Dramarama (band)
Encyclopedia
Dramarama is a Los Angeles, California
-based alternative rock
/power pop
band. The band was formed in New Jersey
in 1982 and disbanded in 1994. The band formally reunited in 2003 following an appearance on VH1
's Bands Reunited
reality show.
Since 1996, an evolving lineup of the band, always fronted by singer/songwriter John Easdale
, has been performing in one incarnation or another (initially billed as Easdale solo but usually joined by former Dramarama band mates), and from then until 2003 played occasional shows in the L.A. area, as well as in New Jersey. However, amid renewed interest since the Bands Reunited episode in January 2004 and a large-scale appearance at KROQ-FM
's annual Inland Invasion festival concert (attended by more than 78,000 fans) in September 2003, Dramarama has been touring nationally, and released their first new, full-length studio CD, titled "everybody dies", on October 25, 2005. The band has been recording new material and there are plans to release a new CD in 2012.
radio from influential Los Angeles disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer
(who at first actually thought the band was French). Bingenheimer alerted Posh Boy Records
at New Rose who gave Robbie Fields the green light to contact the band directly in New Jersey.
Subsequently, the track "Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)
," perhaps Dramarama's most recognizable song, became a number-one hit on KROQ-FM, becoming a staple of alternative radio airplay, and even today is one of the most requested songs in KROQ-FM's history (younger listeners often call the station asking "What's that song called that goes 'Anything Anything'?") Following the local L.A. success of "Anything, Anything," the band obtained a far larger advance from Chameleon and permanently packed up and relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles. The song has been featured in the box office success A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
and was covered for the East Timor Benefit Album.
As an expression of gratitude to both Bingenheimer and Fields, the band gave Robbie Fields their recording of the NY Dolls' song "Private World" for inclusion on "The Best of Rodney On The Roq" CD, released in 1987 and re-released in 1992 through Rhino Records.
The recording sessions for Stuck in Wonderamaland produced enough material for three albums. Instead of letting so many songs go to waste, Easdale & Carter decided to again try a foreign release. Thus, Looking Through..., a 14-song album, was released in Europe by "The Bent-Backed Tulips," a pseudonym the band chose in reference to The Beatles
(see the lyrics to "Glass Onion" if you don't get the connection; even the album's title is directly lifted from that song's lyrics). Looking Through... was eventually re-released in the U.S. through Fullerton, CA-based eggBERT Records with extra tracks, increasing the number of songs to 20.
The band then signed with Chameleon distributor Elektra and released 1991's Vinyl. Backed by a major label for the first time, Dramarama started getting nationwide airplay, most notably the singles "Haven't Got A Clue" and "What Are We Gonna Do?" The album's high-end production w/ Don Smith (Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Keith Richards) was a highlight adding to the success of the LP. Vinyl included contributions from Mick Taylor
, Jim Keltner
, Benmont Tench
, and Brian Macleod of Wire Train
.
After Vinyl, a limited-edition 17-song CD called The Days of Wayne and Roses (The Trash Tapes) was made available to members of the Dramarama fan club. It included the band's earliest recordings together, as well as songs that were dropped from their early albums, a couple of live performances, and one song exclusive (at the time) to the disc.
The band's final release on Elektra, 1993's hi-fi sci-fi, was a favorite among both critics and fans, and remains a cult staple. Clem Burke
, who had joined the band for the Vinyl tour, appears on this album, and there are backing vocal contributions from Dwight Twilley
& Sylvain Sylvain
. The subsequent tours wound down and the group broke up shortly thereafter.
's band and once the frontman for In Color; has also worked with Aimee Mann
and Jules Shear
) on guitar, Muddy Shews on bass, Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and Chris O'Hara on drums. However, eventually Easdale was able to find steady players in Mike Davis, Tony Snow, and Craig Ballam, who connected with Easdale circa 1996 and, along with Easdale, Englert and Wood, form the core of Dramarama as it exists today (Craig Ballam departed in 2006).
In 1998, John Easdale released a "solo" CD on the eggBERT label called Bright Side, on which many of the tracks featured musicians with ties to both Dramarama and the Newcomers, including Mark Englert and Clem Burke, as well as Mike Davis, Tony Snow, and Craig Ballam, who also contributed production and engineering skills. Prior to Bright Side, Easdale issued a homegrown, fan-only, no-label version of the Bright Side CD in 1996 that contained versions of songs that made the final cut, as well as some that did not. Easdale refers to it as his "blueprint" for the final collection, and fans call it the "pre-release" Bright Side.
Following the considerable Bands Reunited and Inland Invasion publicity, including an article in Rolling Stone
magazine lauding their retooling of the Dead Kennedys
' politically-charged "California Über Alles
" in response to Arnold Schwarzenegger
's 2003 run for governor of California, Easdale decided in late 2003 the band name "Dramarama" should go on. To cement this point, the next CD (an EP) would be billed to Dramarama, and was yet another unlabeled home-brewed affair entitled Absolutely, 100% Made in N.J., which was recorded on a whim while John and the band were on a brief tour of New Jersey in 2003. The EP's liner notes indicated that most of the seven tracks were "from the forthcoming Dramarama album, everybody dies
."
After yet another distribution setback, the album was released on October 25, 2005, on 33rd Street Records, a California-based label that was home to notable artists including Peter Frampton
, Eagles, and Gregg Rolie
of Journey
and Santana
fame. 33rd Street was a boutique label funded by the late major retailer Tower Records
. They appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Ellen
's 50th birthday present from her DJ Ted Stryker
.
in Los Angeles who's primarily known for hosting America's longest-running Beatle show, "Breakfast With the Beatles", in which he 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 and write the film Mayor of the Sunset Strip
, which in 2003 was nominated for Best Documentary by the Independent Spirit Film Awards, and which featured members of Dramarama. After Dramarama split in 1994, Carter formed QM Management, for which he manages LA's pop group The Wondermints
, currently touring as Beach Boy Brian Wilson
's backing band.
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi-era drummer Clem Burke has returned to his original band Blondie. Drummer Jesse Farbman, now known as Anant Jesse, lives in Montreal, Quebec, where he teaches spiritual therapeutics, maintains a private practice and continues to record and perform internationally. Former keyboard player Theodore Ellenis (aka: Theothorous Athanasious Ellenis) now serves as the Managing Director for a prominent New York investment banking firm. Replacement keyboard player and guitarist Tommy "Secret Weapon" Mullaney has appeared onstage with the band on more than a few occasions, most recently earlier this year at a New Jersey show. The whereabouts regarding original drummer Ronny Machuga and his replacement Kenneth Moutinout remain unknown. Under advisement, Mr. Patterson and Mr. Stittle are now within the federal witness protection program.
The band has been very active since 2005. In 2009, they returned to their roots by playing for the Troy High School
Battle of the Bands. This event took place on February 3, 2009 at Plummer Auditorium, located in Fullerton, California. Over 1,000 people attended this event. They finished the event with an encore, playing the 1985 hit single Anything, Anything. Also in 2009 were several shows at House Of Blues venues in Texas and Southern California, as well as Six Flags Magic Mountain. Dramarama returned to New Jersey for two shows in November 2009, and performed in Downtown Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano's The Coach House in December 2009. They returned to Troy High School's Battle of the Bands in 2010 and 2011. Dramarama continues to perform many shows each year at such notable venues as House Of Blues, Red Devil Lounge, and The Stone Pony. On September 10, 2011, Dramarama performed at "Jack FM's Sixth Show" in Irvine, CA.
. While Carter operated the alternative record store Looney Tunez Records (previously known as Dirt Cheap Records), Tommy "The Secret Weapon" Mullaney continued to pursue his outside careers simultaneously. Initially the line-up consisted of; singer/songwriter John Easdale
, "Mr. E Boy" (Mark Englert
) and Carter, later joined by Peter Wood on guitars and Ron Machuga on drums whom was soon after replaced by Ken "knock-'em down, knock-'em down, bowling bowling" Moutinout. Keyboard player Ted Ellenis later joined the band increasing the band's lineup. Moutinout was quickly replaced by Jesse Farbman who left the group after the band's third album to pursue mind / body purity and to obtain "philosophical and spiritual awareness". Farbman was eventually replaced by acclaimed drummer Clem Burke
, whose prior band was Blondie
. Other early bandmates included Carter's childhood friend Tommy "The Secret Weapon" Mullaney whom was picked to replace Ellenis. Mullaney also departed shortly thereafter.
A number of prominent musicians have joined the band for studio sessions on specific tracks over the years, perhaps most notably pianist Benmont Tench
of Tom Petty
's Heartbreakers and guitarist Mick Taylor
, late of the Rolling Stones, on Vinyl. Legendary British session pianist Nicky Hopkins
can be heard on the album Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
. In addition, fellow power pop artist Dwight Twilley
lent vocals to several songs on Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
, on which The New York Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain
also made a vocal appearance.
In addition, other artists often join Dramarama onstage or in the studio, including bassist Steve "Muddy Shews" Shewchuk from seminal Jersey shore band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes
; keyboardist Morley Bartnoff
from Cosmo Topper (formerly of the 1980s band Burning Sensations
), and harmonica player "Trashcan" Ray Barwick, former No Soap Radio members Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and drummer Chris O'Hara, and former Whirling Dervishes keyboard player Billy Siegel.
(Mr. "E" Boy). Rounding out the band are Los Angeles-based musicians Tony Snow (No Sugar, Tony Snow & The Change, Glimmer Stars) on drums, and (former Lizzy Borden (band)
member) Mike Davis on bass. In addition, Tony Snow leads his own band, Tony Snow & The Change, and Mike Davis is the bass player for Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford's eponymous solo band "Halford
".
The Dramarama song Anything Anything serves as the title and theme song of New York City radio station WRXP-FM's free form program "Anything Anything with Rich Russo".. The version from "Live at the China Club" begins each show.
A special live version of "Last Cigarette" was recorded for the limited edition 500 pressing vinyl album "Anything Anything with Rich Russo on 101.9 RXP presents Exclusive Live Perfromances" in this version the band replaces "johnny Carson" with "Rich Russo" as an homage to the free form DJ. The Album was released April 2010
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
-based alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band. The band was formed in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1982 and disbanded in 1994. The band formally reunited in 2003 following an appearance on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited is a television program produced by VH1 in 2004. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the show documented the attempted reuniting of a formerly popular musical ensemble for a special concert in either London or Los Angeles....
reality show.
Since 1996, an evolving lineup of the band, always fronted by singer/songwriter John Easdale
John Easdale
John Easdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the American band Dramarama.Easdale grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Hills High School.-External links:*...
, has been performing in one incarnation or another (initially billed as Easdale solo but usually joined by former Dramarama band mates), and from then until 2003 played occasional shows in the L.A. area, as well as in New Jersey. However, amid renewed interest since the Bands Reunited episode in January 2004 and a large-scale appearance at KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
's annual Inland Invasion festival concert (attended by more than 78,000 fans) in September 2003, Dramarama has been touring nationally, and released their first new, full-length studio CD, titled "everybody dies", on October 25, 2005. The band has been recording new material and there are plans to release a new CD in 2012.
1981–1994
The evolution and combined efforts prompted the emergence of the DPW (a local parody named in honor of their home town Department of Public Works and re-incarnation, "The F&cks". In 1981 the band released its first single with; "Your Drive Me" attracting some national notoriety. In 1984, Dramarama released their first EP, Comedy, a self-funded five-track debut that garnered both critical and cult praise in the unexpected location of France and Boise Idaho. As such, Dramarama issued its first full-length release, 1985's Cinéma Vérité, on France's New Rose Records. It was later re-released in the USA after receiving airplay on KROQ-FMKROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
radio from influential Los Angeles disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer, born December 15, 1947, is a radio disc jockey on the long-running Los Angeles rock station KROQ who is notable for helping numerous iconic bands become successful in the American market. His contribution to the music business has been described as important...
(who at first actually thought the band was French). Bingenheimer alerted Posh Boy Records
Posh Boy Records
Posh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...
at New Rose who gave Robbie Fields the green light to contact the band directly in New Jersey.
Subsequently, the track "Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)
Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)
"Anything, Anything " is a 1985 song by the alternative rock band Dramarama released as the first single from their debut album Cinéma Vérité...
," perhaps Dramarama's most recognizable song, became a number-one hit on KROQ-FM, becoming a staple of alternative radio airplay, and even today is one of the most requested songs in KROQ-FM's history (younger listeners often call the station asking "What's that song called that goes 'Anything Anything'?") Following the local L.A. success of "Anything, Anything," the band obtained a far larger advance from Chameleon and permanently packed up and relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles. The song has been featured in the box office success A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master is a 1988 American slasher film and the fourth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
and was covered for the East Timor Benefit Album.
As an expression of gratitude to both Bingenheimer and Fields, the band gave Robbie Fields their recording of the NY Dolls' song "Private World" for inclusion on "The Best of Rodney On The Roq" CD, released in 1987 and re-released in 1992 through Rhino Records.
The recording sessions for Stuck in Wonderamaland produced enough material for three albums. Instead of letting so many songs go to waste, Easdale & Carter decided to again try a foreign release. Thus, Looking Through..., a 14-song album, was released in Europe by "The Bent-Backed Tulips," a pseudonym the band chose in reference to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
(see the lyrics to "Glass Onion" if you don't get the connection; even the album's title is directly lifted from that song's lyrics). Looking Through... was eventually re-released in the U.S. through Fullerton, CA-based eggBERT Records with extra tracks, increasing the number of songs to 20.
The band then signed with Chameleon distributor Elektra and released 1991's Vinyl. Backed by a major label for the first time, Dramarama started getting nationwide airplay, most notably the singles "Haven't Got A Clue" and "What Are We Gonna Do?" The album's high-end production w/ Don Smith (Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Keith Richards) was a highlight adding to the success of the LP. Vinyl included contributions from Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
, Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
, Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
, and Brian Macleod of Wire Train
Wire Train
Wire Train was a United States based group who produced six albums in the 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally formed as the Renegades in April 1983 in San Francisco...
.
After Vinyl, a limited-edition 17-song CD called The Days of Wayne and Roses (The Trash Tapes) was made available to members of the Dramarama fan club. It included the band's earliest recordings together, as well as songs that were dropped from their early albums, a couple of live performances, and one song exclusive (at the time) to the disc.
The band's final release on Elektra, 1993's hi-fi sci-fi, was a favorite among both critics and fans, and remains a cult staple. Clem Burke
Clem Burke
Clem Burke is an American musician who is the drummer for the band Blondie. Recruited by Chris Stein and Debbie Harry when they were first forming Blondie, Burke remained with the band through its first stage and later returned for its late 1990s reunion and then its extensive 2009 tour.Following...
, who had joined the band for the Vinyl tour, appears on this album, and there are backing vocal contributions from Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley is an American pop/rock singer and songwriter, best known for the Top 20 hit singles "I'm on Fire" and "Girls"...
& Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain is an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls.-Early years:...
. The subsequent tours wound down and the group broke up shortly thereafter.
Mid-1990s-2005
Following two relatively quiet years after the 1994 breakup, John Easdale began performing live music again in 1996, doing shows in both New Jersey and the L.A. area. He assembled a band that he has on occasion called "The John Easdale Group," and has also casually named "The Newcomers," but which in reality featured Dramarama's Mark Englert, as well as Peter Wood for east coast appearances. Other Newcomers have included fellow eggBERT alum Nick Celeste (of former Bongo Richard BaroneRichard Barone
Richard Barone is a rock musician born in Tampa, Florida who gained attention as frontman for The Bongos. He works as a songwriter, arranger, author, director, and producer, releases albums as a solo artist, tours, and has created major concert events at Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl and New York's...
's band and once the frontman for In Color; has also worked with Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
and Jules Shear
Jules Shear
Jules Mark Shear is a US singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Pittsburgh in 1952. Although he has had only one minor hit as a performer , he has recorded almost 20 albums to date...
) on guitar, Muddy Shews on bass, Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and Chris O'Hara on drums. However, eventually Easdale was able to find steady players in Mike Davis, Tony Snow, and Craig Ballam, who connected with Easdale circa 1996 and, along with Easdale, Englert and Wood, form the core of Dramarama as it exists today (Craig Ballam departed in 2006).
In 1998, John Easdale released a "solo" CD on the eggBERT label called Bright Side, on which many of the tracks featured musicians with ties to both Dramarama and the Newcomers, including Mark Englert and Clem Burke, as well as Mike Davis, Tony Snow, and Craig Ballam, who also contributed production and engineering skills. Prior to Bright Side, Easdale issued a homegrown, fan-only, no-label version of the Bright Side CD in 1996 that contained versions of songs that made the final cut, as well as some that did not. Easdale refers to it as his "blueprint" for the final collection, and fans call it the "pre-release" Bright Side.
Following the considerable Bands Reunited and Inland Invasion publicity, including an article in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine lauding their retooling of the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
' politically-charged "California Über Alles
California Über Alles
"California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was released in June 1979 on Optional Music with "The Man with the Dogs" as the b-side...
" in response to Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
's 2003 run for governor of California, Easdale decided in late 2003 the band name "Dramarama" should go on. To cement this point, the next CD (an EP) would be billed to Dramarama, and was yet another unlabeled home-brewed affair entitled Absolutely, 100% Made in N.J., which was recorded on a whim while John and the band were on a brief tour of New Jersey in 2003. The EP's liner notes indicated that most of the seven tracks were "from the forthcoming Dramarama album, everybody dies
Everybody Dies
Everybody Dies is the fifth studio album by Dramarama. It was released on October 25, 2005 . It also marks their first album of new material in 12 years since Hi-Fi Sci-Fi...
."
After yet another distribution setback, the album was released on October 25, 2005, on 33rd Street Records, a California-based label that was home to notable artists including Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, Eagles, and Gregg Rolie
Gregg Rolie
Gregg Alan Rolie is an American keyboardist, organist, and singer, who is one of the founding members of the bands Santana, The Storm, Abraxas Pool and Journey, for whom he was the original lead singer. He currently performs with his Gregg Rolie Band...
of Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
and Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
fame. 33rd Street was a boutique label funded by the late major retailer Tower Records
Tower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
. They appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
as Ellen
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
's 50th birthday present from her DJ Ted Stryker
Stryker (disc jockey)
Theodore "Ted" Ramón Stryker known on-air as simply "Stryker", is an American radio personality and disc jockey.-Biography:...
.
Current activity
Original bass player/producer and Dramarama cofounder Chris Carter is currently a disc jockeyDisc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in Los Angeles who's primarily known for hosting America's longest-running Beatle show, "Breakfast With the Beatles", in which he 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 and write the film Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Mayor of the Sunset Strip is a 2004 documentary film on the life of Rodney Bingenheimer directed by George Hickenlooper, and produced by Chris Carter.-Interviews:...
, which in 2003 was nominated for Best Documentary by the Independent Spirit Film Awards, and which featured members of Dramarama. After Dramarama split in 1994, Carter formed QM Management, for which he manages LA's pop group The Wondermints
The Wondermints
Wondermints is a band from Los Angeles, California, United States. The main members are Darian Sahanaja , Nick Walusko and Mike D'Amico...
, currently touring as Beach Boy Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
's backing band.
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi-era drummer Clem Burke has returned to his original band Blondie. Drummer Jesse Farbman, now known as Anant Jesse, lives in Montreal, Quebec, where he teaches spiritual therapeutics, maintains a private practice and continues to record and perform internationally. Former keyboard player Theodore Ellenis (aka: Theothorous Athanasious Ellenis) now serves as the Managing Director for a prominent New York investment banking firm. Replacement keyboard player and guitarist Tommy "Secret Weapon" Mullaney has appeared onstage with the band on more than a few occasions, most recently earlier this year at a New Jersey show. The whereabouts regarding original drummer Ronny Machuga and his replacement Kenneth Moutinout remain unknown. Under advisement, Mr. Patterson and Mr. Stittle are now within the federal witness protection program.
The band has been very active since 2005. In 2009, they returned to their roots by playing for the Troy High School
Troy High School
Troy High School may refer to:*East Troy High School in East Troy, Wisconsin*Troy Area High School in Troy, Pennsylvania*Troy Buchanan High School in Troy, Missouri*Troy Christian High School in Troy, Ohio*Troy Junior-Senior High School in Troy, Idaho...
Battle of the Bands. This event took place on February 3, 2009 at Plummer Auditorium, located in Fullerton, California. Over 1,000 people attended this event. They finished the event with an encore, playing the 1985 hit single Anything, Anything. Also in 2009 were several shows at House Of Blues venues in Texas and Southern California, as well as Six Flags Magic Mountain. Dramarama returned to New Jersey for two shows in November 2009, and performed in Downtown Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano's The Coach House in December 2009. They returned to Troy High School's Battle of the Bands in 2010 and 2011. Dramarama continues to perform many shows each year at such notable venues as House Of Blues, Red Devil Lounge, and The Stone Pony. On September 10, 2011, Dramarama performed at "Jack FM's Sixth Show" in Irvine, CA.
Lineup changes
In 1982, Dramarama formed in the basement of a Wayne, New Jersey, record store owned by founding member Chris CarterChris Carter (producer/disc jockey)
Chris Carter is a Los Angeles-based disc jockey and music/film producer who started his music career as a founding member and bass player with alternative rock/power pop band Dramarama. After Dramarama originally split in 1994, Carter formed QM Management to manage LA pop group The Wondermints,...
. While Carter operated the alternative record store Looney Tunez Records (previously known as Dirt Cheap Records), Tommy "The Secret Weapon" Mullaney continued to pursue his outside careers simultaneously. Initially the line-up consisted of; singer/songwriter John Easdale
John Easdale
John Easdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the American band Dramarama.Easdale grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Hills High School.-External links:*...
, "Mr. E Boy" (Mark Englert
Mark Englert
Mark Englert is an American musician who has been a member of Dramarama since 1982. He has appeared with Dramarama on "Late Night With David Letterman", "VH-1", and "The Tonight Show". He has worked with a number of established musicians including Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The...
) and Carter, later joined by Peter Wood on guitars and Ron Machuga on drums whom was soon after replaced by Ken "knock-'em down, knock-'em down, bowling bowling" Moutinout. Keyboard player Ted Ellenis later joined the band increasing the band's lineup. Moutinout was quickly replaced by Jesse Farbman who left the group after the band's third album to pursue mind / body purity and to obtain "philosophical and spiritual awareness". Farbman was eventually replaced by acclaimed drummer Clem Burke
Clem Burke
Clem Burke is an American musician who is the drummer for the band Blondie. Recruited by Chris Stein and Debbie Harry when they were first forming Blondie, Burke remained with the band through its first stage and later returned for its late 1990s reunion and then its extensive 2009 tour.Following...
, whose prior band was Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
. Other early bandmates included Carter's childhood friend Tommy "The Secret Weapon" Mullaney whom was picked to replace Ellenis. Mullaney also departed shortly thereafter.
A number of prominent musicians have joined the band for studio sessions on specific tracks over the years, perhaps most notably pianist Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
of Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
's Heartbreakers and guitarist Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
, late of the Rolling Stones, on Vinyl. Legendary British session pianist Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
can be heard on the album Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi is the fourth album by alternative rock group Dramarama. Released in 1993, it was also their last studio album as the group disbanded in the following year and finally released their next album "everybody dies" in 2005.-Track listing:...
. In addition, fellow power pop artist Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley is an American pop/rock singer and songwriter, best known for the Top 20 hit singles "I'm on Fire" and "Girls"...
lent vocals to several songs on Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi
Hi-Fi Sci-Fi is the fourth album by alternative rock group Dramarama. Released in 1993, it was also their last studio album as the group disbanded in the following year and finally released their next album "everybody dies" in 2005.-Track listing:...
, on which The New York Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain is an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls.-Early years:...
also made a vocal appearance.
In addition, other artists often join Dramarama onstage or in the studio, including bassist Steve "Muddy Shews" Shewchuk from seminal Jersey shore band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes
Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny is an American singer-songwriter, who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.-Early days:...
; keyboardist Morley Bartnoff
Morley Bartnoff
Morley Bartnoff born in 1959, is a Los Angeles, California-born keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter, and composer who has been performing and recording for the past 30 years...
from Cosmo Topper (formerly of the 1980s band Burning Sensations
Burning Sensations
Burning Sensations was a short-lived Los Angeles area rock band. The group is best known for its MTV hit "Belly of the Whale", the music for which blends a rather unique fusion of rock and calypso styles, and for covering the Jonathan Richman song "Pablo Picasso", which was included in both the...
), and harmonica player "Trashcan" Ray Barwick, former No Soap Radio members Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and drummer Chris O'Hara, and former Whirling Dervishes keyboard player Billy Siegel.
Today
The current lineup consists of original founding members John Easdale, lead and rhythm guitar player Peter Wood (the only band member who moved back to New Jersey and still maintains a residence there), and lead guitarist Mark EnglertMark Englert
Mark Englert is an American musician who has been a member of Dramarama since 1982. He has appeared with Dramarama on "Late Night With David Letterman", "VH-1", and "The Tonight Show". He has worked with a number of established musicians including Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The...
(Mr. "E" Boy). Rounding out the band are Los Angeles-based musicians Tony Snow (No Sugar, Tony Snow & The Change, Glimmer Stars) on drums, and (former Lizzy Borden (band)
Lizzy Borden (band)
Lizzy Borden is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Lizzy Borden is also the name of the band's lead vocalist.-History:Lizzy Borden specializes in the shock rock style originated by artists such as Alice Cooper and Kiss...
member) Mike Davis on bass. In addition, Tony Snow leads his own band, Tony Snow & The Change, and Mike Davis is the bass player for Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford's eponymous solo band "Halford
Halford
Halford may refer to:Places:*Halford, Shropshire, England*Halford, Warwickshire, England*Halford Island, Nunavut, CanadaPeople:* Alison Halford , Welsh former senior police officer and politician...
".
The Dramarama song Anything Anything serves as the title and theme song of New York City radio station WRXP-FM's free form program "Anything Anything with Rich Russo".. The version from "Live at the China Club" begins each show.
A special live version of "Last Cigarette" was recorded for the limited edition 500 pressing vinyl album "Anything Anything with Rich Russo on 101.9 RXP presents Exclusive Live Perfromances" in this version the band replaces "johnny Carson" with "Rich Russo" as an homage to the free form DJ. The Album was released April 2010
Studio albums
| Name | Released | Record Label |
| Cinéma Vérité Cinéma Vérité Cinéma Vérité is the first album by an alternative rock group Dramarama, released in November 1985. Although Dramarama was an American group, specifically from New Jersey, the album was originally released by New Rose Records of France, and in America on Question Mark Records... |
1985 | New Rose |
| Box Office Bomb | 1987 | Question Mark/ Harvey Star |
| Stuck in Wonderamaland Stuck in Wonderamaland Stuck in Wonderamaland is the third album by the alternative rock group Dramarama, released in April 1989. As of December 2009, this album is available as a digital download on most sites including iTunes and Amazon.-Track listing:... |
1989 | Chameleon Chameleon (label) Chameleon was a record label formed by industry veterans Andy Frances and Steve Powers, and was funded by Dan Protzker.Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz was an employee and Chameleon had distributed some early Epitaph releases, such as L7's self-titled debut.In the first years of the label's... |
| Bent Backed Tulips "Looking Through..." | 1989 | New Rose Records |
| Vinyl | 1991 | Chameleon Chameleon (label) Chameleon was a record label formed by industry veterans Andy Frances and Steve Powers, and was funded by Dan Protzker.Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz was an employee and Chameleon had distributed some early Epitaph releases, such as L7's self-titled debut.In the first years of the label's... |
| Hi-Fi Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Sci-Fi is the fourth album by alternative rock group Dramarama. Released in 1993, it was also their last studio album as the group disbanded in the following year and finally released their next album "everybody dies" in 2005.-Track listing:... |
1993 | Chameleon Chameleon (label) Chameleon was a record label formed by industry veterans Andy Frances and Steve Powers, and was funded by Dan Protzker.Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz was an employee and Chameleon had distributed some early Epitaph releases, such as L7's self-titled debut.In the first years of the label's... |
| Bent Backed Tulips "Looking Through..." Extended | 1998 | Eggbert Records |
| "everybody dies" | 2005 | 33rd Street 33rd Street Records 33rd Street Records is an independent record label based in Greenbrae, California. The company finalizes the production of albums by mastering the audio and designing the album cover... |
| TBA | 2011 | TBA |
Live, compilations, and EPs
| Name | Type | Released | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comedy Comedy Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in... |
EP | 1984 | ? Records |
| Play New Rose for Me | Compilation | 1986 | New Rose |
| Days Of Wayne & Roses | Compilation | 1992 | |
| Best of Rodney on The Roq | Compilation | 1989 | Posh Boy Records |
| Rock'n'Rose | Compilation | 1990 | New Rose |
| Days Of Wayne & Roses | Compilation | 1992 | |
| Live at the China Club Live at the China Club Live at the China Club is a live album by the alternative rock group Dramarama, released in 1990.-Track listing:# "Anything, Anything "# "Last Cigarette"# "Some Crazy Dame"# "Spare Change"# "Private World"# "Would You Like"... |
Live | 1990 | Chameleon Chameleon (label) Chameleon was a record label formed by industry veterans Andy Frances and Steve Powers, and was funded by Dan Protzker.Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz was an employee and Chameleon had distributed some early Epitaph releases, such as L7's self-titled debut.In the first years of the label's... |
| Days Of Wayne & Roses | Compilation | 1992 | |
| KBCO Studio C Vol. 2 | Compilation | 1992 | |
| Welcome to Our Nightmare: A Tribute to Alice Cooper | Compilation | 1993 | Triple X |
| Amongst Friends - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Compilation | 1993 | Atlantic |
| 10 from 5 10 from 5 10 from 5 is a compilation album by alternative rock group Dramarama, released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Work for Food"# "What Are We Gonna Do?"# "Last Cigarette"# "Haven't Got a Clue"# "Shadowless Heart"# "Some Crazy Dame"# "Would You Like"... |
Compilation | 1993 | Rhino |
| Melody Fair Melody Fair Melody Fair is a song by the Bee Gees. Originally written in 1968, it was included on the 1969 double album Odessa. The song was featured in the 1971 movie Melody, was included in the soundtrack album, and was released in May 1971 as a single in Japan... |
Compilation | 1994 | EGGBERT |
| Sing the Hollies in Reverse | Compilation | 1995 | EGGBERT |
| The Best of Dramarama: 18 Big Ones The Best of Dramarama: 18 Big Ones The Best of Dramarama: 18 Big Ones is a compilation album by alternative rock group Dramarama, released on October 29, 1996.-Track listing:# "Anything, Anything " – 3:24# "Scenario" – 4:16# "Emerald City" – 3:03# "Steve & Edie" – 5:05... |
Compilation | 1996 | Rhino Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes... |
| Blockbuster: A 70's Glitter Glam Rock Experience | Compilation | 2000 | Robison Records |
| One Step Beyond: The Best of New Wave | Compilation | 2002 | Rhino |
| Mayor of the Sunset Strip Mayor of the Sunset Strip Mayor of the Sunset Strip is a 2004 documentary film on the life of Rodney Bingenheimer directed by George Hickenlooper, and produced by Chris Carter.-Interviews:... |
Compilation | 2003 | Shout Factory |
| Anything Anything with Rich Russo Exclusive live performances | Compilation | 2010 | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Modern Rock | |||
| 1983 | "You Drive Me" b/w "A Fine Example", "Femme Fatale" | N/A | |
| 1985 | "Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)" | Cinéma Vérité Cinéma Vérité Cinéma Vérité is the first album by an alternative rock group Dramarama, released in November 1985. Although Dramarama was an American group, specifically from New Jersey, the album was originally released by New Rose Records of France, and in America on Question Mark Records... |
|
| 1987 | "It's Still Warm" b/w "Private World" | Box Office Bomb Box Office Bomb Box Office Bomb is the second album released by alternative rock band, Dramarama.-Track listing:# "Steve & Edie" - 5:05# "New Dream" - 3:30# "Whenever I'm With Her" - 3:09# "Spare Change" - 3:15# "400 Blows" - 3:52# "Pumping " - 3:16... |
|
| 1989 | "Last Cigarette" | 13 | Stuck in Wonderamaland Stuck in Wonderamaland Stuck in Wonderamaland is the third album by the alternative rock group Dramarama, released in April 1989. As of December 2009, this album is available as a digital download on most sites including iTunes and Amazon.-Track listing:... |
| 1989 | "Wonderamaland" b/w "70's TV" | — | |
| 1989 | "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" b/w "I Wish I Was Your Mother" | — | Nightmare on Elm Street 4 |
| 1991 | "Haven't Got a Clue" | 6 | Vinyl |
| 1991 | "What Are We Gonna Do?" | 10 | |
| 1993 | "Work For Food" | 10 | Hi-Fi Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Sci-Fi is the fourth album by alternative rock group Dramarama. Released in 1993, it was also their last studio album as the group disbanded in the following year and finally released their next album "everybody dies" in 2005.-Track listing:... |
| 1998 | "Tie Me Down" b/w "Last of the Famous International Playboys" | — | Bent Backed Tulips "Looking Through..." |
| 2003 | "California Über Alles California Über Alles "California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was released in June 1979 on Optional Music with "The Man with the Dogs" as the b-side... " |
— | |
| 2005 | "Physical Poetry (A-B-C-D-1-2-3)" | — | Everybody Dies Everybody Dies Everybody Dies is the fifth studio album by Dramarama. It was released on October 25, 2005 . It also marks their first album of new material in 12 years since Hi-Fi Sci-Fi... |
- "N/A" = not applicable as the US Modern Rock chart was not introduced until 1988
- "—" = song did not chart
Videos/DVD
- 70's TV (Contained on the Slipping Through the Cracks (An Uprising of Young Pacifics) compilation video); IceWorld Video
- Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) (video) 1987
- Last Cigarette (video) 1989
- Wonderamaland (video) 1989
- Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) (video) 1990
- Haven't Got a Clue (video) 1991
- Work 4 Food (video) 1993
TV/Film
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- Three Fugitives (1989)
- The Pat Sajak Show (1990)
- Pet Sematary II (1992)
- Dennis Miller Show (1992)
- MTV's 120 Minutes (1993)
- In the Army Now (1994)
- Higher Learning (1995)
- Bio Dome (1996)
- "Roswell" (1 episode, 2000)
- Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)
- VH-1 Bands Reunited (2003)
- 11:14 elevenfourteen (2004)
- The Ellen Degeneres Show (2008)