Dramarama

Dramarama is an alternative rock group from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1982. The band is best known for combining guitars-driven rock with an alternative and power pop edge at a time when many contemporary acts relied more heavily on synthesizers and image.

Formation and early years

The group begins with singer and songwriter John Easdale, guitarists Peter Wood and Mark Englert, and bassist Chris Carter. Although the band becomes associated with Los Angeles, the members arrive there from New Jersey, where they start out as friends and bandmates before heading west. Their early period includes work in Wayne, New Jersey, before the move to Hollywood.

Breakthrough and recordings

Dramarama first gains wide attention when KROQ in Los Angeles puts “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)” into heavy rotation. The song appears on their first album, Cinema Verite, released in 1985, and becomes the band’s best-known track. The bio describes the group as releasing five critically acclaimed albums before their breakup in 1994.

Style and reputation

The band’s sound is presented as straightforward guitar rock rather than the more polished, image-led style common in 1980s mainstream rock. Their music is described as too rock-oriented to be pop and too pop-oriented to fit neatly into rock’s harder-edged mainstream, which leaves them without a large commercial niche despite strong support from radio and critics.

Breakup and later activity

Dramarama breaks up in 1994. In 2003, original members John Easdale, Peter Wood and Mark Englert return to the Dramarama name and resume performing. The later line-up also includes drummer Tony Snow and bassist Mike Davis.

Members and line-up

The verified membership for the group includes John Easdale, Brian MacLeod, Peter Wood and Clem Burke. The bio also identifies earlier members Mark Englert and Chris Carter, with Carter later becoming host of “Breakfast with the Beatles”.

Legacy

“Anything, Anything” remains a significant part of the band’s reputation, staying a frequent request on KROQ and becoming a staple on alternative radio stations and VH1. John Easdale’s writing is also described as an influence on several major bands over the following decades.