Dramarama (band)

:This article is about the alternative rock band. For other uses see Dramarama (disambiguation).

Related Topics:
Alternative rock - Dramarama (disambiguation)

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Dramarama was an alternative rock band, formed in 1983 and disbanded in 1994.

Related Topics:
Alternative rock - 1983 - 1994

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They formed in and around Wayne, New Jersey, where founding member Chris Carter ran a record store, Looney Tunez Records. The initial line-up consisted of singer/songwriter John Easdale, "Mr. E Boy" (Mark Englert) and Pete Wood on guitars, Jesse on drums, "Secret Weapon" Tom Mullaney, and bassist Chris Carter. Jesse would leave the group after the third album, and a number of other musicians sat in for studio sessions on specific tracks, perhaps most notably pianist Benmont Tench, who contributed to songs on both Vinyl and hi-fi sci-fi.

Related Topics:
John Easdale - Mark Englert - Pete Wood - Chris Carter - Benmont Tench

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Initially successful with American record labels, Dramarama's first release was through New Rose Records of France. 1985's Cinéma Vérité was later re-released in the USA after it received airplay from Los Angeles disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer on KROQ radio. The single "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)", perhaps the band's most recognizeable song, became a staple of alternative radio airplay.

Related Topics:
Rodney Bingenheimer - KROQ

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Their second album, 1987's Box Office Bomb, underperformed in the marketplace but went on to become a fan favorite.

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Their third LP, Stuck in Wonderamaland, was released through independent Chameleon Records of California. Shortly thereafter, Chameleon Records went out of business.

Related Topics:
LP - Chameleon Records

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The recording sessions for Stuck in Wonderamaland produced enough material for three albums. Instead of letting so many songs go to waste, Easdale decided to try a foreign release. Thus, Looking Through..., a 14-song album by "The Bent-Backed Tulips", was released in Europe, and eventually re-released in the U.S. through eggbert records with extra tracks, bringing the number of songs up to twenty.

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The band then signed with Elektra Records and released 1991's Vinyl. Backed by a major label for the first time, they started getting nationwide airplay. But the slick, high-end production on the album might have worked against its success, as 1991 was the year that grunge music (or the "Seattle Sound") became wildly popular.

Related Topics:
Elektra Records - Grunge - Seattle Sound

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After Vinyl, a limited edition 17 song CD was made available to members of the Dramarama fan club. Days of Wayne and Roses includes the band's earliest recordings together, songs that were dropped from their early albums, a couple of poorly-recorded live performances, and one song exclusive (at the time) to the disc.

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The release on Elektra release, 1993's hi-fi sci-fi, fared poorly with both critics and fans, though it has come to be well-regarded in the time since its release. Drummer Clem Burke, formerly of the group Blondie, joined the band for this album and its accompanying tours. Those tours wound down and the group broke up shortly thereafter.

Related Topics:
Clem Burke - Blondie

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In recent years, Dramarama reformed for several concerts. VH1 had an episode in one of their "where are they now" documentaries which marked the first time since disbanding that the original line-up performed together. A new line-up of the band has formed in recent years and plays occasional shows in the L.A. area, as well as in their native New Jersey.

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The new line-up consists of frontman John Easdale, lead guitar Mark "Mr. E. Boy" Englert and rhythm guitar player Peter Wood. Former keyboard player Tommy "The Secret Weapon" Mullaney has been involed in at least one "reunion" show. Replacement drummer Clem Burke has gone back to his original band Blondie. Friends of the band often sit in for sessions or shows, including Craig Ballum (guitar); Tony Snow (drums); Mike Davis (bass); Muddy Shoes; Morley Bartnoff from Cosmo Topper (formerly of the 1980s band Burning Sensations) and others. Former bass player Chris Carter is a disk jockey in Los Angeles, California who hosts America's longest running Beatle show, Breakfast With Beatles, where plays nothing but Beatles material and comments upon the history of The Beatles for as long as 4 hours every week. Carter also went on to produce & write the film Mayor of the Sunset Stripin 2003 which was nominated for Best Documentary by the Independent Spirit Film Awards. Carter formed QM Management after the band spilt in 1994, were he manages LA's pop group the Wondermints who are currently on tour as Beach Boy Brian Wilson's backing group.

Related Topics:
Craig Ballum - Tony Snow - Mike Davis - Muddy Shoes - Morley Bartnoff - Cosmo Topper - Burning Sensations - Chris Carter - Disk jockey - Los Angeles, California

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