Bassist and co-founder of the band, Steve Gustafson considers himself lucky to be a part of an band that not only has toured the world, but remained true to Jamestown.

“It’s been an amazing 40 years,” Gustafson said. “One of the reasons we’re still going is the band members are true friends and we all still love each other. The same goes for our talented crew. We’re friends, even family, my son and Dennis’ son both work for us, and we all enjoy each other’s company.”

Gustafson is quick to say that the City of Jamestown is a big part of the band’s success. And the band played a short video entitled Jamestown My Home Town before starting to perform. The video is evidence that band pays homage to its roots.

Gustafson said that he was adding up all the places the band has played in Chautauqua County over the past 40 years and last count was 55, bars, venues and events.

People are in line to get into The Reg Lenna Center for a sold-out 10,000 Maniacs 40th Anniversary show Saturdy.

“From Mother’s Bar (September 5, 1981) to (the) Bergman Park Labor Day Festival, to Chautauqua Amphitheater and The Reg. It’s quite amazing,” Gustafson said.

The concert was delayed a year, but according to the band’s pamphlet available at the show, 2021 marked the 40-year anniversary of the inception of 10,000 Maniacs. Founded in Jamestown, in 1981, the band has weathered a few personnel changes and is still anchored by four out of six original members: Gustafson, keyboardist Dennis Drew, guitarist John Lombardo, and drummer Jerry Augustyniak. Founding lead singer, Natalie Merchant left the band in 1993 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by back-up singer, Mary Ramsey who proved to be a natural fit for the band vocally and added another dimension to the group with her prowess on violin and viola, the pamphlet said. Guitarist and founding member Robert Buck passed away in 2000 and was replaced by Jeff Erickson, Buck’s close friend and member of the jam-band Zeta Cauliflower.

The touring schedule is not as hectic as it once was, Gustafson noted.

“We don’t tour like we did in the early days. Those six-month tours are in the rearview mirror,” the bassist added. “For the most part we only play long weekends these days, then it’s back home to our families. I think it’s helped with our longevity. I like to say that of all my journey’s, my favorite is the journey home.”

Gustafson said the band was excited to play at The Reg.

At The Reg Lenna Center, Saturday, 10,000 Maniacs Perform their 40th Anniversary Concert.

“The theater has a special place in our hearts. It’s played a big part in my life,” Gustafson said.

Before being known as The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts, it was formerly known as The Palace Theater. He recalled watching movies there as a child, being on the center’s Board of Governors, writing and recording songs there, shooting the band’s first MTV video on that stage and having them (the Center) as a landlord when he and Drew owned Stage Left Restaurant, which was located next door.

“We worked out songs for just about every album on that stage,” Drew said in the pamphlet. “We shot our first MTV video there in 1985. We recorded demos for Our Time in Eden there in 1992.”

During its 40 years, the band has released 14 albums, the pamphlet noted. The critically-acclaimed break-out album, In My Tribe, was included in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Best Albums of The Eighties.” In 1993, the band performed on MTV’s Unplugged. The recording of that show went on to sell more than four million copies. The band has had eight Billboard Hot 100 singles, and has made many appearances on TV including Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the Tonight Show. The band also has performed in 45 of the 50 United States, and in 19 countries, including a USO tour of the Middle East in 1999, the pamphlet said.

Opening for the band was Michael Glabicki, lead singer and guitarist for Rusted Root. The band is no stranger to Jamestown, as it has performed at Joyce’s Keg Room in the early to mid 1990s.

Glabicki said he dropped out of college to pursue songwriting full time and to start a band. He added that 10,000 Maniacs have always been an inspiration to him. And on a funny note, he reminisced about Joyce’s Keg Room and recalled eating the pink eggs that were in a clear jar behind the counter.

“Almost had to cancel the show,” he said.

Gustafson added that he and the rest of the band would like to thank the people of Jamestown and The Post-Journal for the constant support over the years. “We could not have done it with you,” he said.

He and the band also would like to thank to Shults Auto Group, Jamestown Local Development Corp., and Downtown Jamestown Revitalization Initiative for the support for making concert happen.

“We certainly plan on giving back to our community,” Gustafson said.