestown, New York

Career Breakthrough: "Because The Night" Single (1993)

Name Game: The band's first incarnation was called Burn Victims, but soon they changed it to 10,000 Maniacs, after the low-budget horror movie "Two Thousand Maniacs".

Did You Know: Natalie Merchant, left the band in 1993 to pursue a successful solo career.