Rob Buck

{{Similar names|Robert Buck (disambiguation){{!}}Robert Buck}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Rob Buck

| image = RobBuck.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Buck in 1997

| birth_name = Robert Norman Buck

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|08|01}}

| birth_place = Jamestown, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2000|12|19|1958|08|01}}}}

| death_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| instrument = Guitar

| genre = Rock, alternative rock

| occupation = Musician, songwriter

| years_active = 1981–2000

| label =

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

10,000 Maniacs}}

| associated_acts = 10,000 Maniacs

| website =

}}

Robert Norman Buck (August 1, 1958 – December 19, 2000) was an American guitarist and founding member of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Buck co-wrote some of the most successful songs recorded by 10,000 Maniacs, including "What's the Matter Here", "Hey Jack Kerouac", and "These Are Days".

Early life

Buck was born August 1, 1958, in Jamestown, New York.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=111781&page=1|title=10,000 Maniacs Guitarist Robert Buck Dead at 42|first=Lynne |last=Margolis |date=January 6, 2006|website=ABC News}} He graduated from Cassadaga Valley High School in 1976 and received an associate's degree in anthropology from Jamestown Community College.{{Cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/rob-buck-maniacs-guitarist-dies-at-42/article_d78dc196-04d3-59b3-9411-c3e06480ac97.html|title=Rob Buck, Maniacs Guitarist, Dies at 42|first=Dale|last=Anderson|newspaper=The Buffalo News |date=December 21, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906030103/https://buffalonews.com/news/rob-buck-maniacs-guitarist-dies-at-42/article_d78dc196-04d3-59b3-9411-c3e06480ac97.html |archive-date=2021-09-06 |url-status=deviated |access-date=2025-03-25}}

Career

Buck decided to pursue a career as a professional guitarist after seeing The Jimi Hendrix Story. Buck, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson, John Lombardo, and Natalie Merchant formed 10,000 Maniacs in 1981; Buck was the band's lead guitarist.

The band's folk-rock music became popular with college students.{{Cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/all-together-now-10-000-maniacs-is-finding-new-success-behind-a-unified-front/article_5d0b2586-c0d5-5530-93c7-4d700f3e9ef3.html|title=All Together Now 10,000 Maniacs is Finding New Success Behind a Unified Front|first= Anthony |last=Violanti |newspaper=The Buffalo News |date=March 14, 1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906041845/https://buffalonews.com/news/all-together-now-10-000-maniacs-is-finding-new-success-behind-a-unified-front/article_5d0b2586-c0d5-5530-93c7-4d700f3e9ef3.html |archive-date=2021-09-06 |url-status=deviated |access-date=2025-03-25}} Its 1987 album, In My Tribe, sold more than a million copies. In 1989, Blind Man's Zoo reached number 13 on the U.S. charts and was certified gold.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/10000-maniacs-mn0000501081/biography|title=10,000 Maniacs Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}} Buck was the co-writer of some of the band's best-known songs, including "These Are Days", "Hey Jack Kerouac", and "What's the Matter Here?" He performed with the band at the Inaugural Ball in 1993.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/10000-maniacs-guitarist-dead-at-42/|title=10,000 Maniacs Guitarist Dead at 42|website=People.com |first=Caitlin |last=O'toole |date=June 17, 1998}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-u2-and-rem-join-forces-for-bill-clinton-inauguration-106723/|title=Flashback: U2 and REM Join Forces for Bill Clinton Inauguration|first1=Andy|last1=Greene|date=January 17, 2017|website=RollingStone.com}} That same year, the band was profiled in Rolling Stone.

Buck was listed in Guitar Player magazine as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Personal life and death

Buck was married to Terri Newhouse from 1979 to 1981.

On November 30, 2000, Buck was airlifted from WCA Hospital in Jamestown, New York to the UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1435370/10000-maniacs-guitarist-rob-buck-dies-of-liver-failure/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523071020/http://www.mtv.com/news/1435370/10000-maniacs-guitarist-rob-buck-dies-of-liver-failure/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2014|title=10,000 Maniacs Guitarist Rob Buck Dies Of Liver Failure|first=David |last=Basham |date=December 20, 2000 |website=MTV News}} He died of liver disease on December 19, 2000 at age 42.