Dramarama
Formed
1982, Wayne, NJ, United States
Currently
Members
John Easdale (vocals), Mr. E Boy [Mark Englert] (guitar), Peter Wood (rhythm guitar), Chris Carter (bass, 1982-94), Jesse Farbman (drums, 1985-90), Brian MacLeod (drums, 1990-91), Clem Burke (drums, 1992-94), Tony Snow (drums, 1996-present), Craig Ballam (guitar, 1996-present), Mike Davis (bass, 1996-present), Theothorous Athanasious "Teddy" Ellenis (keyboards), Morley Bartnoff (keyboards)
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Discography
59Album
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RustyJames
"Undoubtedly, unreservedly, unquestionably, Dramarama's Cinéma Vérité is the greatest unfairly ignored record of the '80s. It's a pure heart n' guts rock & roll record, the way Tim or My Aim Is True is: a breakneck collection of tales of love and losing covered in slashes of power pop and with a chewy introspective centre. Led by the caustic and witty John Easdale, the band slogged through the American underground, but, perhaps due to a more 'straightforward' approach, have yet to achieve the mythical status of many of their contemporaries, remaining near and dear to all but a loyal cult. Fans of everything from the Gun Club to the Dream Syndicate to pre-Warners R.E.M. to Wilco will find much to appreciate in this woefully under-appreciated band."
RYM Rough Guide for Dramarama
Biography
In 1987, the band's second album, Box Office Bomb, held true to its title and sold very disappointingly, but it was popular among fans, especially in California, New Jersey, and France. 1989's Stuck in Wonderamaland (the title a reference to their frustrating lack of success and feeling stranded in Los Angeles) was released on indie label Chameleon Records, which went out of business the following year.
Since the group was left with an abundance of extra material from the last recording session but had no label backing, they decided to release their additional material in Europe under a pseudonym, calling themselves The Bent Backed Tulips (a reference to The Beatles' "Glass Onion") for 1990's Looking Through, released first on New Rose in France, but later rereleased for the American market on indie label eggBERT.
In 1991 the band signed to Elektra and released the full-length Vinyl, which featured slick production values as well as guest performances by Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. The album garnered national airplay for its two singles, but sales quickly dropped off and the band reportedly felt unhappy with Elektra's marketing and artistic control. 1993 saw the release of Dramarama's final album on Elektra, Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, also featuring notable guest artists such as Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls as well as power-pop singer Dwight Twilley. Upon its release, the album was not well-recieved by critics or fans, but many have since reevaluated its artist coherence. After touring in support of Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, Dramarama disbanded in 1994, by all accounts amicably and due mostly to lack of financial viability.
After a two-hear hiatus, John Easdale started playing live again in 1996 and brought in many former members of Dramarama for his backing band; although they usually appeared under the names The John Easdale Group or The Newcomers, these concerts were Dramarama in all but name. Easdale's solo CD Bright Side from 1998 also features most of Dramarama: Mark Englert, Clem Burke, Mike Davis, Tony Snow and Craig Ballam all appear on the album in prominent roles.
Dramarama officially reunited in 2003 when they appeared on VH1's Bands Reunited reality show, after which they were persuaded to continue as a band with the support of KROQ and many fans. In reaction to California's gubernatorial recall and election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the band released their cover of the Dead Kennedys' "California Über Alles" in 2003 as a single. Finally, after several delays, Dramarama released the full-length Everybody Dies in 2005.
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