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The band was formed as Still Life in 1981 in Jamestown, New York, by Dennis Drew ( keyboards ), Steve Gustafson ( bass ), Chet Cardinale ( drums ), Robert Buck ( guitar ), and Teri Newhouse ( vocalist and Buck's ex-wife ).

Gustafson invited Natalie Merchant, who was 17 at the time, to do some vocals.

John Lombardo, who was in a band called The Mills ( along with brother guitarist / vocalists Mark Liuzzo and Paul Liuzzo and drummer Mike Young ) and used to play occasionally with Still Life, was invited to join permanently on guitar and vocals.

Newhouse and Cardinale left the band in July, and Merchant became the main singer.

Various drummers came and left.

The band changed its name to Burn Victims and then to 10, 000 Maniacs after the low-budget horror movie Two Thousand Maniacs !.